Why trade real relationships for 348 “cyber friends?” You do what you do very well and it’s REAL. Is Facebook really going to add more joy to your life? I vote to keep doing what you do best with the folks who really care for you (but then I also use a circa 1999 cell phone, so what do I know about technology ? And no, they haven’t kicked me out of Silicon Valley yet for refusing to upgrade, though I don’t share my low-tech sentiments with folks out here).

Facebook has allowed me to reconnect with friends I haven’t seen or talked to in many, many years. I didn’t know where any of these people lived or how to get in touch with them. Thanks to FB, a huge void has been filled in my life. My dad is even on FB for cryin’ out loud and he’s 74 years old! He is going to hold “Facebooking for Cool People” classes for the seniors at his church. I can’t tell you what I think is best for you, but I’d love to have you on Facebook you’d know what’s going on with me too! There is no rule that says you can’t just lurk around!

Join facebook!! It’s fun! I have been able to get in touch with friends from high school who I really enjoy getting in touch with. I can post pictures to share quickly. There are fun groups to join and then you get updates on the things you’re intersted in. (TV shows, Oregon turned 150, President Obama, or you can create your own group and administor it and invite people in, etc.) It has an IM feature built in. There are fun/silly things that you can send to your friends like birthday cards, Mardi Gras items, or Star Wars characters. Or you can start a virtual food fight! And you do not have to sign on everyday. No pressure from me, but it has been a fun addition for me.

OMG! It can be the biggest “time-waster” out there, if you let it, but it’s soooo fun!!! It’s great catching up with old friends AND I like it because it helps me keep up with my daughter who’s away at college out of state. I can see what she’s up to, look at her pictures, see her friends…kinda handy!

Oh I forgot… I have the above Close to Home comic posted on my facebook page, and I read the same online article that you read about how facebook NEEDS our generation to really make it work. It was very funny! We’ve been out of high school long enough that there are people we actually miss, and we’ve also forgotten any teenage angst and put it behind us and we’re glad to be in contact with people who may have not been the nicest people to us, AND we’re mature enough to know NOT to post drunken photos of ourselves to be seen by the world and immortalized forever!

Don’t give in to peer pressure – that’s what you tell your kids! You do fine keeping in touch. This afternoon I sat on my deck listening to the water and the birds while watch two weiner dogs roll on their backs in grass then lay there in the sun. Would I trade that for time on FB??? NOOOOOOOOOO!! Just say no.

I’m voting for Facebook. I joined over a year ago. I love it as a means to keep tabs on my college kids. I get to see fun pictures of what they and their friends are up to that I probably wouldn’t get to see otherwise. Their friends even invite me to be their friend! It’s fun when they Facebook chat me too! Just another way to stay connected. I too have connected with some old childhood friends I haven’t seen in years.

I even formed my own Facebook Group – Mother’s Who Embarrass Their Children by Having their Own Facebook Page – we are over 700 members strong – you should join!!

Okay, you KNOW that I’m technologically challenged…BUT…I think that FACEBOOK, while having many merits in finding “long lost friends”, can potentially be a HUGE competitor for time and attention as well…I DID sign up for an account (don’t keel over, Sherra) but it was probably their shortest account to date, as I only had it for 20 minutes! How does one say this diplomatically?!? Oh heck!, I’ll just do what I always do well and blurt it out! There were MANY faces that popped into my life in that 20 minute span that were people I had hoped would stay “LONG LOST” and so I decided that rather than broach that awkward moment of “ignoring” someone’s request to “be my friend”, I would stay in the cyberspace world clearly defined as e-mail for as long as possible. Face it, Sherra, I think that you like way more people than I do, so you might want that to weigh heavily in your decision! ;0)

My husband talked me into joining this past Dec. ( I said I didn’t have time) as he had connected with many college friends. I too have found HS and college friends I never would have found otherwise and it’s been fun to re-connect. So many of us in this age group joined to keep up on our kids and found out we enjoyed it ourselves! I have also re-connected with people locally that for one reason or another I had lost touch with. 6 months into a new business–I’d say that has been helpful. I have to be very discplined with it however or it will suck my time away. If someone sends a friend request or a message I want to go on and take care of it and pretty soon I’ve wasted 30 minutes. Some people are obsessed and e-mail me on FB rather than my other account and I don’t like that. I’ve decided to only go on when I’m watching something on TV so at least I’m kind of “multi-tasking” The guy who works on my computer told me today that since I’ve had two issues with my laptop since Dec-it could be everyone in my family using it for FB! I’m not sure if I helped your decision one bit

Well, I’m a “For” Facebook vote I guess. I know you have this blog but I bet there are some folks on Facebook that you might find that would enjoy it as well. I’m like all the others in lauding the finding folks you’ve lost touch with and I know you can’t even believe that about me! High school and twins club folks. Not sure if you care but you just might surprise yourself since you are all about keeping up with folks. We don’t always have the time to respond on your blog and on Facebook you could keep tabs on us!! (and keep track of birthdays, lol!) There are a few folks that I have ignored and a few that I’m still looking for but I do think it can be a great tool IF you can control your time (which by reading your blog you have difficulty with anyway, lol!) so, your decision but it is a great way to spy on your kids. I like the fact that I can look ANYTIME. it’s amazing to me how many of them post pictures that should NEVER be made public! One more thing to preach about to my children.
Can’t wait to see what your decision is. I’m sure you’ll add me as a friend if you join, won’t you?

OK, I’m going to be another odd woman out here. I also vote NO for Facebook. It seems like a complete time waster and I can see Teri’s point in the awkwardness of not wanting to be someone’s friend just because you are invited.

I will add that I have never even been on Facebook to look around so maybe I’m completely off base but it seems like communication loses its personal touch on sites like Facebook and Twitter.

I’ll be interested to see what you choose to do. You’ve obviously hit on a hot topic for your blog!

aunt Sherra you need to join facebook. im on it and thats how i talk to your two daughters and thats also how i keep in contact with aunt julie… my mom doesnt have one though

I’m just going to add a little more to my previous post. Yes, you will get requests from folks that you don’t care to be in touch with but it’s not embarassing at all to ignore them. No stress, no worries, it’s all up to you and while the time factor does continue to be the biggest problem, I’m pretty sure you could handle it.
I only saw one “against” vote that had actually tried it out and I’m not sure that 20 minutes is enough of a trial. Sorry!
I know you’ve done an awesome job of staying in touch with folks from your past but let’s face it, not all of them do such an awesome job of staying in touch with you! This is the way. They can post ONE time and all of their friends, including you, can know where they are going on vacation, where they have been, what is going on in their lives. I KNOW I’ve had things happen in my life that I will forget to tell you about. I DO hope you are still thinking about this decision. It’s one thing for all of us to subscribe to “your” life, why don’t you want to “subscribe” to ours? Just a thought.