The other day I was talking to a friend when she mentioned "A few weeks ago so-and-so sent me a friend request on Facebook and yesterday so-and-so-else sent me one too. What's going on?! All my friends who have never wanted a Facebook are suddenly getting one. Next thing we know, Carson's gonna get one and the world will explode!"
Well, ladies and gentleman, I'm debating on whether or not the world ought to explode.
You see, for a long time, I thought I'd just not get a FB being that I won't be using it at all on my mission. So what's the point? Suddenly, I'm being told by church leaders and missionaries themselves that soon, missionaries world-wide will be teaching discussions and proselyting through FB, that many areas have already began and are finding enormous success, and that I ought to get one soon so I can have a large network already built up before I go into the field.
So, the question of the hour is: To Facebook, or not to Facebook? That is the question.
Well, What say ye?
-Carson themaybesoontobeFacebooker? Y/N?
As a 'Et tu, Brute?' myself, I can tell you four useful things:
ReplyDelete1. FB is not of the devil, but it surely can be annoying. Also annoying is the fact that I am actually caring whether or not I have new friend requests or comments on my photos or invitations to events. It's frightening, the lack of privacy and of invitation; it's even more frightening that I go to FB first now when I use my laptop.
2. With that being said, it's supremely useful. That was my clinching reason.
3. And it's not all bad. It's rather amusing to read all the pointless little tidbits of lives. See, nothing that's REALLY important (proposals and social security numbers and the like)is ever a FB event (unless your friends are horribly tacky, though, I'm betting most of our friends are mutual and so you are safe) so as long as you realize this there is not a lot of disappointment at 'So pretty!' and 'LMHF' and 'See this yummy thing I ingested the other day? See? See?'
4. I say go for it because after your mission it will be much harder to find people than now. That is my bottom line, and that was my decision-maker too. :)
Good luck.
Of course what I say is subject to God and your family, as what they say has more weight in the matter, but I would personally at least create the profile, even if you don't use it at all before your mission; that way, it is available should you need it. Facebook and other internet tools are getting pretty big in the Lord's work at this time.
ReplyDeleteI can remember my sociable cousin standing over my shoulder while I made a facebook account, I wasn't really for it, but I didn't have much of a choice, and although I had to quit for a few months because I got too involved with FB games, I have to say I've enjoyed using facebook.
ReplyDeleteI would love to actually spend time with all my friends doing great things rather than just keeping tabs on their life. But alas, sometimes we're to lazy or think we're to busy to actually do stuff together, and facebook is a great a lazy person alternative.
Though I must add, that even if I was actively engaged with all my friends, facebook is still a great option for coordinating get togethers.