Tuesday, April 28, 2009

My Kind of Facebook


I've been invited a few times to join Facebook. So far I've resisted because of the massive time sucker it seems to be. I love my blog and I'm happy in this little corner of the Internet. But. I wonder.... I wonder what I'm missing. Anything?

So, what are you thoughts? Do you Facebook? Why or why not? If you do, will you tell me about it?

Do tell.



Evocative image spotted here, photographer unknown.

24 comments:

spread your wings said...

Relyn I felt the same way. I enjoy my blog so I didn't think I needed FB in addition. But my brother finally talked me into joining FB. He was having fun finding old school buddies and he thought I would too. So what was the harm. I created a page too. It's been pretty nice reconnecting with some old friends but other than that I don't do much with it.

i've missed you.

Unknown said...

Love your version of Facebook!

I like my blog better than FB because it is my therapy and I know that the couple of people who read it are willing to read more than a sound-bite about me.

I like FB because it has allowed me to get into contact with people I haven't seen in years. I've been able to establish a bit of a relationship with people I knew the faces of in high school. It allows me to keep tabs on the goings on in my extended family. It is also a great way to share photos. My circles of friends in FB are neighbors, friends from old jobs, high school friends, friends from churches I used to belong, and new friends. It is a great visual of 6 degrees of separation.

It has been a time-sucker but not since I started to blog more consistently.

amy said...

It can be a times sucker, and a less "productive" time sucker than blogging. I gave up both for Lent, and was sure I wouldn't return to Facebook, but it's a nice way to see what friends are up to with minimal effort, so I'm back. Also good for catching up with old friends.

So yes, I Facebook, but blogging will always be my first love.

Oh--I hear Claire de Lune; is that the most beautiful song ever, or what?

You have a beautiful blog here -- I'm bookmarking you!

Lubna said...

Hi Relyn,
I am not on FB, but I do use LinkedIn extensively. It helps me connect with a vast range of people through their Q&A forum, plus there are groups devoted to various interests - there is a women in photography group, for instance.
Best,
Lubna

Mrs. E said...

As a teacher--Facebook is the best. I am catching up with 27 years of my former HS students. I get to see their families and find out what they are doing with their lives. I would never have started on FB or Myspace, but after I had a stroke my daughters were sure these two social sites would lure me back onto the computer. They were right. I just dropped myspace and am just on FB these days. It was a great way to get word out on the state of our schools after the tornado last summer. Students and alum needed reassuring. I say go for it!

Unknown said...

Hello Relyn,

In many ways we are living life vicariously through these other media. I don't use Facebook or anything else and really do believe that they would consume time I don't possess. I don't think I need to trace people who I haven't seen or thought about for years. We shouldn't need this to keep in touch with really good friends.

I'm grateful that some people enjoy my blog and I know that I'm glad to have found the ones I follow. Hopefully, we each get something more from that.

Patti said...

Hi~ I felt the same way, but did/do use Facebook and love it! It is a time sucker, but I am able to control it. Sometimes it needs more time than others but I feel it is worth it. I love the feeling of connectedness it brings and I feel more in touch with people. I have also been able to re-connect with friends from high school as well as extended family members. Many of the teachers at school have it and it's a social way to see what's going on with them since there are some teachers I never see. I also love the picture sharing ability of FB. No way does it replace blogging and I spend way more time blogging than FB, but I would not want to give FB up.

Jeanne said...

Yes I facebook as my son is on there and he posts all his photographs there.
Limit my time as I do all time on the net.......
Spring is short and meant to be enjoyed.
Love you

Yolanda said...

I don't get on it as much as I should or others do but I live across the country from many of my extended family and friends and it is a way to keep up with those I know from my past and how they are doing.
I find that for both of us sometimes a quick comment is the highlight of my day from an old friend .
I think that the time you spend of the site is up to you.
I find it to like micro blogging in away.

TheChicGeek said...

Relyn, great picture :)
I have a Facebook and I would like to delete it but I don't want to hurt people's feelings...LOL
I love blogging because I think people get more real in the blog world. Facebook is silly in so many ways. I rarely go on...There is only so much time in life, you've got to pick and choose :)
Have a Happy Day!

Kirsten Steen said...

Hi Relyn,
Loved your last post by the way with your always gorgeous imagery. Hope the weekend was as much fun as you'd hoped.
FB can be very much of a time waster if you let it. But also a way of connecting that we don't get elsewhere. Nearly my entire family is there now (from all over the planet) and friends I haven't connected with in years (even from grade school!). I've also used it as a way to connect with other writers to have a wider frame of reference. To me it is such a fun (and faster) way to keep in touch and feeling connected than email (which used to be the fast way). But you do have to be careful about getting lost in there and not coming out for hours.

Char said...

I FB and am able to control it. Of course I twitter too and it hasn't taken over my life. It's all a matter of balance.

FB is a great way to reconnect with people and a great way to promote a blog if you want to do that.

Anonymous said...

They're two different tools. Blogging is about nurturing the inner, FB is about reaching out. Although I have an account, I hardly use FB because I find most of it rather silly. But it is definitely a way of getting in touch with people and promoting your "stuff".

Deanna Bland Hiott PhD, MSN, RN said...

I think Johanna hit the nail on the head. I do not have a Facebook acct. yet. However, most all my children do. I can see that it could be a great unifier but with 6 children of my own it also seems as if could become one more place to take care of people! Blogging is definitely more theraputic for me at this time :)

Jessica said...

In college I facebooked a lot. Now I use it to keep in contact with far away friends. In fact, just today a great friend with high school sent me a link of an acapella group (my favorite) singing our favorite song. It made me smile and reminded me why I love that silliness of facebook.

beth said...

I really hate facebook....BUT BUT BUT....I have been able to get back in touch with so many high school friends and that has been GREAT !!!!

and it's less time consuming for me than blogging because that's how I want it to be...so don't be afraid to try it....it can always go away if you don't want it any longer :)

Cam said...

How magical if that were the only Facebook? I would sign up any day!

My Facebook account is not quite two weeks old yet. My best friend put a hit out on me, though. I had no choice.

But, seriously, it has been nice to send a few little messages to old friends, and new. I could see how much time it would easily take, but I don't go for the quizzes and junk. I say hellos, I comment pictures, and I sign-out. Maybe a chat every now and again...

If you join up, let me know!! But, I'm not sure if you should, the word verification is: 'worse'. I promise! lol

ELK said...

i will not sign up for a FB account...my two older daughters (age17/21) have had accounts since it became popular a few years ago and I have always felt like that would be a sort of an intrusion, they use it for so much communication with friends etc and to have mom "looking over their shoulder" so to speak would be weird.

also i do not think I could find one more free moment in my day to devote to it...
just my 2 cents worth
elk

Deanna Bland Hiott PhD, MSN, RN said...

Hello again Relyn, just wanted you to drop by Mops and Pops Place and pick up a little something special. Enjoy!

K. said...

Congrats on your Lemonade Stand award from Mops and Pops!

As far as facebook, I wrote an "Open Letter to my Facebook Family and Friends" that you may be interested in reading: http://kirtipatelmd.blogspot.com/2009/04/open-letter-to-my-facebook-family-and.html .

Happy blogging! Your blog looks wonderful...

Sharon Rose said...

Relyn,
I joined facebook after the coaxing of my sister and brothers. If you aren't disciplined, it could easily become a time sucker. However, I have connected with two friends I haven't seen since I moved from the deep south 19 years ago. We have actually met and had dinner and chats. It is also a great way for me to keep up with my Southern family without waiting for email. I enjoy it. However, I LOVE my blogspot best!

Nellie said...

Hello Relyn,
Just wanted to put my two cents worth in regarding FB. I've been encouraged by friends to set up an account, but haven't and probably won't because I love my blog. For me, blogging is my way of 'keeping in touch with myself'!

I try to keep up with wonderful blogs such as yours, but sometimes I get behind. But, trust me, I do get a chance to pop in every so often.

Namaste'
Barb

Jeanie said...

Facebook. I am such a bad Facebook friend. If I paid as little attention to my "real" friends or "blog" friends as I do to FB, I'd have no friends at all.

Facebook is as much of a time sucker as you let it be. I started because I had to -- I administer our TV station's facebook pages. So, my account is attached to my work. Which is terribly restrictive -- who wants to talk about all the goofy, fun, real life stuff when your company's image is inadvertently affected? So, on my other email, I sent up a personal account. Then the friends cross pollinated. Now I don't know who's a friend where, some are both, and I never have time to post or search!

(Having said that, my last name is not common; I've lived in the same spot forever... and no one has looked for me from my past. I can't decide if I'm relieved or insulted!)

But the blog -- oh, that's an entirely different matter! Smile!!!

SE'LAH... said...

I don't have facebook...probably won't ever. Email and this blog is about all I can handle. Call me a dinosaur :-)

Oldies, but Goodies