Facebook, Poetry and Blogs

I wonder myself why I am writing all this poetry and not the usual narrative blog. I think one reason lies with a surfeit of words. I’m tired of reading self-proclaimed purveyors of wisdom whose words wind in upon themselves and meander out again, without nexus or discernable destination. I fear being one of those writers with all my being.

I’m also a newbie on Facebook, the social networking Web site. I’m a Facebook latecomer, having resisted the invitations to join until the same girlfriend who turned me on to my last job sent me a “friend request.” I’ll always respond to her recommendations!

I’m a four week veteran on Facebook, and I see its pluses and addictiveness. For someone with a bit of OCD, Facebook is like a Pavlovian device that renders sufficient numbers of treats to keep me coming back. Joining is free, and you can do it from the privacy of your Internet-ready cell phone!

Here are my top ten reasons endorsing Facebook:

10. You can have your 15 minutes of fame. You choose what and how much to post and control the timing. Would Andy Warhol be surprised at the institutionalization of everyone’s 15 minutes?

9. You can finally feel really popular. Saying “Yes” to everyone’s “friend request” including those from people you don’t know will make your “friend” count rise. My most popular friends are teenagers whose “friends” number in the hundreds.

8. You can join groups of like-interested folk who make public statements of what they care about or hate. The advantage over real-space groups is that you can obsess without having to perform.

7. It’s a networking tool. You get to meet new people in cyberspace and leave it there or take it further. Occasionally you might glean useful data. You’ll almost always be amused.

6. You can renew old friendships. "Friend" search functions encourage you to find acquaintances from school days. I’ve heard of online confessions of former bad behavior. If they don’t say they’re sorry, you can always “block” their sorry asses.

5. You can find dates and mates. From your profile to groups, opportunities are rife to facilitate never having to say, “I’m alone.” Discriminating judgment, though, is still your responsibility.  

4. You can share photos with friends and relatives for free. It’s like sending a holiday letter all year long. The up side is that friends can say, “Enough already” to your kids’ cuteness, your dream vacation or your new tattoo.

3. You can share your wisdom with friends and friends of friends. Comment options are built into everything from “Status” to posted “Notes” and “Photos.” You can even comment on someone’s “Comment.” Facebook means never having the last word. 

2. You can feel connected to friends near and far through online eavesdropping. For a quickie, check out your friends’ “Status Update.” To satisfy your deeper curiosity and really suck time, click on “Live Feed.”

1. You can be a friend to someone who’s feeling lost and confused. There just might be a Facebook friend online late at night who needs someone to talk to – you! Facebook has the potential to be an avenue for ministry if you listen for longer than a minute.