To Facebook or not to Facebook....

Attending a recent family funeral, I was the target of evangelism. Only this time it wasn't for Christ; I was being evangelized to give my life to facebook. "Yes, sister, come on down and repent of your lack of participation in social networking. Confess your life to your friends and family, acquaintances, near and far, with those who are friendly and those with an inclination toward Schadenfreude. Open up your life to one and all that has clicked the friend request."

Groan.

I know better than that and must trust my instincts on this one for now.

There are many reasons to keep my life to myself, and I love the confidence that a little anonymity gives me. I like disappearing for a weekend and not sharing every little detail of my vacation with even my closest friends and family. Do they even care? Should they? I really would like the sense of privacy in enjoying a family outing without providing a play by play account of the weekend. If only it could stay that way. Unfortunately for me, my hubby and son post faithfully all our doings on their respective facebook pages so I feel like I'm running from the paparazzi. Ridiculous, I know. They have become our family's own paparazzi, posting pictures and information helter skelter for the voyeuristic facebook masses which is what their friends unknown to me and unmet family members seem like.

So, no facebook status updates for me. But when I do feel that I have something that I'm willing to put to pen, I found that I can share my thoughts, in full sentences and paragraphs, with whomever actually chooses to read them through the written word, cards, letters, or blogging. I just don't have the desire or chutzpah to cast them willy nilly on those poor little-suspecting souls who have had the inclination to be a "friend" facebook-style. It'd be a dangerous thing for someone like me.

Cyber friendships just cannot meet my love for sharing innermost struggles, trials, victories and joys. I prefer to share my heart with those who I am closest to, and all because I prefer to see their face, gauge their expression, hear their words of wisdom, reproof, enthusiasm or praise rather than be affirmed by a "like" button or to have some distant acquaintance, whom I forgot would receive the update, post something inane.

Or, heaven forbid, have a barely-there acquaintance or distant family member think something inane. There is just no way to protect oneself from what people think and I shudder at the thought of giving anyone ammunition to be used against me. Yes, there's the first sin--pride. "My, look at her picture. She's looking so old." "Is that the same worn furniture in the background?" "Is that all they did for their son's birthday?" "Her life must be so boring." (quiver, shudder.)

It's not that I'm antisocial. Really, I do so enjoy spending time with friends and family in heartfelt discussion, over a meal or coffee, with tears or laughter, just not in 420 character status limitations. To me it's like comparing a hearty hug for a long-lost friend with a beauty-queen style wave during a parade. Most social networking just seems shallow and self-serving is all.

In giving nod to Francis of Assisi in seeking to understand rather than be understood, it does seem that the facebook masses are doing the opposite. In perusing personal status updates on a typical facebook page, I can't help but imagine a large gathering where everyone is talking, talking, talking in a narcissistic frenzy and few are listening except to post "like" or share a knee-jerk thought in 40 words or less.

It's just not my cup of tea. There's more, But it will have to wait. I'm off to someplace secret with a few people to enjoy something that I'm looking forward to and I'm not telling......