I've had blog ideas in my head all week- I think this means that things are slowing down at work enough for me to think although I don't have enough time to actually execute these ideas.
I was thinking about how virtually "connected" I am to all of my internet buddies via facebooks, blogger, twitter, foursquare, yelp and the like. It's bizarre- I feel a strange connection to the people who I interact with online because I'm reading their thoughts on all of these places. But when I see them in person, sometimes the first few minutes are like an awkward first date.
I was reading facebook updates the other day. My buddy HomeValley, who I haven't actually seen in person since high school twelve years ago lamented the need for babysitting. I wondered if it would be a far-out idea to volunteer. I still fondly remember the time spent in Fat Chuck's and Gert's classes (not that I remember what we talked about) but thought...no, she'll think I'm a wack...or will she be relieved and comforted because she "knows" me pretty well? (Don't feel obligated to answer, HV- I've had too much time to think these days...)
The need for high school reunions are becoming fewer and farther between because I know what my classmate are up to- playing Farmville.
I LOVE the internet. I met my husband there (Thanks, Tom from Myspace.) My brother's best man in his wedding was a dude he met online playing WOW. (I'm not into WOW...but...it happens! )
I feel like if I ran into the Koos, HV and Shea crowd at a bar we would pick up like we did in our APHS days and giggle for a few. I could run into Amanda BullW and her newly intended at the Starbucks in Upper Darby and congratulate them on their recent engagement- I didn't skip a beat and that weirded her out- don't post pics you don't want people to comment on in real life... like being 39 weeks pregnant in your underpants, ya heard?
So I don't know people...are we friends or are we just "friends"?
Thoughts?
Discuss.
Comments
And for the record, I wouldn't think it strange for you to offer to babysit, just that your little man must be incredibly sweet and easy-going. My little man is incredibly sweet and a l'il high-strung. How many times is Maks up in a night these days? If you say 4, you would really make me feel better.
It's still awkward.
proud to be your friend in real life!
One guy I know as a friend of a guy I casually dated who I would see at the bar occasionally; however, through all of his clever fb posts and nice updates, I now feel more in-tuned. I was genuinely sad for him when his parent passed away recently. What gives?
It is funny- I can think about this stuff to a certain level and then I get really freaked out by the complex layering of connections,where does it all end, what is the future going to be like, etc and then I stop talking about it. haha
By the way, in your case: real friend>internet friend.
HV and I are always discussing you and Maks' pics and the like. I think its pretty cool to be able to keep up with people and hide the ones that you don't. hehe
I recently realized that any FB friend can copy your published photos. The other day, my mother received a gift from my aunt - a photo of my son she printed from FB. Extremely annoying violation in my book.
I do think there is a level of voyeurism there that most participate in innocently enough (at our 10 year HS Reunion, an old friend told me she loved my wedding day make-up... it's a bizarre world we live in, for sure), but you have a point. Sometimes, it feels very unnatural.
I actually fully support the link to people from grade school and highschool. It makes me feel good to know about their lives despite the fact I would never normally know. Especially the good stuff, like the babies and careers. I think it will enrich the next HS reunion. The last one was pretty bad.