alarms going off in my head

I have just about 200 friends on facebook. Not a crazy high number, but respectable none the less. The majority of them are my friends, or at least people I know from school. Then there are those weird kids.

I've been added as a friend by a succession of people that I either don't know or maybe heard of once or twice. You know what? I don't mind. It's kind of cool to know that they saw my name/profile/weird picture that isn't actually me and thought, hey, why don't I add this Erika person as a friend.

This is my Facebook picture--didn't want you thinking I was too creepy!

The whole "friend" (as a verb) thing is a little weird, I must admit. It isn't just limited to friends. It can encompass acquaintances, friends of friends, or, if you're really creepy or a "collector" (someone who adds friends just for the sake of increasing their total), searching for random names and adding whoever you think is cute.

Anyways! The whole facebook situation is a little weird. I'm happy that I have a facebook because it allows me to connect with my friend in Victoria, my aunt in the Czech Republic, my cousins in Southern BC and all sorts of people that I wouldn't otherwise keep in contact with. But honestly, in five or ten years (supposing that facebook is still around in five or ten years--which would mean that we can't yet teleport instantly wherever we want) I doubt that I'll recognize most of these people. Will they be famous? Will they be overweight truck drivers? Anything could happen.

A bunch of writers recommend using social networking sites (a fancy way of saying, "Look guys! Now you don't have to leave the house to have friends!") to promote yourself or your work, get in contact with other writers, keep your name fresh in people's minds... Etc.

Sorry--got side tracked there for a moment, ironically by checking my facebook. Almost like I planned this... Or was on facebook, felt like blogging, and had no other topics. Hey!

Here are a few links for articles on how to successfully use social networking to your advantage! None of that tweeting about having a shower, or making toast. No one wants to know. Although you never know..

• Hub Pages.
• Useful Online Tools (Will Write For Chocolate)
• Part 2
• And, just so you don't get too engrossed, WWFC's take on Eva's Twitter Addiction

Have an awesome Easter weekend!

Erika