Let's be friends...

Status: 14% zombie, 86% perk

Well, here we are again - Monday - must be time for my 20 for 2.0 post! I've discovered that it's best to just tackle this at the beginning of the week and get it out of the way. The weeks are very hectic, and I keep thinking it will calm down...not a chance!

So, let's see - what are we doing again this week? Oh yes - Friend Networks. Hmmm...think I've been there already. Let me check.

Oh yes - I have a MySpace site. I've had it for a while, and don't do much with it but do check it regularly. Not too long ago one of my friends from Library school tracked me down there, so that was cool. I occasionally check to see if I can find people I know from high school, but so far I haven't found anybody that I'd actually like to make contact with. I definitely DO NOT use MySpace for making new friends. My primary use is to keep track of the bands that I like, find out if they are playing in town, and maybe listen to a few songs to check out a new band. I did recently "pimp" my site (that is such a silly term - since I actually didn't get any money in my pocket from it) - added a new flowery background, and a couple of photo slide shows. But, as with anything, if you want to keep your site nice it takes time to maintain it.

I suppose people like social networking sites because it is an easy way to meet people. It can be frustrating to meet people in person - around here my only choices are the bar or the library...right. By going online I can cut straight to a group of people that share a common interest with me - music and/or photography. That is a very big deal, actually - no filtering through a lot of people to find a few that I really like. Just filtering through a few...saves time - and money!

There is one downfall to social networking - no matter what site you're on, if you're there long enough, you will witness some sort of drama between people. My general policy is to not get involved - and that works quite well! But it is there, always will be there, and as hard as you try to avoid it, sometimes you might be sucked in a little bit. But by and far the majority of people I've met online are not drama-causers. They are actually very nice, and aren't leeches or criminals of some sort. I think those folks are hanging out in places where, sadly, they can easily find vulnerable targets. But then - the same thing can happen when you meet people in person as well. Crap TV likes to make a big fuss over the dangers of the internet, but most folks are just like you and me and looking to have a nice time. As long as you've got a brain and some common sense, you'll be fine. There are bad people out there doing bad things, but they are a very small percentage who just happen to get all of the attention. After all, people just making friends doesn't bring big ratings, does it? Kind of...mundane and normal, really.

Without further ado, here is my experience with social networking...

It all started with MOG (see my streaming music post for more on that). There, I met a number of nice people that all have a common interest - music. When MOG started having, shall we say, growing pains, a bunch of us moved over to a new site that offered a bit more variety - it was easier to socialize there, and get to know people. After a while, it's pretty easy to tell who you like and who you don't like, and you can maintain your contact list accordingly. Every now and then somebody ventures out and discovers a new site, then brings it back and shares with the group. People scurry over there to give it a try, and ultimately a smaller number of people stick with it.

Do you see where I'm going with this? Maybe not - I have essentially narrowed down my group of online friends to a small group of people that I really enjoy spending time with - unfortunately we just all happen to live far-flung across the country and even overseas. I have other online acquaintances that I still maintain some contact with (generally through commenting on their posts, or them on mine). I can easily imagine our group sitting around the campfire swapping stories one day soon...it's just the logistics that are a bugger.

Here's the deal though - I'M DONE. No more new social networking sites for me. I have enough friends to keep me happy. I'm more interested in quality - not quantity. I am officially boycotting Facebook, and Twitter, and any other sites that want to suck me in. I've officially hit my social networking wall!

I'd say it all worked out for me rather well though...