Facebook my Friend

So, in case you haven't noticed, I am a prolific Facebooker. I login anywhere from 4-12 times a day to check messages, send messages and update my status. Facebook has become as important a part of my daily communications as email and that is unlikely to change anytime soon. So why is Facebook so important to me? Why do I feel the need to broadcast my thoughts and feelings to several hundred 'friends' on a regular basis? Am I an addict, a sad lonely middle-aged has-been, a cyber slut? Well, yes to some of those (cyber slut in particular) but for the rest - no. So what makes me different from the thousands of other sad, pathetic souls who spend countless hours socialising on their computers? Quite a bit I think.

First of all, I am a writer. It's who I am and it's the label I most identify with. It's about as concrete as me being a woman and a mother. Facebook is without question, the most useful broadcasting tool I've had as a writer, performer and artist. I've met some of my best contacts via Facebook, done most of my best marketing via Facebook and have even gotten some pretty sweet freelance contracts via Facebook - no shit!

So for the sake of a good debate, I'm curious to know how much people think is too much when it comes to time spent on a networking site like Facebook. Since I actually put a value on every activity I partake in during a day, including the mundane, it's interesting to me that I feel so immensely comfortable putting a positive value on the time I spend on Facebook. So how much time in concentrated value do I actually spend there? Not nearly as much as one might think. For example, I'm not there now. I am however logged into my email from the moment I wake up in the moring and put a steaming cup of coffee to my lips. My email immediately starts loading up all of the messages and comments I have received from everywhere I belong online- including myspace, youtube, Facebook and this (my blog). And then I start responding. Some people might think this is a waste of time, but to me, it is work and I assure you that each and every time I post something on my Facebook status, I have put something of myself into it. It's like a mental exercise. Or, a series of mental exercises. Think about the person who writes in a journal (I do this too), only these are journal entries you share. And why not? I love reading other people's statuses. And, I like to think I'm in a slightly more interesting position than the pregnant ladies who talk about their cervixes and the people playing Bejewelled Blitz or Mafia Wars. Slightly. I don't participate in online chats or msn because I find these too distracting and I am actually working. I know this is a concept which is hard to accept, but just think of me as the salesman who has to take a client out to dinner and then calls it work. I am taking you all out to dinner!

But seriously, prolific use of anything to the point where it is labelled an addiction is a dangerous thing. And like most other subjects, I actually know quite a bit about addiction. So do I think I am addicted to Facebook? No, absolutely not - Cherry Blossoms maybe, but Facebook? Nope. And here's why. Aside from me considering my status updates to be actual work and all (snicker if you must), I have an average day which looks something like this:

I wake up at 6.30am and go to bed somewhere around 11.00pm. In between those two times, I have managed to look after my child, get her off to school fed, clothed and smiling, made at least two meals for the 9 people who live in my house, do my work, run any errands and socialise. I never leave my house wearing pajamas or looking like a heroin junkie. I dress well, look after myself and I think it shows. I'm a speed reader (no joke) and plow through anywhere from 10 -20 books a week. That doesn't include the newspapers, periodicals and magazines I like to sift through as well. I can hold a conversation without a hitch and have been told my company is very entertaining. If you haven't seen me perform on stage, you should. I work really hard not to let you down. I hate wasting time. I am confident, but not vain. And while I do enjoy the company of others, I often prefer my own. Did I mention I live in a house of 9 people? Anyway, I feel like I am making justification for something which doesn't require it, but there you have it. I make no apologies, read my statuses or don't, it's entirely up to you. I love a good debate, it's good for the brain. And this is a subject I could talk about all day long......

P.S. - It's true about the book, I am writing one, it's a fictional account of a lady's year of status updates, a bit like Bridget Jone's diary but for the web geek. And remember it's fiction, so if it ever does get published and you ever do read it and you see something which remarkably resembles something you wrote many moons ago on Facebook as a comment or a status, I made it all up. And you can speak with my lawyer.

Some interesting ads I found on Kijiji....

I'm online alot, in case you haven't noticed. I work here, look for stuff and sometimes I even find things I like. Here are some of my favourite ads found on the Halifax Kijiji site:

1. Naked Group (also by the same poster - Naked Friends): Just naked people hanging out together doing all kinds of regular stuf naked - naked baseball, naked barbeques, naked swims, naked PTA meetings, all naked, all the time. In theory, I don't have a problem with this, from what little I know about people who like to live naked, this practice is apparently non-sexual in nature. Unfortunately, it's also usually really ugly people who participate. And I'm not sure if I want to know whether my daughter's teacher has a birthmark under her left tit or my lawyer's bum looks like cottage cheese and don't even get me started on the weiners. You see, in my sexist mind, men's equipment is always visualised rigid and spear like and followed by loud grumbles of "I am Thor God of War!!" I don't want to see flaccid winkies when I'm reading the paper or making dinner. To be fair, I actually feel the same way about women's bits. I like that my bra prevents my breasts from looking like dying balloons and unless I'm in the Med, I don't want to see Grandma's baby feeders flopping about while she simulates a Bo Derek beach jog. So please, please say no to the Naked Group for the sake of all that is decent (and mysterious).

2. Build a Terrarium Workshop: There are people who will pay proper money to sit with someone (an 'expert') for hours while they learn to build a garden in a jar with moss, dirt, twigs and plastic fairies. Are you willing to pay $40.00 to stuff random crap in a recycled jar and call it a garden? Then this ad's for you. We're still stuck in the days of scrapbooking and rughooking. Do we actually need another boring hobby?

3. Pretty Lady Needs Money: No, I did not post that ad. This pretty 25 year old is in need of 'fast cash' and all offers and suggestions are welcome. Honey, you don't need suggestions, just clients.

4. Questions to Your Answers. Do you believe that what you believe is really real?: Pardon me? Well actually, yes. I do believe that what I believe is really real. So obviously this group is not for me. It's for the people who don't believe in the things they believe in or who wonder if the things they believe in are really things or can be believed. Confused? Me too.

5. I Am Looking For Unwanted Items: Great. I have a neon sock (left foot) with a hole near the big toe area, a half used box of Q-tips (they hurt when you don't use them right) and a bag of Quality Street wrappers I was going to make a collage out of but frankly can't be arsed. Sounds like a win/win situation to me.

6. Do You Want to Learn the Chinese Peacock Dance?: Actually, yes.

7. Have You Had an Unusually Sinful Summer? We're Not Here to Judge.: While I kind of believe that Josie May and Billy Sue might not judge my especially sinful summer if I promise to repent, I'm a bit more supicious of the angry guy upstairs. I still have the scars from my lightening burn. Is there a time limit on this offer?

8. Wanted - Skookum Pully: Huh?

9. Personals: Bad. All of them. I was only there for research. Really. If you want to skip the dating process altogether and even the foreplay, there are apparently enough horny people in Halifax willing to give you their hotel room number, a meeting time and only ask that you bring the lube. Nice.