And by that I refer specifically to my principle.
I was catching up with a friend that I hadn’t talked to for a while. I was talking about another person we both knew, to which I got the response, “He’s my friend on Facbook.”
That is hilarious, given the context. It implies so much. Of course, if they are connected on Facebook, they chances are that both of them are connected to the vast majority of people I used to consider friends (just kidding, Facebook usage doesn’t necessarily prohibit my friendship ^_^).
When I sit down to think about it, I believe that Susan is the only person I know who isn’t on Facebook. I don’t want to discount her decision in the matter, but no doubt a lot of it is due to exposure to my ranting about autonomy and privacy. Combined with the drama inherent in connecting to people you know, that is a powerful force, indeed.
I’ll admit, when nearly everyone I know is on a social network, and a sizable percentage of those people habitually ask me if I am on there, it is tempting. Contrary to the tendency to group people who dislike social networks together with people who dislike Facebook, I actually like the service itself. In general, of course. When I did have a Facebook account, my profile was minimalist. I had exactly the functionality I wanted, and it was enjoyable. So the main block to using that site is my principle.
I am sure it is an invigorating world in which the iPad-toting, Facebook/Twitter updating, media-leasing populace lives. I am undecided on what I personally think about the role devices play in our modern life, and how the companies producing them are playing the game. Is it the human condition? Unfair market practices? What customers want? These questions crop up often for me, because I am trying to make sense of why I am in the seemingly fringe group of people who reject mainstream ideas.
Out of those questions, however, emerges my confidence. Like the shamans before me, I hold the knowledge the begets the rituals and technologies of society. When people are failed by their habitual practices, our counter-culture will be there to pick them up again. When folks tire of the creepy practices of the faceless corporations, our friendly and geeky advocates and techies will be there to help them.
So, as tempting as it is to give in and join the throng in social networking bliss (what else do we equate with bliss?), I have a principle that serves to remind and protect me. And while I am sure most people wouldn’t actually judge me for doing so, at this point my ego dictates that I walk the talk.
In a future post I will talk about how avoiding Facebook makes me a better designer for social websites. This post was brought to you by The Culture of Counter-culture, Jolt Cola, and XMPP. 