In Defense of FB

Over a recent dinner with a girlfriend, the topic of Facebook came up. 

She won’t get an account because of start up funds from the CIA or something along those lines, but also, not wanting private companies to have so much information about her. 

Jeremy countered that there are so many people online, there’s no way “they” can keep track of us all. She said, yes, there is a way.

I love my FB account. I keep up with a childhood friend from my time in Varna, Bulgaria. I keep up with high school friends. I see what my adult friends are doing daily and I see hilarious and lovely photos of their darling children. 

Several months ago, I was “friended” by a man I attended private religious (read fundamentalist evangelical) school in Colleyville with. We were not close by any means, but we had small class sizes and I spent many years knowing this kid. We ended up at the same high school, but he escaped private school many years before me. When I finally transferred to public school, I was so used to a small circle of friends, that when I made friends at GHS, it was another small group. When he asked to add me I had to wonder if he had mistaken me for someone else. I have never asked him, because I am sure the answer will be yes. Anyway, I think this fellow is a wonderful progressive and I really enjoy his politically related posts. Who’d have thought we’d have an online relationship all these years later through Facebook?

I have had to block access to a few people. But happily, they are not part of my life and shouldn’t be reading about what I am doing online. Unless they read it here. This blog is universal and my Facebook account is private.

My big brother is notoriously bad about communication. He is always happy to take a call or e-mail, but reaching out isn’t his thing. Luckily, his wonderful fiancée is on FB and I can read about them any time I like. 

And I like to show off Owen and Jeremy on my FB. Apparently my recent posting of the new “Slip and Slide” and Jeremy trying it out has become “Internet Gold” for Jeremy’s friends and co-workers. He’s “known” throughout his professional community, or so I was told by a dozen or so strangers singing his praises at his recent Big (D)esign after-party. A friend of his re-posted the video and it went far and wide. 

I really like my FB account. What a great social networking tool. I’m going to keep working on my girlfriend. But if she won’t get on, maybe I can get her fiancé to. 

UPDATE: Wrote this days ago. This morning the name of my first boyfriend showed in my “people you may know”. Yes, I know him. 

And I am sure Jeremy will be OK if we become FB friends!