I've met a couple of rare species who do not heart Facebook. With all the hype that this social networking site created, there are still some people who a) do not believe in it, b) feel that mainstreaming is too lowly for their taste, or c) just don't care.
I heart FB.
I think that in everything, there are always advantages and disadvantages. FB's new design is quite stalker-friendly, that is if you don't have an inkling that you can modify your Privacy Settings. I'm glad I have good friends who care and taught me to click that hyperlink on the upper right corner and check what I want people to see. There, I've already mentioned tha advantage.
I'm not sure if some of the FB users are aware that they offer unsolicited chismis about them. I mean, okay, you want your "friends" to know what you're up to but, not all of you 200++ friends are your "friends." So you have a tendency to saturate their sanity that will eventually lead them to"hide" you. "Unfriending," I think is a no-no ethics wise but if you're mean, like me, there is nothing really wrong in deleting a person you don't feel deserves your attention. I've hidden a number of friends for varied reasons, most of it is the triviality of their posts and in some, because they are too "intelligent" for my taste (read: conceited). Why don't I just unfriend them? They are network and I know that I may need their connection in the future.
Initially, I was just enjoying FB. I was hooked all day reading posts, status messages, and interacting with long-lost friends and even newfound friends. Lately, I saw the gem in social networking sites. I use it to pursue a cause especially now that my works include advocacies and are socially relevant. I also found that because I'm not a good speaker, it is pretty easy for me to communicate through the written word. I'm able to reveal my true self: humorous. When I was working in the Inquirer, people boxed me into this quiet type of person. With FB, they found that real (not other) side of me and I must say I could make some people laugh one way or the other. That gives me satisfaction and boosts my self-esteem.
You are what you share.
This I read in one status message and true enough, I could tell a person's personality and mood based on her posts. For my part, I love posting links about books, travel, and animals. This way, my friends know what to give as gift for Christmas (ehem). Seriously, they know me better sans face to face interaction.
I know that in some ways, I'm able to make a statement that I'm not stupid as perhaps what others might thought I am. I've proved that even if I was not from this or that school or I don't talk much and I don't know anything, I'm not an airhead. (Modesty aside.)
What I really hate about FB is not FB per se but the people who are just downright irritating. There is this one person who changes status messages every damn minute. I don't mind this tech guy because he shares relevant information but this one girl is just so irritating that I had to hide her.
I now know better posting status messages. I'm not giving some friends any reason to talk behind my back. I share happiness and sadness with motherhood statements and keep them guessing. I tell you, It was DAMN FUN keeping them guessing.
Security is probably one of the biggest issues with social networking sites. And I hope I made the necessary precautions of not revealing too much information. I think, it's all just a matter of being careful. It's just like going outside, you have to be careful and wary. Not because everyone offers unsolicited information, it is okay. I know my limitations and I'm sticking with it.
Another think that keeps me glued on FB are the games. I was not a gaming person. I think the virtual game that I can boast I was good is Diner Dash. But cooking at Cafe World and Restaurant City is so relaxing. Playing with Toybits in Pet Society is fun. With FB, I discovered that game child in me and I like it.
When I resigned from my company of 11 years, I never really thought that I'd lose my friends but I didn't think that I'll be constantly in touch with them. Thanks to social networking sites, it feels like we never really parted. For many of my close friends, we just picked up from where we left of.
Social networking sites are communities, only they're virtual. And I intend to live in this virtual world for as long as I can.
