(Community Matters)
Facebook has been redefining notions of privacy while growing so rapidly that it now has 175 million active users, giving it a population larger than most countries. NYT privacy & rights article
Steven and I have taken to Facebook – in fact I don’t want him to catch up with me in # of friends; he’s at 622 and I’m at 905. We do poach each others’ while trying to maintain a standard of actually knowing the friends – my three completely aesthetic friends (two Israeli, one Columbian) notwithstanding.
It’s a fascinating way to stay connected and reconnect. My, then, 14yo godson started mine. It worried me when I noticed I was his 46yo “friend” among his 14 year old schoolmates. I didn’t participate on FB for at least another year.
In December, I started a page for a friend completely opposed to the concept. Over Xmas, he left a virulent voice message for me to delete the page – which I didn’t. He’s now an avid user and secured his first date of 2009 via Facebook. During a drive to Marfa over New Years, he and two other friends evidently commiserated over my presumptuousness (an acknowledged fault), the two friends arriving adamant in their opposition to the entire concept of FB – all three now updating their statuses regularly.
Steven just “Eugened” a friend in NY also reluctant to join but who we know will become enthusiastic. Steven’s mother asked us to create her FB page – launched two days ago. Our cousin immediately writing “OMG, Carol is on Facebook.” At this time, my father says no and we’re respecting his wishes.
Sure, there have been downfalls. A misguided note to my 15-yo niece’s new boyfriend resulted in a midnight call to her other uncle expressing displeasure and has resulted in my defriending by said niece (though, I note her bf separately sent a friend request), and I do value the FB insight into her first boyfriend. My 20yo nephew only accepted my FB request afer several prompts and keeps restrictions on what I can see and how I can comment on his page (I pretend not to see references to underage drinking by not only him but also a few friends’ children and godchildren). Prompting another close friend to join and recommending his children as friends, his underage son promptly responded, “Sorry Eugene, no way am I going to add pop as a friend.” Though, he did relent (probably with the same restrictions Shaun eventually imposed).
Also, I learned on Monday that one’s FB privileges should be exercised cautiously when home sick. Sequestered at home, suffering the flu, I was manic and needed to connect with the rest of the world, sharing way too many status updates. While these *might* amuse my closest friends, not sure Jason Furman, David Corn or Lukas Haas appreciate the traffic – ok, four aesthetic friends – the fourth American – but we have met & I do know his brother.
Not only have I better connected and reconnected with friends and family, I’ve actually made new friends on FB. I have a yoga appointment at 10 with someone I met on FB (ughh, ok, five). And, I am having lunch today with someone I’ve only met once but with whom we share many mutual friends. Her hilarious status updates prompted a note, which prompted comments, which has lead to lunch. I just regret that I have a business meeting after our lunch, since many of these status updates have included the need for a stiff one. I should check the trunk of her car to make sure her children aren’t really locked in there.
Community Matters 