Facebook

Ok, just because I haven't blogged, doesn't mean that nothing bad is happening....

I've joined Facebook.

I really don't have oodles of free time. I don't have a job with lots of downtime that affords me the luxury of unlimited access and the occasion to fritter it away on the Internet, AND get paid for it. I don't need friends. I have friends that I like and social outlets (not virtual) to meet more friends, should I desire them. I don't, won't ever, don't ask me to....network. So what in the world have I done?

I wasn't bored. No body under any circumstances, except for prisoner-of-war or jury duty and neither of those are applicable, could be THAT bored. I wasn't compelled. No one was bothering, nagging at me, coercing, or even urging me to participate...in fact one really good friend wasn't even sure he wanted to confirm me as his "friend" - what is he hiding? I'm quite sure my children and their spouses don't want me prying into their accounts. Most of the people I know aren't interesting in receiving "flare" or participating in questionnaires to find out who they were in a former life, or being friends with everyone I'm friends with or...networking.

So what is it with this web site? It's strangely intriguing. I get to answer the question in real time, "What am I doing right now?" It's voyeuristic. I get to "see" what other people are doing. I look at their pictures, read their profiles. It's communicative and artistic. I write on walls, send messages, comment, and read pithy sayings on "bumper stickers". I could create bumper stickers if I'm so inclined.

I have a pathetic cell phone, a digital camera, and my very own laptop. We have wireless Internet access and in-house computer/printer networking (which is acceptable, it's not the "other" kind of networking). Our business is fully automated, except for the Tall One who programs the automation. We have a DVR, which I'm not sure how we lived without. What we don't have is a GPS device, really good cell phones with all the bells and whistles, iPods and/or MP3 players, or blackberries.

And that my friend (virtual or real), is bogus.