In a rather interesting post at LouisGray.com fellow blogger Eric Berlin felt it was time to get off of his chest as to why for him Twitter and FriendFeed were his social media watering holes of choice rather then the current king of social media – Facebook.

While he had a really good post that is well worth reading I think it was this part that solidified with something that I had been thinking about as well when it came to Facebook

Talking to everyone I know/have known at the same time is not so appealing as it might sound

Eric ends off his post asking what other people’s feeling about Facebook are and like him I had given Facebook a second chance so I thought maybe I would share a few of my own feelings about what I consider the Wal-Mart of Social Media.

I realize that Facebook is a juggernaut that we are all going to have to deal with one way or another – especially if you are a tech blogger. After all how can you write about something – negatively or positively – if you don’t hunker up to the bar and order a drink. Well I’ve done that and I agree with Eric when he says the idea of talking with everyone you know/known isn’t appealing at all.

But that is only part of the problem. You see I don’t really relish the idea of being poked one day only to find out it’s the prick that chased me as a child around the schoolyard calling me a Jewish m*****f’ker. I don’t think that being followed by a friend (of the time) who couldn’t find the time in the past 30 some years to say hi back when we crossed paths is such a great thing. Nor does the thought of an alcoholic mother leaving messages on my wall – or whatever it is called – my idea of a fun time.

You see that’s the problem with social media when it reaches the degree that Facebook has. People who you quite gladly left behind at some point in your life suddenly feel that because you’re on Facebook you are their friend again. Yes I know you can block people or ignore people or just tell them to fuck off but I shouldn’t have to. If I haven’t maintain contact with you in the last 30 some years then there is probably a reason for it.

Unfortunately though because it is all about social media we have gotten ourselves fooled into thinking that we need to be social all the time. Well I don’t want to be social all the time and when I get asked by the corner store clerk if I’m on Facebook just because I know about computers I tell ‘em … No. If my only interaction with a person is the act of passing money over a counter that doesn’t mean I want to be your friend on Facebook – or anywhere else for that matter.

The whole idea of being social and having friends has been totally thrown out of whack. It is as if the whole world has suddenly become one great big bar where everyone needs to know your name and be your friend. That is the nice thing about Twitter and FriendFeed; but even Twitter is in danger of becoming the cut rate version of Facebook. In the meantime though, they are the nice corner bar of social media where sometimes you can go and just sit in the corner. Sometimes the ambience is all that is needed. Sometimes you don’t need everyone to know your name.

There’s nothing wrong with that.