Facebook

Okay, most of the people I talk to don't like Facebook. I can see that.

It can maybe seem a little insipid, having an on-line life instead of a real one.

It's complicated to say to people who want to be your "friend" that you don't have time for them.
But it's a little like a small town. If someone says "hi" to you as you walk to work in the morning, you say hi back, maybe comment on the weather, and maybe feel good about living in a small town.

I liked living at Holden Village in the North Cascades for just that, living with 70 people all winter long and staying current on their joys sorrows hopes dreams stories opinions families. It can be a very rich life.

And if someone slightly annoys you, you can have short encounters, or walk a route in which your paths don't cross.

And if you're having a bad day, month, or year, people figure it out and make allowances for what you need then.

Facebook does take a while to figure out, like any small town. Where do people get haircuts, where are the good playgrounds, what do you do about mold in the basement, do the moose always eat the garden the day before you're planning to harvest?

I think part of what I like is that when someone is writing to you alone, you get a little email alert, "wake up, Jeff."

Also, when you go on your wall, and there are comments on life in general, you see the person's face. Seeing a friend's face with a message sure beats getting just an idea, like this post. Wait, I'll put a photo right here. Doesn't that make a difference? (yikes, too many megapixels!)

I recently learned that you can "hide" people who are super loquatious on your "wall," so they don't come up and obscure the more humble, less expressive friends you want not to get lost in the shuffle.

What do you think? Have you tried Facebook. Does it give you more of a sense of community, does it overwhelm you, do you have tricks you use, or parts of it you discovered that seemed particularly fun or real?