Facebook is evil...or is it?

Since the beginning of the internet social scene, I've been afraid, nay, I've been downright paranoid about the whole concept. When Facebook emerged as a force to be reckoned with two years ago, I believed that it was ruining society. People would brag about their Facebook friends and tell the world that "I got totally wasted last night". It got so bad that colleagues were friending colleagues and students were friending teachers. Actually, it got so bad that the word "friend" became a verb!

Needless to say, I decided to steer clear of the whole mess and stick to good ol' fashioned email and txt msg. Okay, so I'm not completely in the stone age. But I believed that Facebook was teaching people to lose a grip on reality and forget that there were actual friends out there.

So now, as 2008 is winding to a close, I have created a Facebook page. And no, you can't Friend me. But, I have enjoyed being able to regain a connection with people that have been out of my life for some time.

So here is my goal. I am going to use Facebook as a tool. A tool to make strong personal connections. Nevermind that I am a fan of How I Met Your Mother, and thinking about doing some trivia questions. I am going to find actual friends that I lost contact with. I will develop real relationships that will exist outside of Facebook. And, I am going to maintain friendships with people, away from whom I have recently moved.

Think I can do it? Could you do it? Are you doing it?