Upon reflection of my previous post on the Brett Favre-Minnesota Vikings saga, I think I'm ready to confess that I was probably a tad too serious. In other words, I think I'm attempting to turn the following paragraphs into my official retraction. I mean, c'mon, its football we're talking about here. This isn't the health care debate or the war on terrorism, it's a game - an escape where people let themselves get sucked into the television or the Metrodome to cheer on a bunch of manly men wearing helmets and shoulder pads, inflicting punishment and tossing the pigskin to one another from week to week. On the one hand, I stand by my perceptions and feelings towards #4 and still feel a bit odd seeing him under center and fighting for the Purple and White rather than against them. I still wonder how I would feel if somehow, by some miracle they were to pull off a Superbowl victory with Favre, the former tormentor of the Vikings secondary and not feel a sense of defeat at the hands of the Packer faithful. I still hold a disdain for Purple Favre jersey wearers and yes, I still have a bit of pity for the Packer fans who feel they've been betrayed by their legend. However...
I still love the Vikings and LOVE that they are winning games and I realize that I have Mr. Favre to thank for much of this success. I still believe that this is Adrian's team and feel that there have been several other Vikings players that have contributed just as much, if not more than Brett has in their 5 victories (Harvin, Allen, Offensive Line etc) BUT, when Brett Favre made that throw to Greg Lewis in the back of the end zone as time expired against the 49ers? That won me over. Period. Sage or T-Jack could never have made that throw. Nor could many other NFL QB's - and that was when the ol' Mississippi gunslinger had me convinced that this was a GOOD thing for the Minnesota Vikings and their fans. Do I have fears and pessimistic thoughts that my heart is still going to end up broken by the end of the year? Absolutely. But, at this point - I've decided that I'm just gonna put it out of my mind and enjoy the ride for a change. The Vikes' offense is just heating up and they are fun to watch again - the confidence Favre brings to this team is contagious and I can say without shame that I'm on the bandwagon - Favre's legit. I say this also knowing that they are about to face their first real test against the Ravens D - but, win or lose, the team is different this year. I don't regret my prior skepticism, for those were authentic feelings at the time. But, my loyalty to the team won out - Go Vikes!
FACEBOOK
I also feel it is time to put all the Facebook "should I or shouldn't I?" debate out there to you fine readers. As you may or may not know, I am not a Facebooker. My non-participation in this phenomenon has caused many of the faithful Facebook followers to continually state: "You're not on Facebook?!?!?!" "You've got get Facebook" "You should really join y'know, it's so much better than Myspace..." From what little time I spent on my Myspace account, I know that this last statement is true. I still have the Myspace account, even though I never check it. It merely serves as photo storage at this point. As for my reasons behind not joining Facebook....where do I begin?
First of all, it's not that I am opposed to it morally or have some deeply held anger or suffering caused by it. I joined for about 48 hours when it was still relatively new to the public. This was when I worked at VCU with college students. I was weirded out by my students friending me and then being informed and subjected to updates and details of their personal lives - it was "too much information" overload and I quickly cancelled my membership. I know that you can change your filter or account settings in order to minimize that sort of stuff, but that first impression made a lasting impact on me. Since then its popularity has soared and like the personal cell-phone craze, Facebook is now a household name and a social networking MUST. So, with that said, here are some of my reasons for you to digest, scoff at, disagree with and/or better understand what is holding me back (other than my stubborn pride which simply doesn't want to concede the battle!)
1) Facebook either makes you too self-involved or too voyeuristic.
I get that Facebook is a snapshot of yourself for an online community/reality in which others like you, or friends, family and connections can "friend" you and therefore become a part of your web/real life in some way, shape or form. I also understand how great it is for establishing that network of relationships with whom you can interact with on a level not necessarily provided by face to face, interpersonal interactions. But I also feel that there is some strong temptation to put on a false persona of oneself, or to become too focused on what you want others to see you as which can get in the way of who you actually are. For some, this isn't a problem - they have no problems telling it like it is and putting their actual self out there for the world to accept or reject. During my time setting up the Myspace account, I found myself obsessed with "getting it right" and making sure that the "real Keith Long" was presented for all to see. It stressed me out and sucked up a lot of hours when I really should have been doing something else. If I wanted to wrestle with who I was and what I wanted "me" to look like to others, I probably would've been better served by sharing a deep conversation with someone or journaling. The other side of this reason is that I've noticed how infatuated some people become with other people's profiles, status changes, wall comments etc. I think its great to check in with others and to stay in touch with what's going on - but checking too frequently is just a bit too stalkerlike for my tastes and can have the affect of encouraging narcissistic/self-involved behaviors of the one being checked on. Too harsh? I don't know, just some thoughts I've entertained and I know what you're probably thinking: I think way too much about these things. It's true, I'm an analyzer all the way.
2) Too time consuming.
I think I heard that the average college student "facebooks" 4-6 hours a day. It might even be higher than that. Again, I think there is too much time spent doing "social networking" than there needs to be. Staying in touch with loved ones separated by long distances? Great - I'm all for it. Updating your status or mood every 10 minutes? Are you serious?! Anyways, I know everybody's electronic and computer mobility makes facebook "multi-task material," (unlike my college days where only 5 people owned laptops or cell phones) but "everything in moderation" definitely applies here. If I was a Facebooker, I would want to give it the time it deserves, no more, no less. The "no less" category is why I'm not a Facebooker. I can easily see myself getting sucked in and obsessed. I love what kind of capabilities things like Facebook have to offer, and my intense loyalty forces me to giving my best effort in new endeavors or things I'm passionate about - and I just don't think I am able to satisfy the time demands of Facebook which is needed in order to "do it right." I have a hard enough time giving this blog the attention I want to - and combined with my seminary portfolio work, I just don't see how Facebook will keep me mentally and emotionally grounded.
3) Random Friending Requests
My definition of "Friend" and Facebook's definition of friend are completely incompatible. I know it's possible to have 1000+ friends, but I find this unlikely. For me, to be a friend isn't taken lightly (see intense loyalty comment above.) I think there should be more classification - what's wrong with calling it like it is and telling someone, "you know, it was great re-connecting with you after all these years, but let's be honest - we're not exactly 'friends' are we?" Rude? Perhaps. But, I honestly just think we're kidding ourselves and making our heads bigger by secretly competing for 'who has the most friends' on Facebook. Plus, sometimes we simply don't want to be found by people, and next thing you know, random people are not only finding you but calling you their friend and moving into your basement... Suddenly you find yourself 'resenting thy neighbor' rather than loving them. Don't get me wrong, I think it's fun to track down long lost classmates and catch-up with one another. But then it kind of gets awkward and you don't know what you're supposed to do. Again, I know it's a great way to social network, and many people are using the system extremely well in building connections with one another, but I guess I get kind of annoyed and sensitive when I hear people treating their account like a 'look how popular I am' statement or becoming resentful for being found by people they weren't really wishing to be found by.
In conclusion, I know that Facebook is a great thing for many people. And I realize how useful and effective it is. There is a significant part of me that wants to be in on the fun, but I'm just not sold that it's the best thing for me right now or in the immediate future. Maybe I'll change my mind like I did with the Brett Favre-Vikings crisis (but that's primarily because Favre's own indecision tendencies wore off on me...haha) I do appreciate your comments and reasons for being on Facebook and many of you continue to give me moments of pause and ponder of why I'm still not on... But as for right now, it hasn't become a "gotta have it" item and I sense something newer and better is probably already coming any ways, so maybe my hold out will be justified in the long-term after all. Lord knows I already have way too many internet usernames and passwords floating out in cyberspace as it is!
