Whoa. That was weird.

[hudebnik]

So I follow a link in somebody's LJ post to a Washington Post blog entry. And over on the right side of the page is a panel labeled "Your Friends' Activity", listing Washington Post pages that have been liked, linked to, etc. by a bunch of people I know. How does the Washington Post know this? And which of my various social-network identities is it using to figure out whom I "know"? I mouse-over some of the entries, and they show Facebook URL's. Wait: I don't even have a Facebook account (that I know of)! Oh, I bet shalmestere didn't log out of her Facebook account the last time she used this computer. Still, a bit scary. I guess this is the "frictionless sharing" thing they were talking about.

Comments

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

I understand.

What I found is that the people who really care, keep in touch. The ones who only cared enough to spend 30 seconds on Facebook, were different.

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

I believe it is a sword that cuts both ways, yes.

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

Well, I was thinking mostly of me, when I wrote that.

For some folks, I've been an excellent correspondent and keep in touch. With others, not as much. Rarely with intention, but mostly a death of a thousand "not now" cuts.

I imagine that if it were not for "electronic means", you and I would be out of touch as well. Not for any particular negative reason - just because my life is not fully under my control.

Heck, my college room mate, or my best friend in college and I no longer keep in touch.

The ability to keep in touch with others is a true feature of Facebook. But, I'm not willing to give them what they ask for to do it. When I look at what I, personally, seem to value, I think it is too easy for ME to overvalue those friendships in comparison to what Facebook would rip from me.