I don’t have many (almost zero) online friends I communicate with very much, despite being a somewhat savvy computer user for the vast majority of my life. Perhaps it’s this reason that keeps me away from online relationships (no, not that kind… just in general.) I’m not quite sure what that says about me. I have a Facebook account that I pretty much never use. All the security settings are as high as they can go, and almost all my “about me” boxes are pretty much empty. Maybe I place high value on my privacy in a world that has thrown it out of the window. The internet is unforgiving in the sense that once something’s “out there” it’s pretty much impossible to reel in back in.
Rather than having to be judicious about what pictures I post, I don’t post anything. Rather than having a potential future employer looking through my posts failing to consider me for a job due to my politics, religion, or other random thoughts, I don’t write anything there. In fact, nobody but I can even see my wall, and there’s a reason for that, too. (Ever have any dumb friends post dumb stuff on your wall for your mom to read? Oh, that’s the best.)
I don’t know if I really understand why Facebook’s IPO is worth so much. It’s a glorified amalgamation of photobucket, flash games, forums, and meebo. Why would companies be crazed to jump on Facebook and be “liked”? It’s just another (very visible) platform for angry customers to blast you. How many people have a positive experience somewhere and feel immediately compelled to take to the internet to tell the world? Conversely, how many people feel that need when they have a negative experience? A lot more.