January 15, 2008
“You and Julie have no friends in common," the Facebook message admonished me this morning.
"What," I blurted out in astonishment. How can that be?"
Julie and I have been friends since grade school, but Facebook is telling me we have no friends in common? I know classmate Rob has a Facebook page so surely this behemoth social-networking website can find him and put the three of us together.
As you can see, I am fascinated with Facebook.
Yet, it was not too long ago, we parents complained about our college-age children becoming infatuated with Facebook. We thought it senseless and shallow back then.
That was before we tried it ourselves. Now, my generation is hooked.
If you, too, are thinking about getting your very own Facebook page, take a look at what I now understand about Facebook.
1. There is an unwritten code of behavior. Friend Beth laid down the law in her house about Facebook protocol, something every parent should do as well. Beth warned, "Hey kids, you stay off of my page and do not go reading it or visiting my friends' pages either."
2. Time management skills are vital. When Julie asked me to be her friend on Facebook, I went to her page and learned that she likes to play Online Scrabble and wants me to join her. Surely, playing scrabble will not be addictive?
3. Competition is unavoidable. My niece Lindsey invited me to compete with her Facebook team in the Mizzou football trivia challenge. I did, and hours later I achieved "veteran" status. I cannot stop.
4. Previously unknown information about one's family will become known. I read on my nephew Mark's page that he is back from Germany and I never knew he went, he wonders why breadsticks are addictive, and swears he will never take up the exercise craze of "spinning".
5. The art of snooping comes with the territory. There is real value in "creeping" on another's Facebook page (aka, voyeurism). Now, with a click of the mouse, I can learn what my friends, kids, and relatives are doing at any moment in time.
For example, this morning a friend announced on Facebook that she is currently eating breakfast, another is back at work, and a third is sick. I suppose I needed that information?
And speaking of Facebook friends, one of my sons has not accepted me as a Facebook friend yet because he doesn't want me to "creep" on his page. Understood.
Rob, as aforementioned, has 299 friends listed. Julie has 22 (she's new at this), Connie has 113, Beth has 60, Lindsey has 199, Molly, 65, Aaron, 433, and another of my sons has 645 Facebook friends.
I have 20, but am not jealous, just begging.
Invite me to be your friend, you can write on my "wall". Please.
