by Matthew Knuth

Created on: July 08, 2009   Last Updated: July 09, 2009

So I get up this morning and have my routine cup of coffee, cigarette, and log into Facebook. I have 106 friends on there! Wow, that is a lot! I have to say I don't speak to 106 people in a given year that are my friends. Has Facebook really done anything to help me? Have I suffered from a bloated sense of self worth because of Facebook? What is the actual value or purpose of this creation? Then I promptly go onto Mafia Wars and fight some of these on-line "friends" for about an hour. That's usually how it goes for me.

The first thing I can think of about Facebook is that it makes the world a smaller place. I mean I had friends in Russia and other countries. I mean that has to be worth something?! Tearing down walls and joining us hand in hand with our fellow man. Then I remembered once they joined my Mafia I deleted them. I guess that takes that idea off the board.

Then I think about people that I already knew but lost contact with. Facebook has it's greatest value here. I mean some people have gone on to very interesting lives and accomplished a lot. It's a great thing to contact them and chat about how far they have come. It is in this, that the first fatal mistake begins. You then accept almost every person you ever said hello to as you friend from that point on. Thinking there life will be as equally interesting. Then it hits you. I don't care what someone is eating for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I don't want an up to the second update on the gross of your favorite sci fi movie. I really don't want the lyrics of every Michael Jackson song quoted to me by people as their status! Who are these people?! How did they get into my life?!?! Will someone please make it stop?!

So It has occurred to me that Facebook can be harmful if not used appropriately. I have re-established contact with about two dozen people that I never would have spoken to again. These are the fruits of successful and true Facebook friendships. I have a lot of people that I like on there. I would say more than 106! But, seriously I don't want to hear about how all of them need a good nights rest or a migraine. Better yet how someone is going to the gym or on a detox program. Then there is my favorite, P90X, the "Macarena" of the fitness world! Yet everyone thinks they are the first to do it. So they feel the need to update us on it. So is it a good thing or a bad thing?

I have to sum things up by saying it is a little of both good and bad. As with most things it is in your control. So I present two choices to increase Facebook's value for you. First, find those creative and happy souls that fill your updates with wit and wisdom. Second, get rid of the people that treat the site like they are a celebrity. No more updates on how groovy the zoo was. At one point I had over 200 friends. That really was self serving to get my Mafia Wars family to grow. Now I am down to my 106 friends. However, beware 106! I have my finger on the delete button. So you better get crafty!

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