Reader's Digest Condensed Version = Facebook

I've always been a fan of Reader's Digest Condensed Version books.  Back in the 60's, I was introduced to them at my grandmother's summer cottage.  Throughout my marriage I've had a sort of love/hate relationship with both the books and the company.  I've been a subscriber off and on due to issues with the company (as in automatically being sent things I never requested, don't want, getting charged for them, having to deal with customer reps who are difficult, being told it is my responsibility to send items back - sure it is/not).  However, when the book comes in the mail I find myself hypnotized until I finish each selection.  My life stops and I become immersed in print.  It's truly pretty sad.  Having just cancelled my subscription (yet once again over an unrequested item), I will be saved from this torture until I miss the books SO much that I can't stand it, or I decide it is time to go to my local libarary or download audiobooks (which I repeat are wonderful to knit by).

That all being said - I have made a correlation between the different methods of delivery of information on the Net and the condensed books.  In our ever increasing need for speed  - the following pattern has emerged:

• webpages
• blogs
• social networks ie: Facebook
• instant message ie: Twitter

Of course, par norm, there are people who do it all and there are those of us who do one or two of the above.  But the pattern I have noticed is that - here on my blog I have space to write.  I share more of who I am and what I feel about what I am doing.  In other words, if you want to know me at all - this is where you come. And if Facebook is a fast brief blurb, then Twitter is a sentence. I have not figured out yet who would be interested in my life in one line ie: "Just finishing up a bowl of weight control oatmeal - yum!"  Not much room there for intimacy (or into me see - as Jack Frost used to say it).

I've been on Facebook for little over a week.  I marvel at the folks who have around six hundred friends.  I think we may have a different definition of friendship.  I personally prefer more intimate relationships.  But then again, I'm also the person who can relate to Elijah in the cave!

And what's up with the people who get on Facebook and never post anything?  This means that what they wanted was to "connect" in what fashion I can't imagine, or perhaps they have a life that is SO filled to the brim that they have no time to write a Reader's Digest Condensed version of it.  Whatever.

So to sum it up - for right now I can blog and Facebook my life.  However, if you ever see me Tweet - remind me of this post please.

Comments

[ulli]

LOL... I'm with you on that!