The Social Network

Facebook is simply amazing. It's great for reconnecting, for networking, for sharing information and heck - apparently it can spark a revolution.

It's hard to believe, just five years ago I discovered Myspace. I remember getting so frustrated, because I could not figure out how to change the backgrounds. Then as I finally got the hang of it - it became sooo sacred. My little self expression corner. I ended up reconnecting with a few old friends, and even made a few from around the world. ;-)

Then I finally made the transition to Facebook. I fought it at first. It used to be just a jumbled mess with tons of apps on each person's wall. Do you guys remember that? Then FB changed and looks a little more streamlined now. Then suddenly - the friend requests came pouring in. People I had forgotten about COMPLETELY. It's funny how (to this day) I still have to crack open the old high school year book to figure out who someone is.

I do have a Twitter account, but really it is just streamed and connected to this blog and the "fan page" for this blog. I rarely actually read who is following me, or do independent updates from this.

One of the best things about using social networking sites is the ability to reconnect. I am thrilled to have found people I loved so dearly as friends, and now they are back. Not only are they back - I get to see all of their pictures, read their bio, and get little insights into their daily struggles. Kinda cool if you ask me.

Another positive is, some of the people on there, honestly, maybe I was not a HUGE fan of in the past. But out of morbid curiosity I accepted them as a friend. But now, I actually like the adult version of them so much better than the person I once knew.

That's the nice thing about being out of high school 20 years - people are just people.

What I don't like about these sites is they can also stir up sooo much trouble and hard feelings.

Take the acceptance or decline of a friend request. I am guilty of denying people. What I hate to find out is that someone deleted me. It's not the fact that they deleted me, but I am always curious as to why. Or if you become FB friends, and try to correspond with them from time to time and they never respond. I always think - "Why are we even "friends" then." Drives me crazy.

Or the passive agressive act of deleting people or blocking people. Seriously - what is the point? I always laugh, because every time my husband and I would get into a big fight - he would delete me. LOL I am sooo not kidding. It almost became a joke after a while to me.

I even had a friend (a very good friend at that) completely cut me out of her life b/c she thought I was ignoring her. She would send me text messages (PS - I HATE texting).. and I simply would not respond sometimes. I figure, you want to have a conversation - pick up the phone. Then one day (which I was not aware b/c I never saw the post) - apparently she had a status update up about "how could someone update their status on FB but not have the time to return a text message." A friend told me about it, I checked it out, and just laughed. The next day - I was deleted and blocked from her account, and she has not even tried to talk to me about it. I ran into her and her boyfriend one day at the movies and I said hey and she walked on by. This is the same person I was very close to. LOL

Again - ridiculous drama.

So there is good and bad to everything. If we just take it for what it is - just a way to connect with old friends - then there should be no problems.

What about you? What do you like or dislike about FB? Also - if you are a regular follower here, and would like to connect with me on FB - you can find me under Nicole Thurston Abdou. I would love for some of my regulars to find me! :-)

Have a great Wednesday!