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In defense of Facebook Michael Boylan is enjoying Facebook. OK, that was never my status on what is arguably the nation’s (maybe even the world’s) top social networking site, but I do like Facebook. With the site closing in on 200 million members worldwide in a few days, there always seems to be something in the news about it. Some people say it is doomed to fail or that it is a stupid concept for narcissistic people to stroke their egos, while others focus on the business model and wonder how someone could hit on something so big. A few months back, all the talk was about “25 Random Things,” lists that people on Facebook created and then sent to their friends, so that they in turn would share 25 things about themselves and so on. Some of the random things ranged from minutiae like “My nickname in school used to be ‘Booger’ to ‘I dream of one day living in Southern France.’ It was a way to pass the time. That may be all Facebook is, but it is an engaging way to pass the time. It’s better than sitting back and absorbing the latest reality television show. With Facebook, you can catch up with old friends, play games (everything from Scrabble to Tetris), chat with people around the world, post pictures and videos and take nonsensical quizzes that tell you how long you would survive in a horror movie or which Beatle you are. Silly, I know, but these days couldn’t the world use a little more silly? Here are the things I particularly enjoy about Facebook. First, my best friend is on his second tour of duty in Iraq. It is an easy way for me to stay in touch with him and see what he is doing. Around Christmas, he asked his friends on Facebook to send over toys and school supplies for Iraqi children. The response was overwhelming. We constantly have a game of Wordscraper (Scrabble - just not in name) going and sometimes, I’ll pop on and see that he is on-line too. We can chat for a few minutes. I realize that there are other chat options out there, but Facebook is very convenient and cool. Second, my cousins are now all on Facebook. I don’t get to see them very often - they all live in Massachusetts or New Hampshire - but with Facebook I can see pictures of their kids and keep in touch, something we didn’t do very well before. Facebook takes away a lot of the awkwardness that either one of us would have felt just calling out of the blue. I even started a group for the novel I wrote - “Time Killer.” I post news about the book on there. Granted, there hasn’t been much news lately, but how cool is it that there is a group about my book? Lastly, I have reconnected with people I never thought I would ever see or hear from again. People that moved away in elementary school, my camp counselor and even old girlfriends. Trust me, it’s not what you think. For people who consider Facebook a Pandora’s Box and that people will use it to find and fall back in love with old flames, one only has to realize that someone who feels the need to do that didn’t need Facebook in the first place. Sure, it makes it a little easier, but men or women who are going to cheat will find a way to do it - web site or not. Facebook isn’t perfect. What is? Sometimes I get a friend request from someone I don’t know or care to connect with and sometimes I am forced to see boring posts from people I’m not that close with, but the good outweighs the bad. I’m glad I’ve seen the fifth grade class picture that sparked days of comments about the teachers that year. I’m happy when I win a Wordscraper game against my friends, co-workers or mother. I like being able to follow the preparations my cousin is making for her first child. Who knows if Facebook will last forever or if it is just a novelty or a passing fad. I’m for it and I hope that one day I’ll find my neighbor from across the street I grew up on or that girl in college I really need to apologize to for being such a jerk. Once I do, I’ll challenge them to a game of Wordscraper. login to post comments | Michael Boylan's blog
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