What is it about Facebook that gives me the heebie jeebies? Last week we were having dinner with friends. Actually, it was a sorority get together with our spouses (sorry Poppy, it’s a Southern thing). Anyway, the conversation turned to a lunch meet up with old college acquaintances facilitated by Facebook.
“Joie, you should come. Barbie will be there, and Ken, and you remember Midge and Allan, don’t you? I think Skipper said she might come, too”
I smiled and nodded and thought privately “Yes, I remember what a drip Barbie was. You’ve got to be kidding me? Why would I want to see people I’ve successfully avoided as much as politely possible for the last 20 years? And why the hayell is Midge coming when Allan will be there and she was traumatized for years after he raped her? Jeebus, count me out.”
So my girlfriends wheedled and whined about how everyone is on Facebook and it’s the only way to keep up with everyone and really I should open a Facebook account.
Here’s the thing about Facebook: Peter Thiel, co-founder and financier behind this little project is mad. Seriously, this guy is a loon. Despite the charming Mark Zuckerberg being the face of Facebook, Thiel is the power behind the throne. I don’t want to give all of my personal information to a loon.
When I tried to explain why I would not be making a Facebook profile any time soon I kept getting, “Joie, it’s so safe. You can set your privacy settings so only your friends can see them”. Um, no. Only my friends and anyone Facebook chooses to share my information with for any purpose. Don’t believe me? Read their privacy statement.
Facebook is not private. Any time you put anything on the internet it can be read by anyone for any reason.
So would I give a perfect stranger my employment and education history along with my current address and a portal to my private conversations (much like a phone tap)? No. Would I be more inclined to do so if the stranger is a known loon? Hayell no! Do I care that Barbie and Ken and the various charities I work with can’t find me on Facebook? No. Somehow I imagine the Facebook machine will keep chugging along without me.
Oh, and to the creepy guy who didn’t get to nail me in high school? Have fun trawling the internet looking for women you’ve fixated on for years. You certainly won’t find me.
8 responses so far ↓
1
Laura
// Feb 4, 2009 at 11:34 am
Yeah, I don’t get the whole facebook thing either. Maybe I’m just getting old…hmmmm….
Lauras last blog post..Sleepless in Kerrville
2
Poppy Buxom
// Feb 4, 2009 at 11:51 am
But Joie, if it’s a Southern thing, how come it’s happening in Chicago? I’m telling you, those Kappas want to ruin my self-esteem.
I use my usual method of dealing with internet craziness with Facebook: I joined under a fake name.
The fact is, I have two FaceBook accounts. The one under my real name is my chump account. It’s for people I knew in high school and college who don’t interest me. When they friend me, I friend them back. Then I go back to ignoring them.
Works for me!
Poppy Buxoms last blog post..Let me get you up to speed.
3
Badger
// Feb 4, 2009 at 1:49 pm
THANK YOU! Jeebus Christmas, I have a rant similar to this lurking in my drafts folder but you said it so much better than I could, so I’ll just direct people over here. There is no effing way I’m joining FaceBook. So everyone can QUIT ASKING, yo.
Badgers last blog post..Life savers and part two
4
Leslie
// Feb 4, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I don’t blame you, and you definitely have every right to boycott Facebook. I am amazed at how people have changed though. Some people I went to HS with, we have actually formed a friendship (and we have seen each other at reunions so it isn’t like it is all online) and then just the other day, someone I was in Girl Scouts with found me. That was nice.
I know it isn’t private, but you can limit how much information is available and if I don’t want to put information out there, I can leave it blank.
I like it but don’t spend my whole life there!
Leslies last blog post..Grocery Shopping - why can’t they get it right?!
5
Kristen
// Feb 4, 2009 at 4:20 pm
My mother just asked me why everyone on Facebook thought my birthday was Sunday. Um, because there is some info that is simply not necerssary to disclose? But I did have a fabulous Facebook birthday. Oh. And your shirts will be there by 2/14. LOL r
Kristens last blog post..The funny things in life and the Virginia Wine Showcase 2009
6
Green Girl
// Feb 4, 2009 at 9:09 pm
THANK YOU for such an awesome argument–may I print it out and just hand it/email it to everyone wanting to friend me on facebook? Like you, I find it unappealing in SO many ways.
Green Girls last blog post..take me out to the ballgame
7
Anglophile Football Fanatic
// Feb 5, 2009 at 3:32 pm
I only have my account to play Scrabble. I ignore everything else. I don’t get it.
8
Janet
// Feb 6, 2009 at 2:11 pm
You have a point. I opened a page about 2 weeks ago (I did not give my location or phone numbers). Among my friends are some high school acquaintances, blog buddies, and current theatre friends here in town. Oh, and I do NOT have my blog listed on my facebook page. I mentioned to a fellow blogger that if those high school folks ever got to talking to the current friends, the internet would implode. I did however, manage to find my mom’s best friend from college (think 1965) and they’re catching up now. So I think it was worth it. But yeah, there are a number of people who take it way too seriously.
Janets last blog post..Snow Days
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