Thoughts on Facebook

Today's topic is facebook.

Recently I have begun wondering if the "facebook culture" is something I want to be involved in. And by facebook culture I mainly am talking about two known trends on facebook.

1)I have always cringed at the thought of deleting or deactivating my facebook but for a large number of people it is my only means of contacting them. Despite not being close to many, I had an irrational fear of missing out on their lives and doings if I did not have the ability to "stalk" them on facebook. Lately however, I have been questioning how much this really contributes to "keeping in touch" or even "keeping up to date" with people.

There is no meaningful connection to be had through a status update, and little can be said in a photo comment. these are all enjoyable things, but they are taking place of actual conversations. People aren't thinking about directly contacting that person in addition to the photo comment to ask about their life or even say hi. Facebook seems to contribute to satisfaction with a very superficial kind of communication.

I've recently started email correspondence with a few people and it has been wholly more rewarding, interesting, and thought provoking than any exchange I have had via facebook. I'm simply not sure facebook is something I want to invest my time in these days as it provides tidbits of knowledge but no meaningful connection with the people I was so desperate to stay in touch with.

2) The blurring of public and private: correspondence that would normally take place privately between two people is now open not only for everyone to see, but to become involved in. It's drastically changing our notions about what should and should not be private. Now facebook has had to come up with very complex privacy settings for people to exclude certain friends from seeing certain pictures or updates and it's all become quite messy. It makes me wonder if facebook is really an ideal system for communication at all.

This issue is explored in the New York times magazine Article which I highly recommend:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/magazine/17FOB-WWLN-t.html?_r=1&ref=magazine

Basically it states, in terms of privacy, we are our own worst enemy. I believe certain discussions are meant to take place discreetly and privately and facebook has the potential to elevate drama and hurt feelings that are all unnecessary because people using it seem to forget rules of tact, consideration and thinking before they post.



So those are my facebook thoughts. While I wont be deleting it, I'm going to stop checking it and updating it so frequently. I think I'll be happier if I'm forced to make the effort for a more direct communication with people. On that note, I notice I have this blog being sent out to quite a deal of people who, perhaps because of facebook culture, passively "lurk" to keep up with my life (or delete it without opening the email :P) and I would prefer perhaps a reply, for the sake of connection.

However, my Holycross.edu email is gone, nonexistent, and I mentioned I have no been able to disconnect the comment/reply feature to that account.

Please email me at loopy6588@aol.com. I'd love to hear from everyone who may be reading.

Oh and this book was recommended to me, it sounds fabulous and if anyone was wondering what to get me for x-mas, I have a growing list of books that i cannot wait to read ;)

Hamlet's BlackBerry: A Practical Philosophy for Building a Good Life in the Digital Age [Hardcover] by William Powers

Some reviews:
“Benjamin Franklin would love this book. He knew the power of being connected, but also how this must be balanced by moments of reflection. William Powers offers a practical guide to Socrates’ path to the good life in which our outward and inward selves are at one.” (Walter Isaacson, author of Einstein: His Life and Universe and Benjamin Franklin: An American Life )

“A brilliant and thoughtful handbook for the Internet age—why we have this screen addiction, its many perils, and some surprising remedies that can make your life better.” (Bob Woodward )

“In this delightfully accessible book, Powers asks the questions we all need to ask in this digitally driven time. And teaches us to answer them for ourselves.” (Maryanne Wolf, author of Proust and the Squid )

“[An] elegant meditation on our obsessive connectivity and its effect on our brains and our very way of life.” (Laurie Winer, New York Times Book Review )

“Always connected. Anytime. Anyplace. We know it’s a blessing, but we’re starting to notice that it’s also a curse. In Hamlet’s Blackberry, William Powers helps us understand what being ‘connected’ disconnects us from, and offers wise advice about what we can do about it…. A thoughtful, elegant, and moving book.” (Barry Schwartz, author of The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less )

Looking forward to hearing from people, hopefully, if you're all still with me.