I Love Facebook - No Really I Do

A plea to support a fundraising ball for a horrific genetic disease, a joyful engagement announcement, cheers for a hockey victory and frustration at a loss, "here is my lunch, yum!" These are some of the postings on my Facebook page.

I joined FB two years ago to see if it was useful as a way to create "communities of practice" for people who have attended classes at my work. At first I was overwhelmed with the postings, invitations, games, groups, announcements about "Mafia Wars" and the request for "eggs." How could this possibility be useful to anyone? My time was being sucked away by reading "Jerry Lewis has become friends with Matt Damon." And I care, why? Gradually, however, my opinion has changed.

At Christmas, my cousin's daughter posted pictures of the kids making cookies. I could almost smell them. My niece announced she was changing schools...moving from Florida. Florida? When did she get there? One day I read, "X is not so useful today (ok, I helped some people...this morning, but I bumbled a class today.) Within minutes there were three postings telling her she was going to get through it and people really admired her. Instant therapy of the most sincere loving kind.

Sure there are problems with security. (Note to everyone...nothing on the internet is completely secure.) I don't always want to know what my colleague had to eat or what movie my cousin hates. I don't care that you won a war, found a white kitty, planted a veggie or found an egg. FB can cut down on face-to-face interactions. One day three of us, in the same house, were communicating via FB postings. All we had to do was get up and walk 10 feet each and we could have communicated in person.

But there is something wonderful about introducing your bridemaids to each other via a group and having them share dress ideas; or seeing pictures of your new nephew moments after he's born; or knowing that you're not the only Olympics geek ... people you actually know are also watching curling. (Curling? I know that many people who watch curling?) People I may not see for years (my cousins) now can contact me on a regular basis. And the things I find out about colleagues!

No it's not a replacement for meeting and talking face-to-face. But Facebook is a fine way to get a conversation going, or continuing a connection after the tear-filled good-byes. It's brought me closer to my family and made me smile and laugh. That's not such a bad thing. Now excuse me please, I have to check my FB page before I sign off this evening.