Like Facebook?

I had such a lovely long weekend in New York...saw a brilliant play and great art, had some fab meals, damaged my budget significantly with amazing shopping and most importantly, I was able to meet up with many friends, some of whom I haven't seen in several years.


We talked about how to stay in touch more frequently and someone suggested Facebook may be the best vehicle. Except that most of my friends aren't on Facebook. And have no intention of joining any time soon. I can relate as I denied FB for the longest time, until 2010 when I finally caved in (it was the quickest and easiest way to see my friends' photos). Now I go on almost daily to check in on what's going on outside of my micro-self-universe.


Only to enter everyone else's micro-self-universe! Some days I can get so addicted that I go on multiple times, post several photos and status updates and 'Like' tons of links and posts and photos. On other days, I can get so disgusted by the ridiculous and random and, to be honest, boring posts people put up there - I really don't care that you had to call the plumber (shouldn't you be watching him do his job rather than go on FB?) or that you sold a bunch of stuff on e-Bay while the kids play outside (shouldn't you be watching the kids?). Seriously, would you really like to know whenever I have to go to the loo? or every time I am hungry? Which is very often on both counts. Ugh - these are not significant events people! 


While in NYC, one of my friends, a FB addict like myself, tells the other, a non-FB addict that she saw heaps of photos of her on FB from a recent party she attended. She (the non-FB addict) was appalled! She couldn't believe we even knew about the party (it was just a small work thing) and shocked that there are photos of her for everyone to see. We showed her the photos and she got increasingly angry. It was pretty funny...for us, not for her. Unfortunately she can't do anything about it. The photos are out there by virtue of her innocently attending a party with a camera-happy, FB-addicted party-goer. Yes, the photos are out there in cyberspace and out of her control. Thing is, the photos weren't even bad....there are certainly worse things out there.


So I get the hundreds of photos of your kids (sometimes), exotic travel destinations (without showing off too much) and family reunions (can get overwhelming and unattractive), but why would anyone post photos of themselves in a barely-there bikini for all their friends to see? Can you say insecure? or is it self-centred? Don't get me wrong - we all post beach photos...but these were different and a bit disturbing...I may actually be scarred for life. 


As we looked through the party-goer's photos, there were many...I mean many....of just herself doing everything from skiing to drinking to sitting on the beach. There were several by the pool from a compromising position. So this got us all thinking - not that we are prudish - that someone would firstly, have to consciously have someone take a photo of them from this vantage point (or perhaps they have a sleazy friend who took the shots on their own accord...not sure which is worse) and secondly, consider posting the photos, and then actually load the photos on FB and add a clever caption. Where is your dignity?


I suppose it's the world we live in these days. Everyone wants attention - and to be the star of their own reality show. Except not everyone is funny or witty or charming or remotely entertaining.


Regardless, I am still a fan of Facebook as it truly enables us to stay connected with friends and family all over the world with ease. I just want to know where all these servers are though, the ones storing all of the random posts, ridiculous status updates and photos, flattering and not so flattering. I would want to find those...in the meantime, my skill as a good sieve is being used to maximum capacity.