Social networking for the PWC
June 24, 2007 by laura
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Are you on facebook? Why aren’t you?
Most people who know me, know I have resisted joining facebook. Anyone who wants to get in touch with me, can without the use of a networking site…as long as you know how to use google (or a phone book). That said, I don’t really want everyone in the world contacting me. If I don’t already talk to you, or correspond with you in some way, there is probably good reason for it.
But, I did end up joining facebook…mostly because my spa girl insisted that I do so. So I jumped on the bandwagon, and people have found me that I don’t want to talk to….on the other hand a few people that I really miss have found me as well…and so it evens itself out (for me anyway).
The other day, I was listening to a podcast on CBC about facebook addicts. While it did nothing to make me feel better about my own issues with social networking…it did make me think of people who are too ill (and too tired) to go out and cultivate relationships. Bloggers do it all the time, by writing relevant and non relevant posts and reaching out to an audience….and of course there is email and IM and skype. But, if you don’t blog where can you go to increase your circle of friends(and not leave the house)….ah facebook. There are groups that you can join (ones on CFS and FM among others), and you can chat with old and new friends alike.
When I realized how helpful facebook can be for socialization (something we all need) I loosened up on my “I Hate Facebook” ideals. I am still not 100% comfortable with it, but I am learning to enjoy it a little more.
An example of how popular facebook has become is that Stephen Harper (Prime Minister of Canada), Stephane Dion (Leader of the Opposition, liberal party) and Jack Layton (Leader of the NDP party) all have profiles on facebook. Perhaps, this is part of the reason I am not 100% happy with facebook.
Don’t let me stop you though, check it out for yourself.
If you already have a profile you can add me…and we can write on each others walls. If you don’t have a profile, please let me know what is stopping you.
There is a big kafuffle over here because Vancouver Island doesn’t rate as a “region” on Facebook. It’s bizarre how Facebook has become all the rage in Canada. Considering that it’s geared towards university students, I don’t get why the general public is so crazy about it. I think it will fade away as fast as it flared up.
I’m trying to get my local ME society to start an online network on Yahoo 360. It’s a lot less gimmicky than other sites.
I have heard about how the islanders are upset about not having their own network…and I believe they are valid points…however it is just facebook.
As soon as I found out about the politicians “networking”, I too came to the conclusion that facebook just might be on its way out.
However, there are some groups that I am enjoying, such as the sleeplessness one.
Easy for you to say, Vancouver has a network!
too true.
I’m not, because I don’t get it… but I’m pretty sure it’s one of those things that you don’t get unless you’ve done it. I’ve avoided so far for the same reasons you posted – the people I want to talk to I already have contact info for, and there are quite a few people I’d rather not converse with again. However, getting people to email back seems to be harder and harder these days – if my friends use it often, I might be convinced to try. Other downside is I spend too much time on the computer already with forums and blogs – my eyes can only take so much strain!
As for the addicting quality – I’ve watched others go through a period of addiction, but it always wanes. There’s just not enough to keep up the rabid interest after you’ve found all the people you’ve known
. Whether that means Facebook itself will fall off, or whether it’s just another email-IM-contact method that gets used on occasion, I don’t know.
I suspect that Facebook will burn itself out…the fact that canadian politicians are on it, makes me think this to be the case.
What I do like about this networking site is, when someone from your past adds you as their friend, you have the opportunity to deny them, and say you have no idea who they are.
This is a feature that I have used on more than one occasion.
I love the feeling of power I get, right before I deny someone entrance into my life.
Yes, I am really that horrible.