When I signed up for Facebook, I did it as an experiment. I had heard about this social networking thing, had a My Space account, and generally was unimpressed. And all of the IT trades were going on and on about how beneficial Facebook, specifically, could be to the business work. Being the skeptic, I thought “how?”, so I signed up in the hopes of finding out.
I don’t know if I ever answered my question, but I was pleasantly surprised by Facebook. It was a grown-ups version of My Space where the emphasis is on making people connections versus “pimping out” the profile with annoying backgrounds and songs that play whenever someone tries to leave you a message.
I was also surprised at how many people I went to high school and college with were on Facebook. It was nice to reconnect with these people – and do it in a way that is more efficient than email. Email is a one-way dialog while Facebook seems to start dialogs easily like meeting up with people at your favorite water hole.
What I didn’t expect was the jealousy from a single classmate. My good friend from high school has an awesome job in LA. She has traveled the world & meets and interviews actors and various bands on a fairly regular basis. If she mentions meeting Tom Hanks, don’t reply to her with a message that you are amazed by her life/job — especially if you have kids. The reply back from her will have something about “well, at least you have kids”. Huh? If you are married with children, you can’t be openly in awe of the life she leads? That makes sense. (Please insert sarcasm here.)
To her, the grass is greener in my yard. It’s unfortunate that she keeps thinking my comments are implying that I think her grass is greener – I just think it’s different. It’s interesting. I don’t want it really; I am simply in awe of someone who has a job where it gives her the chance to talk with people most of us only read about or see on the movie screen. Simply put, it’s neat.
Has she seen our yard? It is full of weeds and choked with forgotten toys. Why isn’t it cleaner? Because we are spending time with the kids.
I’ve been pleasantly surprised with Facebook myself. ASM and I have reconnected with numerous college friends, and I’ve been found by some people from high school.
The funny thing to me is when I get a friend request from a HS classmate who wouldn’t give me the time of day when we were IN high school!
I’ve come across old friends similar to yours. I found it easier to move on, but I can be lazy…
Garbanzo – I had the same image in my head.
Hubman – I’ve had the same experience with people who really didn’t interact with me in high school or even college, but have connected with me on Facebook. As for this person, I have definitely just moved on. 🙂