Larocque and Roll

Crackbook April 10, 2007

One of the unexpected outcomes of the ball hockey tournament a few weeks back was the discussion which ranged around the topic of Facebook. Several people had accounts, and they were talking about who had them, who they’d found online, how they knew where so-and-so was because it was posted on their account, etc. My sisters and I didn’t have accounts, but we were intrigued. By the following Monday, all three of us had account, and were experiencing firsthand the joys and agonies of Facebook.

For the uninitiated (*ahem* Julie *ahem*), Facebook is a social networking site, where you post a profile, and look for people to be your friend (or who want to be your friend). You can join networks based on your geographic location, employer, alma mater(s), etc., as well as special interest groups. In a way, it’s a little like My Space for the 20+ crowd - it’s cleaner, more professional, and there are fewer annoyances on the page.

I’ve been playing with it for a few weeks, and I think I can fairly highlight the pros and cons so far.

CONS:
It is a huge time suck. The first day? I spent the better part of six hours I didn’t have giggling and checking obsessively to see if anyone wanted to friend me or respond to my friend request. Since then, I’ve dialed it down a few notches, but I still spend more time than necessary checking my email for updates.

I don’t think of myself as being a vain person, but holy geez, I can’t believe how much time and effort I put into trying to get a good profile pic. There are seventeen pictures of myself which will never see the light of day - I tried various angles, sources and types of light, flash or no flash, hair up, hair down, and so forth. Never have I spent so much time in the pursuit of something so meaningless. The picture I have up right now? I really am smiling, but because of the lighting and the angle my head is tilted at, it looks like I’m glaring at the camera. Or at least giving you my “your fines will not magically disappear because you called me a bad name” look. [1]

PROS:
At first, the friending went slowly. Then, I got a hit from a friend in high school, and then another one who I hadn’t seen in years. Then hits from a couple of cousins I haven’t seen or talked to in ages, and then a few more. Then more friends from high school, a few friends from undergrad, a couple from library school, and then a bunch of people I know through blogging or librarian-type places showed up. Some of those people I haven’t seen in ages, and their stories and adventures from between then and now are facinating. I’m now caught up on what everyone’s been up to since we last saw each other, and other new and surprising things. And that’s awesome.

My verdict? Worth the time suck.

[1] Sadly, if you work in a public library long enough, you will have to cultivate a look that says just that. Especially if you’re the manager and a whole lot younger than the rest of your staff.