Monday, Aug. 24, 2009

Facebook

If you've been avoiding Facebook because you're concerned about privacy issues or worried you'll lose your life to social networking, you've already spent too much time thinking about this behemoth of a site. Although it's desperate to be more, Facebook is really just a phone book. It's where your acquaintances, friends, friends of friends and people you've met only a couple of times go when they need to find your e-mail address. While they're looking at your page, they'll be reminded of what you look like, your dog's name and your hometown — the kind of stuff that makes small talk easier. So go create a page, upload a picture and provide answers to questions you'd be comfortable revealing to a new acquaintance. Then "friend" the people you know. It's easy, takes a minute, and frees you to stop obsessing about the necessity of Facebook.