Anti-Facebook Snobbery

Wait, let me explain. I'm sorry. I don't really mean to hate on you, Facebook, it just seems to happen. I just blurt stuff out without thinking. I'm really sorry. I hope you can forgive me. It's just, well, I've seen how you have changed things so much, and I feel like not all of it is for the better, honestly. It just seems to me that the last thing our already narcissistic culture needed was more stuff about me, me, me...us, us, us. Here's my list of reasons why I've hesitated to get a Facebook account for so long:


**I get concerned about the superficial nature of Facebook (here I go again, hating on you, but I don't know how else to get this said).

**Hyperconnectivity. Do I really want to be connected with so many people so continually? Is this even good for a person? I do know people who are addicted to checking in on their Facebooks.

**Is it just me or is Facebook a little creepy? Back in the day, didn't they use to call someone who peeks into another person's life a "peeping Tom?"

**I'm a really private person, believe it or not, and the thought of everyone reading what I've posted on a wall...well, it's just not for me I guess.

**Lack of real conversation in Facebook interaction. There's so much snarky banter.

What's that? You say I'm being an anti-Facebook snob? You're probably right, I think I probably am. I mean that sincerely, actually. I think I have become an anti-Facebook snob.

I feel like I owe some of you, my friends (and even family), an explanation on why I've held off for so long on starting a Facebook account. And for those of you who are aware that I actually do have an account (which I ignore), I especially feel like I owe you an explanation. I'm really sorry, first of all. I really don't want to ignore my friends. I think the nub of my frustration with Facebook is this: we have Facebook for the studio, and the studio has, like, 1400 "friends." I really do see so much "snarky banter" and other nastiness (mostly from high school seniors) that I just get weary of it. Plus, I find Facebook's terminology and (constantly changing) layout confusing. These days, since Janie went to be with the Lord back in May of last year, I've been working hard to simplify my life, and honestly, adding Facebook - and all that goes with it: the constant barrage of updates, feeling like I'm not 'keeping up,' and whatnot - seemed, frankly, like a little too much for me.

Anyway, I do actually have a Facebook account! I mostly got it, no offense, because Spotify seemed (and is) cool. And it looked like you couldn't get Spotify without having a Facebook account. So there you go.

I also know that I will not have 1400 friends, and that the friends I do have will be awesome people like you and you won't be snarky and you won't be a peeping Tom (you won't, right?). Plus, I'm probably going to set up a separate page for the blog for privacy's sake...if I can figure out how to do that....

That said, I think I am going to give the Facebook thing an honest-to-goodness try. However, I don't see myself as one of those people who constantly checks for updates, so please don't be offended if I'm sluggish about replying to stuff, or whatever I'm supposed to do on Facebook. I know you are all Facebook Jedi by now, but I'm just the padawan-learner, so go easy on me, Masters!