I’m going to sound like a tool as I write this. I know that, but I’m going to do it anyway because it’s not everyday that I wake up and realize that a website makes my life so much better. Not easier. Not more convenient. Better.
If you read my blog you would expect that website was run by Google. You would be wrong. I do love Google. But it’s not of Google. This particular website is probably the biggest tool of a website on the internet. There are so many things I dislike about their company.
But I’m here, this quiet Friday morning, realizing that despite all the things I dislike, Facebook has made my life better. Here’s why.
I’ve connected with my family in new ways. This morning, before I even got out of bed actually, I was blessed to see a picture of my brand new baby cousin on Facebook that was posted by his grandpa. That may not seem like a big deal, but when you live 2500 miles away from family, any glimpse into what is going on in any of their lives gives me a sense of belonging and perhaps eases my guilt a little of choosing to live so far away.
But it’s so much more than just that. In the past year or so I’ve got to know what was going on in the lives of my family and then when I go home we get to spend time just being together, rather than feeling like we have to catch up on everything. We get to show each other than we pay attention and know what’s going on and ask questions about those things. Things that we would normally do if we all lived closer.
I’ve reconnected with old friends. I also had lunch with a girl I went to high school with who also lives in the same town as I do. Again, may not seem like a big deal, but when you are from a place where a lot of people never leave, or move back to, it’s a big deal. When you live in some random coastal city all the way across the country that no one in their right might and our age can typically afford to live, it’s a big deal.
It’s like little pieces of both my worlds colliding. I used to fear that–worlds colliding. Now I actually wish it would happen more.
You also learn things about people, things you would otherwise never know. I don’t mean those stupid quizzes either, though I’m just as guilty of taking them. A former co-worker of mine who moved away because her husband is in the military is apparently a geek like me. I had no idea. In fact, I wish I would have known. It’s not because we didn’t talk, we did, but sometimes the little details like that just don’t come up much. Or perhaps we just don’t pay attention unless it’s staring at us.
I’m not a good question-asker when it comes to getting to know people. I know sometimes it’s taken as not being interested, but I’m always afraid I’m asking too much, or I just simply don’t know what to ask. But now I’ve taken the information I’ve learned and the connection we’ve formed and I get to use it to better my relationships and know what questions I should ask.
On their sign-up page, Facebook says: Facebook helps you connect and share with the people in your life.
I guess that is what it’s all about. We’re connecting in ways we wouldn’t otherwise connect and with people we may not otherwise connect.
One last thing. I think there is a very good reason that MySpace failed where Facebook succeeded. While MySpace has made some changes in the last year, it always seemed to focus more on me. Afterall, it was MYspace. You customize your profile which you presumably want people to see. You add friends and fill out the about me. Then, you wait. You wait on messages or people to comment on your page. Sure, you might seek out other people’s profile, but it was a lot of work. It’s much easier to stay on your own page posting new stuff. MySpace just always seemed more focused on the user (and glitter graphics) and for most of us, it was just far too much work to go around reading every single friends’ profile to find out things.
Facebook on the other hand is more about what everyone else is doing. Sure you put up your pictures and your statuses, but it’s really all about being forced in some ways to look at that news feed of what everyone else is doing. I rarely spend anytime on my own profile page on Facebook, or even anyone else’s page for that matter. It’s all in the home page that I never have to leave if I don’t want and can still be social and connect with my friends.
So there it is. My not well thought out but I’m still not a tool plug of Facebook. Some days I hate Facebook. But overall, it’s made me a better friend, better co-worker and better family member to the people in my life.
Now I’m going to get back to my Google love.
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