Facebook--The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

     When I told my husband that this week's Theme Thursday was on Facebook, his response was "Facebook is like the opening lines of  A Tale of Two Cities."  So before I begin I want to acknowledge my gratitude to him for the title, and the inspiration.

      Facebook certainly has its annoying aspects. As our Hostess Jenn pointed out the other day, Facebook is home to endless urban legends that a 12yr old could disprove, yet which spread like crabgrass or rabbits in Australia.  It is a repository of rants from people whom you don't really like, but you friend anyway just so you know when they are ranting about you. I subjects one to obnoxious political posts from both ends of the spectrum.  It clutters up way too much of my message box and email with notifications.

     But it also has improved my life.  It has put me in consistent touch with friends in other parts of the country and other parts of the world. It allows me to easily share information and pictures with large numbers of family members. It helps me know what's going on with my children and their friends too. It allows urgent news to be passed to many people at one time. Until relatively recently I didn't have access to texting, and Facebook was my best way to chat with many of my friends. I know there are other ways to do these things, but none are as simple or available as Facebook is.

     Some people find Facebook isolating, a reminder that everyone else is having a better time than they are.  I am often humbled to read of friends and acquaintances who are dealing with far greater problems than I am with graciousness, courage and humor.  And far from feeling isolated, I actually feel much more connected to my world as a whole when I use Facebook.  There are other people out there who think in the way I do. In times of crisis it is good to log on and see what others think. Moreover, I can write in my time zone at my convenience and they can read what I wrote at their convenience.

    Plus there's all those cute animal pictures...

     This post is part of Theme Thursday, a group of bloggers writing on the same topic. To see what other bloggers think of Facebook click on the icon.