Monday, May 10, 2010

To All My FACEBOOK Friends


It seems like everyone is doing it. It’s is the biggest form of “Internet Peer-Pressure” that you can find. I’m speaking of the ever popular activity of “face-booking.” What exactly is the fascination with it? It seems that the vast majority of people I know regularly keep a Facebook account online. I’m talking about people of all backgrounds and all ages.

Now I personally enjoy keeping up with my blog and appreciate the thousands of readers to my blog each month and the more than 158,000 unique visitors to my blog since its inception. But as much as I like the now old-fashioned form of “blogging” I have never really had any desire to open a Facebook account. Frankly, I was one of those parents that wouldn’t allow my kids to have a Facebook account. Call me archaic, but I was always uncomfortable with my kids spending too much time on the internet and putting personal information out there on the web.

But awhile back I decided I would open a Facebook account for one reason – so I could read some other people’s online diaries. I really had no intention of keeping my own account up to date. The problem is that I have no clue about how Facebook works. So when I got online and started through the process of opening my own Facebook account I worked my way through the information questions but for the life of me I just could not figure it all out. So, I finally gave up. People would just have to keep their Facebook accounts without me reading them.

There is just one problem. I must have done enough right in the process that my name is now out there on Facebook as having an account because since then I have received literally dozens upon dozens of e-mails from Facebook informing me of people asking to be “my friend.” In fact, someone must have spread the word back at my former church in Indiana that I supposedly had a Facebook account because in one weekend I received literally dozens – I mean dozens of Facebook emails from some people back at my former church requesting to be “my friend.” That was exciting but because I can’t figure out this cultural phenomenon, none of these wonderful individuals have been added to my account as friends.

So as a result, there are probably dozens upon dozens upon dozens of people out there – some local – some from back at my former church – and some from other past experience in my life – all of whom are probably wondering why I have not accepted their friendship request. They are probably wondering what they did to make me mad at them. But the truth is really quite simple. It’s nothing personal. It’s just that I can’t figure out how to do it, nor do I really want to.

So if you are one of those many, many people who have requested to be my “Facebook Friend” and have received nothing reciprocal from me, thank you for being interested in my life. Please don’t take it personal that I haven’t added you as my friend. I haven’t added anyone. Why? Because I don’t know how! You have heard it said that “no man is an island.” Well, that may be true in many areas of life, but when it comes to this area I am on the Facebook Island all by myself – no friends – just me, myself and I. So I guess I’ll just keep blogging. I know it’s not near as culturally relevant as Facebook is but at least I know how to do it. In fact, I can even post your comments and respond to them. So, who needs Facebook anyway? Not me!

6 comments:

Jeremy Hiler said...

Just wait until the therapist I have been seeing reads this. I have been in counseling for weeks because you did not accept my friend request. Well, now, I don't feel like I accomplished anything in those sessions.

Pastor Scott said...

The only thing you need counseling for, Jeremy, is being a Notre Dame and a Chicago Cubs fan! Love ya bro!

kutlessgirl said...

haha! that is hilarious! all you do is click "accept" or "reject"! but maybe that's too hard for you too! :P

Pastor Scott said...

Hey, kutlessgirl, who do you think I am, Al Gore? I didn't invent the internet! I'm just Facebook ignorant that's all.

Deb Brown said...

I'm with you Pastor Scott. I'm already on the computer 8-9 hours a day...I don't need to add Facebook time on top of that! If I want to get caught up with you....I'll call!

Pastor Scott said...

Amen to that, Deb! Have a great day!