The deed is done.

I saw a news special this afternoon that basically demonstrated how very, very easy it is to find out personal information about strangers by using Facebook. This was just the icing on the cake. I’ve been toying with the idea of deleting my account for some time now. In the last several weeks, Facebook has shown just what a dumbass company it is by:

a) Allowing the formation of groups which promote unhealthy activities, such as anorexia and drug use;
b) Removing the profiles of women who have shown themselves in photographs breastfeeding; and
c) Listing job postings that appear to me to be little more than prostitution.

So yeah, I’m done. I sent an e-mail to my best friends to tell them why I was leaving the site, not to worry if they can’t find me, and to know that they can always reach me by phone, e-mail or here at my blog.

I know my blog friends will figure things out because, well, DUH, they read my blog and here I am explaining myself.

The list of options isn’t really all that pleasant, is it? None of them really applied to me, so I went ahead and filled in the box at the bottom. I really do believe what I wrote there, especially that last sentence. Facebook makes it “too easy” to merely touch base with people I know, rather than really make the effort to see and touch them in person.  I hate that I’ve become lazy about connecting with people. I want to make the effort and I want other people to make the effort, too. Facebook eliminates the need to call up a friend and ask, “What’s new?” because if I’ve been on Facebook lately I already know just what’s new.

So for those of you who are considering deactivating your profile, I’m here to say go ahead.  It wasn’t that painful.  And then call me up so we can get together to play a real game of Scrabble.  You know, face-to-face.  In the same room.

Be Sociable, Share!

•