Facebook, although a relatively new phenomenenon, is something myself and my peers think of as a normal part of every day life. Taking it for granted as if it always has, and was always supposed to be there.
Then I started getting getting friended by my parents, aunts and uncles. This kind of put things in perspective. It’s a tool, not unlike a cell phone, that happens to make communication much easier, less appreciated, and in this case it happens to be absolutely free. (I’m assuming you’re stealing wireless and using a stolen computer, you scamp.)
The article by Varadarajan (that’s a mouthful,) helped me to put things in perspective, though. He points out that up until their mid 30s my parents were communicating with people via the snail mail. I’m going to take that one step further, though, and say that people weren’t communicating with each other that all. That is to say, my dad, did not speak to any of his old high school classmates or work associates, that is aside from the few he had formed true friendships with. Now, thanks to social networking, he has over 300 friends (more than me!) I know. I would be more ashamed, but he’s quite the butterfly.
(I would just like to note that in the middle of typing this my mom and I just got into an argument about why she won’t friend my dad. “He’d stalk me - ‘Why did you say this?’ ‘Who’s that person’ ‘What does this mean?’” She’s probably right, but at the same time, her argument furthers Varadarajan’s argument - that is, old people take Facebook very seriously.)
It makes sense, though, that my parents (and the like) would take Facebook personally. It’s something they can appreciate more than I can. I’ve grown up with computers and instantaneous communication without the use of a cell phone. I can treat Facebook like a toy, throwing it across the room or complaining when it breaks/changes layout. They’re going to treat it very carefully, not taking it for granted and making sure every word counts.
Unfortunately, this hurts the children. I now have to deal with the fact that my relatives update often enough to comprise 50% of my newsfeed. (Thank god for filtering options.) I can’t post a status update without my father commenting on it. I’m home for Thanksgiving - his response “Yeh!!!!!!” It’s “Yeah” or “Yay” - I hate to break it to you Dad, but “Yeh” is not a word. Also, stop commenting on my status updates.
However, it does have its benefits. I taught my parents to text this summer, so I wouldn’t have to sit through any long pointless voicemails asking me where I was at random times. Now, communicating with them can be done over facebook, in a simple and effective way. I’m even considering creating a “Mirsky” family facebook group, so we can all communicate with each other more easily, in case there are any important announcements to make. I realize, too, that when all my other Facebook friends have moved on and forgotten about me, my family will still write on my wall on my birthday.
So yeah, forty-somethings on Facebook has its downside, but in the long run I suppose it’s not a bad idea. Also, I hate when I’m critical of my 19-years-in-the-future-self.
Wow, that rant went on longer than I expected. Hopefully it’s coherent. Happy Thanksgiving!
