Facecrack

Well, after yesterdays emotional blow out, today's post will be fluffy and light. Like a perfect meringue (that would kill me).  So today I'll post a little ode to facebook. 

I was never a myspacer, or twitter-er (although I have accounts with both, I've never really used either). My first foray into anything social on the internet was mothering.com where I made many amazing friends while attempting to get pregnant for 400 years. I started reading infertility blogs and then eventually read some mama blogs when I finally, blissfully, luckily got pregnant. 

Eventually, the forums weren't working for me anymore. Too many people to follow, too much drama, too much self righteousness... and I wasn't having that much fun anyway. I'd had a facebook account for a while, but had never updated it, or really done much with it... and then I gave it a try. (honestly, I don't really remember why, but I'm pretty sure someone mentioned how awesome it was to find old friends there). At first I didn't really get it, it seemed kind of self absorbed and dumb... and then I got hooked. 

Truly I have a love/hate with facecrack. I love hearing what people near and far are up to all day long, I love the funny anecdotes, the pictures, the memories. I hate that I feel compelled to check it multiple times a day, but I do it anyway. Someone mentioned to me the other day that she thought facebook was sad, that she just pictured all of these people alone in their houses updating the inanities of their day. i guess it doesn't feel like that to me, as I wouldn't call someone just to tell them I'm baking pumpkin bread, but sometimes I'll see someone else update that they are... and dammit I need some too.  Or someone i know will post they are having a bad day, and I'll have just the ticket to cheer them up. (and occasionally, that person is me!)  I love that I know what my best friends from now and past are  doing in the middle of the afternoon. I love knowing what my mom had for dinner. I love seeing pictures of my friends and their kids doing random things throughout the day. I love the cryptic updates that make me wonder. 

Why do you love or hate facecrack?

Comments

[anna kiss]

I have Facebook up all day if I'm at home and online. I just leave it there and I'll check it as a pause in whatever I'm doing. It's a little like the word "um." It's a time to search for what I need to do next, a space to follow a trail through my neural pathways to the next thing I was thinking of. I think it's a bit that since I multitask - especially being a woman and a mother - that I need to multitask in a way, that I've been programmed for it and thus think better that way. Odd logic, but it rings true for me.

As for loving it, I like to think up cryptic status updates. One article I read talked about how Facebook creates an "ambient awareness" which gives an illusion of connectedness in a world where we hunger for community. For me, in lieu of having community with me in my home, I can remain connected to my outer community whilst I do the things I gotta do in this nuclear household.

Which is also what I hate about Facebook - I think that it's a distraction from what's really needed. What we really need is meaningful interaction - which, most certainly for us mama types, includes a participation in the mundane, the necessary, the boring drudgery of supporting existence. Facebook is a little like "Value added" to our already meaningless lives: pouring saccharine in the wound of want.

In the end I know it's a sorry substitute, but it's all I got.

[Johanna]

I hate that it interferes with work. I get sucked in and can't leave. Next thing you know it's been hours and I still don't have anything done.

I love it for all the same reasons you mention. I love being able to connect with people that you would otherwise not have time to get a hold of, just to say hi.

I love it. I hate it. I'm sticking with it ;)

[kelly]

mostly love it. sometimes hate the asshats. sad but also glad that is a somewhat consistent way for me to see what's up with my sibs.

[Alison]

Ready for TMI...... because it gives me something to read when I get a quiet few minutes in the bathroom... alone ;-)