Facebook

Facebook is a bright shiny new toy. Everyone wants one, or wants to play with one. I was lured in, like so many other people I know. Wasting hour upon hour perusing the endless pages of those I know, I knew, or only maybe-sort of-I think I recognize their face-know.

When I first joined, I 'friended' most everyone I knew. People I graduated from high school with, people that moved away in elementary school, people that I worked with at one place or another. Over time, I noticed something strange happening. I would see these people in public and they wouldn't acknowledge me. There was this blatant refusal of even the slightest kindness or a wave 'hello'. I made a decision then to 'unfriend' all the people that couldn't be bothered to be my friend in public.

What's more public than Facebook? Everyone can see everything - even with endless security settings!

Facebook has stolen countless hours from my life. The messaging, the games, the endless photos of my friends' children to look at. To be honest, I hate it. I hate the lost time, the useless emails, the nonsense and drama it can bring about.

I detest you, Facebook. Some how when I look and see what everyone else is doing I feel left behind, or left out. It's a terrible feeling. I sign out, look around, and remind myself that my life is good right now. I am blessed! I've worked really hard to get where I am, and I refuse to feel insignificant or put down because of something I saw on the internet.

I still have a Facebook page, though. No matter how much I hate it, I'm still there. I have more than 40 first cousins. We are spread out across the entire United States, and Facebook really is the best way for me to keep in touch with them. Facebook served as a great tool after my grandmother passed away - we could all check on each other, and send photos of Gramma back and forth without a glitch!

Once or twice a week I think about deleting my account. I don't really use it, I rarely post anything for myself. Then a cousin graduates, or gets engaged, or finds a new job. Without my social network, my life would be much more solitary than it is now. Without my social network, I'd lose the close connections I've built with some of my family members. In the end, I'll probably keep my account for quite some time. It's too useful to be worthless for me!