Houston: We have a Problem

I read an article on MSN this morning that said that the IT word of 2009 is “unfriending.” This word has now made the ranks of the dictionary hall of fame. Of course this new word is the direct result of the phenomenon known as Facebook. Anybody who is anybody-has a Facebook. And really-you haven’t lived until you’ve taken your “friend list” and purged with impunity. “Un-friending” is a powerful, heady, intoxicating, liberating experience. I totally recommend it. And yes-there will probably be some fall out and drama connected to it. But that’s life, eh? Go for it!

Over here at blither blather headquarters, Facebook has over taken our lives. The virtual world has become almost as significant as the real one. And I’m not sure that the effects are positive. Although we have 2 laptops in our household, there is always wrangling, bartering, crying, tattle-telling, threatening (yes, even some smacking) going on over who gets on next….to check Facebook. Big kid told me the other day that he was sitting in first period and all he could think about was coming home and checking to see if his new casino had opened yet on his virtual happy island. This was the class that got big kid grounded last 6 wks for an unacceptable grade. Uhhh…do you detect a problem???

Lil brother has now become a Facebook bully and is constantly harassing us for our passwords and usernames. No one’s personal info is sacred. And lil brother remembers this stuff too so that he can hack into Mr B’s happy aquarium (“so de fish can make out and den make de egg!”). He has actually gotten in trouble for this. Mr B to lil brother: Did you spend all my pearls?!? I was saving those for a bigger aquarium! No More Spending My Pearls!” Clearly there are several issues here that need attention.

As embarrassing as this is to admit, sometimes Mr B and I unintentionally bump into each other on Facebook. And we just happen to both be on Facebook in two different locations-in the same house!!! Much to Mr B’s (sadistic) delight, when he discovers that I am on Facebook, he will instant message me his dirty thoughts. Do you know how distracting this in when trying to write your own PG rated status update?!? I was actually trying to find him the other day and was grumbling about where he could have gone, when big kid (who is on Facebook) informs me that his dad is on Facebook too. Yes, kids are ratting on their parents now and tracking their every move. And we thought we were keeping tabs on him!

So the raging Facebook monster has a grip on all of us at my house. And yes, I know that unplugging and having limits are important…yadda, yadda, yadda. I wanna see you explain that rationale to this crew. C'mon over...I will pay for your expenses. So it looks like a Facebook intervention and detox program are in our future.

But not today. I need to check my status updates. ...maybe tomorrow…

btw-would love to hear some "un-friending" confessions!