Social Networking: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Blog

Let me start by saying that I come from a time before the Internet as we know it. I belonged to that age old institution that was the Users of the BBS. I remember when 2400 baud was fast. I remember when my 5.25" floppy disks had to walk barefoot in the snow... uphill... BOTH WAYS.

That said, I find myself obsessed with social networking. Sure, the fact that I pretty much never get out probably has something to do with that, but there's more.

My current obsession of choice is actually Facebook. My poor MySpace account sees less use than Michael Vick's morals. Okay, that was a low-blow, especially considering I don't really follow football. I digress, Facebook. Facebook hooked me with one feature: Friend recommendations.

When I first signed up for Facebook it was something that was just between me and the literal handful of few friends that I opted to keep in touch with. Randomly, after meeting up with one or two people from my past old friends began to pour of the proverbial woodwork. But wait, there's more! Beyond reconnecting with friends who had been in touch with friends, I started finding people I had never met.

There is rhyme to my reason here. See, back in the BBS day it was a given that I was in the same general geographic region as those I was "online" with. Why? Because BBSes were connected by local phone numbers. However, things have changed as the Internet, along with three old men who control the world regardless of what people try to convince me of, has figuratively made the world a "smaller" place.

Now I am meeting and coming to know people from all over the world. That's great... to an extent. Here is the dilemma I have found myself in; I am meeting or becoming acquainted with people who, in all likelihood, I probably won't be able to have over randomly for weekend movie and dinner-fests. Why? Because some of them are hundreds to thousands of miles away.

I know this might sound odd to complain about, but ask yourself if you've ever come across this. Have you ever met people "online" that you think would make great friends and fellowship folk only to be foiled by that pesky thing called distance? I'm not just talking about "internet relationships", I'm ever leery of those. I am just talking about finding people who you think would actually enrich or better you life having them involved?

If you answered no, then you either have everything you need in life, for which I commend you, or you've just not met the right people. If you answered yes, welcome to my club. No, there are no special benefits to this club, but we can have weekly meetings if you want.

So, you may be wondering why I am babbling on and on and on and on and on... sorry. Well, here's the rub: I am a pretty extroverted and open guy. More so than others and to the point that some people will look at me like I am a bit odd. Let me assure you, I am most certainly odd. Back to the rub. Do I change who I am and how I act online so as to not seem "forward" or do I just keep going with business as usual?

Before you answer that, let me explain that I am the type of person who can meet someone for the first time and, within moments, be talking with them as if I have known them for years. Despite some of my retentive rules in my life, I am a people person. I thrive of people... sometimes with a nice Merlot. So, with that in mind, understand that "business as usual" would also mean that "online" I am likely to just start speaking with someone whom I have just met as if they were an old friend.

Either way, I will do what I do because it's who I am. However, what about you? What do you think? Do you change your behaviour at times or do you remain a constant? Just a little food for thought.