“Oh, Facebook, I hate Facebook, I don’t use it at all.”
I hear this a lot.
I immediately feel like I should pretend that I am too cool for
Facebook as well.
But, the fact is, I am cool enough, I live off grid-ish–no cell
signal, no internet (well, my work computer has internet from the 80's- slow and janky like a dial up). I don’t need to justify the fact that I am active on
Facebook.
Facebook is a great tool. I use it immensely to connect with friends, to promote my business, to ask advice and to keep up with my how big and fast my niece and nephews are growing!
I have spent a great deal of time all over Spain. There, every
town has it’s local bar which not only serves alcohol but coffee and snacks and
is also a hub for information exchange. You go to the bar to to make
connections and find out what is going on in your community. I would find out the town gossip or where a good hotel was or what was happening in the area.
Facebook is the modern day Spanish bar or community
center. It can be a powerful technology to use to your advantage. (Read that above link for a post I wrote on Spanish bars while in Spain.)
I have lived an unconventional life, spending nine years living
around the world. Never having a local community, Facebook gives me an
opportunity to have these wonderful people in my life. It is my community bar
on a global level.
Remember the days when you traveled pre-internet? How many of those great friends do you still talk to? Not many. Now, I am always in banter with some great people I have meet in crazy spots like my Iranian friend I met in rural China.
I almost always "check in" on Facebook when I am in a major city. Having 1.) grown up in Chicago and 2.) lived all over the world. Chances are when I check in in a major city I will know someone I have met along the way who is in town.
I have had the most random nights out because I do this in NYC, Paris, Seattle, etc.... I love
it. I am writing this now because I am fresh off a “check-in” rendez-vous
hanging out with some Chicago friends. I checked in while
I was at a work meeting in San Francisco and got a message that they were in
the same neighbor hood. So fun.
And San Francisco is a great city to check in because people are always traveling through there. NYC too.
Being a “connector” also helps. I make the acquaintance of many people
through my travels, my hometown, my job and my blog. It is in my nature to come to town
and know people and see them. Reuniting and connecting makes me giddy. I love the feeling that the world is small and we are all connected. It makes it feel like my loved ones aren't so far away.
Anything can have a negative image but what about the good things that can come? If I was too cool for Facebook, I would have missed out on so many opportunities to connect and have great people in my life. So there it goes, I am a fan.