Facebook

To accept or not accept Facebook friends – that’s the question.

by Courtney on May 19, 2010

I like Facebook. I mean, how cool is micro-blogging? It’s a fantastic idea. You can post interesting commentary about what you did each day, like going to the bank or the laundry mat. And you can cyber stalk people for hours and they’d never even know it! But mainly, it’s a nice little way to catch up with people so that you don’t have to worry about calling them anymore. I had a friend tell me once that although we hadn’t spoken over the phone in forever, she felt like she was up-to-date on my life because of my Facebook status updates. Fair enough. I’m lazy too.

But what’s interesting about Facebook is the abundance of high school people that come out of the woodworks and suddenly want to be “friends”. I would say a huge percentage of my Facebook friends are people that I haven’t actually seen since 1998. Hell, a few of them were probably former frenemies back in the day too! (But now they’re nice.) Half the time I just accept any old classmate that says Penn High School in their bio. I figure; if they want to glean about my “Twilight” and Adam Lambert obsessions and read my latest blog posts – they must be awesome. Click, Accept!

But what do you do when you get that random friend request from someone you really did not like, such as your class’ biggest bully? Do you take the high road and accept? Or do you ignore – no – DECLINE friendship? Today, this happened to me. This particular person was like, the biggest dickhead on the planet and super mean to me in high school, so why does he want to know what’s up with my life now? Is it because his went nowhere? (Oops!) I just don’t get it. I’m not holding grudges or anything. I could really care less to be honest. Just curious what others do in this type of sitch.

And what about the complete strangers that send you a friend request? At first, I never accepted anyone I didn’t know. I mean, I was guarded about who knew what TV shows I was watching and what books I was reading. But now, I’m kind of like, whatever. Do they look like an axe murderer? No? Click, accept. In my mind, more friends equal more potential blog readers! Yes, I’m a shameless self-promoter.

But I really think that anyone who has over 400 friends must be an “accepting whore” because nobody knows that many people. That’s the limit. And then there’re people like my brother who have over 700 Facebook friends. Impossible! But don’t think I haven’t asked him to pimp my blog linkies on his wall! Shameless, I know.

General thoughts

Aside from the odd friend requests, there are a few other things about Facebook that will cause an automatic eye roll. For example…

Whatever you do, don’t tag me in pictures when I look really drunk or chunky. I have one friend in particular that has been guilty of this on numerous occasions. (Ya, I’m lookin’ at you, Stuz!)

Absolutely under no circumstance should you post bikini pics of me! Unless it’s from 2006 and then it’s ok.

Truthfully, I’m not really a fan of the instant messaging. So no offense if I log off right when you IM me.

Farmville. Enough said.

Overall, Facebook is a glorious waste of time. When I come home from work I have a nightly online ritual. I check Facebook, Twitter, my blogs and other blogs I follow, and then Facebook again. Did anyone “like” my latest status update? Did anyone respond? No? Click, refresh – how about now? What a time suck.

So tell me; do you accept pretty much anyone on Facebook that seeks you out? Should I take the high road or smugly ignore the aforementioned dickhead? What else do you love/hate about The ‘Book? (Farmville, anyone?)

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Are we married to technology?

by Courtney on April 2, 2010

It used to drive me nuts when I’d look at pictures in the goss magazines and celebrities like Jessica Simpson would be holding their cell phones in hand everywhere they went. I always wanted to puke over it, like; oh you’re SOOO important that you have to keep your phone in hand just in case you get that dream job call, or the 411 on the next Hollywood partay.  Gag me with a spoon why dontcha!

That was a couple years ago. And now – this is who I’ve become! I’m Jessica Simpson! I’m that girl that carries her celly in hand and not in my purse!

Me and my Crackberry make a lovely non-sociable couple when we’re out in public. I barely walk from point A to point B without having a phone conversation with someone – or checking my email! I don’t even need to read books on the train anymore because I can read Twitter and Facebook status updates from my phone! And when I’m home, I’ve nearly given up TV (except for “American Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars”) because I’m in a committed relationship with my laptop. I mean, how else am I going to maintain two different blogs if I’m not fiercely devoted? I suspect that my husband, Jeff, has a voodoo doll with my lime green Dell’s face on it.

Relationships gone digital

My point is – I’m feeling like I’m a little too “digitally connected”. I know I’m not the only one by far. It’s a huge problem with society right now – especially with kids – because young people today are spending more time texting their friends than having real conversations and developing genuine relationships. They’re writing their Senior English Paper in short hand like; “IDK wha I wannabe when I growns up. I jus wannabe famous. LOL!”  

These days, we have a huge problem with texting while driving, where we’ve seen countless unnecessary deaths occur over silly text messages that you know just ‘aint the deep, thus, not worth a human life. Personally, I’ve made a concerted effort to not check my email or text messages while driving. I keep my phone in my purse. I’m also trying not to talk on the phone in the car as much either. Have you ever been driving and talking on the phone and then when you hang up you realize you can’t remember that last 10 mile stretch of road? That’s scary! What if something happened when you were zoned out talking about last night’s “American Idol” results with your friend? This is enough to make me think twice about reaching for my phone in the car.

Weaning off the Crackberry

I had a slightly nerve-racking experience in early March when I went to Cabo San Lucas and realized I couldn’t use my phone there. I thought; “How am I going to get through five days without calling someone and bragging about my position on the beach? Or blogging, checking email, Facebook, etc.” But I got through it just fine! In fact, it was quite liberating! I realized I didn’t need that damn little piece of shit phone that interrupts my life and conversations with real, living, breathing people.

I’m not cured of my addiction by any means, but I’m trying! Hey, I’m reading a book right now that I’m almost finished with and it’s only been like three weeks since I started it! The last book I read took me six months! It’s because I’m reading more and phone ‘net surfing less. A marked improvement!

What about you, are you married to technology? Or have you found a happy medium between real and digital friends?

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Embracing the dirty thirty

by Courtney on February 7, 2010

As I sit here and type this I’m not yet 30. I’m only 29. The clock is ticking loudly though, which means the “dirty thirty” is coming fast and furious. It’s funny, because it doesn’t seem so long ago that I pledged to myself to get drunk often and live it up during my last year in my twenties. I guess I always thought once you turn thirty it’s probably a little frowned upon to get drunk often and act like an idiot. But you know, my husband is going on 32 and he seems to get away with it just fine. On second thought, I guess I do frown at him often.

The point of this blog has absolutely nothing to do with getting drunk though. Well, I mean sometimes it might come up in a blog if it’s a pertinent detail to a story, but the point of this blog is to embrace this new chapter in my life – with humor. I might not always be funny. Sometimes there might be a moral to my stories. But usually I want to make you laugh.

I plan to blog about everyday funny truths, ironies and irritations, but also about life milestones like turning 30, my 65 mile bike marathon that I’m doing in April, the decision to have little kiddies when the time is right – to work or not to work after that – etc. I feel like 2010 is going to be a big year for me. And I want to blog about it.

I hope you come back often and join in on the conversation. This will only be fun if you’re here too. I want to hear your stories. I might need your advice. I don’t pride myself on how many Facebook friends I have or how many followers I have on Twitter, but I do care how many blog friends I have. So don’t make me feel bad. Let’s be friends here (sign up for Google Friend Connect!).

Oh but don’t forget to friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter. I mean, I guess I kinda care about that too.

Alright, let’s get started…

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