I love being "wired to the world". Technology powers my day job in multiple ways, not the least of which being the cable modem that allows me to telecommute (a fantastic perk for someone who no longer drives a car). I can barely remember a time without e-mail and web-surfing. Shopping online and having items delivered is a fantastic option in saving time and effort. I also love running my Stampin' Up! business online because it is a sideline job. And let's just think for a moment about how much easier historical research is in the internet age ;-)
But social networking like Facebook scares me. I have a lot of friends and family of all ages scattered across the country and most are on Facebook. I know the value of Facebook as a tool to market products, so I know as a writer that I will probably need to set up a FB account for my writing sooner or later. The scary part is the lack of control I may have over my personal privacy.
Many of us have made life choices that have caused consequences that were not what we had planned (and life seldom offers do-overs). I love my life and who I am, but after having been abused, robbed, and stalked at different times in my life, I jealously guard my freedom and my ability to live without fear of those criminals finding me once more.
On the other hand, there are people from my past I would love to find..as an adoptee, I've often wondered about my biological roots, and Facebook would be a wonderful way to reconnect with school friends and far-flung relatives.
So, there is my conundrum. Do I trust the privacy controls that Facebook states are in effect, or do I continue to isolate myself in a cocoon of my own making and risk falling further and further out of touch with people who mean a lot to me?
For now, I will do what I always do when making a major decision...I'll do more research. And who knows? We may meet on Facebook soon after all ;-)
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