Facebook for 40-somethings--fun or kinda creepy?

[MorningGlow]

My jury is still out. I don't mind having DU friends there, and I don't mind having current friends there, but I'm finding it downright weird to be contacted by friends from high school whom I haven't spoken to since I busted out of that place 25 years ago. And what the heck happens with old enemies? I mean, am I supposed to maintain the same sort of relationships with these people, or has somebody hit "reset" and everybody's status is back to neutral like it was on the first day of freshman year? (Can you tell I haven't attended any reunions since my 5th?)

[WolverineDG]

1. I give them a shot

some people have changed, & some are still assholes. The ones who've changed I remain cordial with; the assholes, I ignore.

dg

[femmocrat]

2. Why not?

I have a theory... that if you tracked everyone's friends on Facebook, pretty soon the entire world would be inter-connected.

I haven't had any luck tracking down anyone I knew from way back when. I'm not sure I would contact them anyhow.

[OmahaBlueDog]

3. I've been looking into it to reconnect with HS friends, but..

..I think it's kinda creepy.

[qanda]

4. I love facebook because you can set it so that people know what you want them to know

Only my closest friends and family can see my most personal information.

[cherish44]

5. Well I had 60 in my high school class

I was on the planning committee for our 20th reunion and there were only a couple of people we couldn't track down. Small towns, aren't they great? My class was always kind of "meh" about keeping in touch with each other. It was very cliquey so people stayed in touch with the people in their cliques and that's about it. We only have reunions every 10 years, that's how little we give a shit.

[Shell Beau]

6. It keeps people in contact. It isn't just for teens. Really, I could

see older people having more use for it.

[MorningGlow]

16. "Older people"!!!

Ooooohhh girly--! Why I oughta...!
:rofl:

[Shell Beau]

18. I include myself in that catergory!

:P

[supernova]

7. I don't know.

As a 40-something, I half like it, half don't. It's fine for current friends and colleagues. I'm ambivalent about high school people, though. There are only a couple of people from HS I'd be interested in hearing from. Would love to hear from college friends though.

About the only person I don't want contacting me is my ex. -- yes, he's on FB. I've been very happy NOT keeping up with his verbal abuse and neediness these past years. I don't wish to renew a connection.

But it seems kind of necessary.

[MorningGlow]

19. Yeah, I feel EXACTLY the same way

College--no problem--everyone welcome. Current folks--same. But high school was so...I don't know...loaded, if you know what I mean. Such baggage! :D

[Left Is Write]

25. You aren't required to accept friend requests if they send them -

or respond to any contact, and you can block them if you want to also.

[Left Is Write]

23. My X is on Facebook too, but I doubt he'd ever try to contact me.

He hasn't even friended our daughter (and she doesn't really want him to - he'd be all judge-y on her).

[SPKrazy]

8. hey

I just don't care what people from high school think about me

I'm coming up on 30 years

facebook is the organizing platform for our reunion

never been to one

only went to high school there 2 years

barely a burp in my life...

:hi:

[Darth_Kitten]

9. Goferit!! Teenagers didn't invent the Internet, and they don't own it.

:)

[GoneOffShore]

10. We're using it for business - and lots of people we know here are doing the same

Either I was totally unpopular in HS and university or everyone I knew is dead, because I'm not getting contacted by ghosts from my past.

[grace0418]

11. I'm not quite 40-something (next year) but I enjoy it. I keep it closed off to all but

the people I really want to know about. High school people don't generally get approved save a very select few. Even if the others *have* changed, I don't have much desire to hit reset with these people. I don't hold a grudge, I just don't care enough. That's why I don't go to reunions. I've been very happy with FB because I've followed that rule. Everyone I have friended has been great, and I really enjoy getting to read about their lives and news and opinions.

[JCMach1]

12. Then there are the EXes...

That's always a good one...

Especially when you find some are grandmums...

EEEEEEWWWW

[MorningGlow]

15. I think my crowd MIGHT be past that

I experienced a barrage of exes (and almosts and never-weres) about five years ago--without the need for Facebook or any other networking sites. They just sought me out with search engines. Never know, though--might have missed some...
:rofl:

[Left Is Write]

24. So are you suggesting it's "ewww" to find out an ex-girlfriend is a grandmother?

[JCMach1]

28. Grandmothers are fine in concept... it's just very strange and weird to find

out you were with one what seemed to be like... last week.

It's just 'age' weirdness.

[tigereye]

13. it seems kinda nice actually - although that method of networking isn't

quite what I'm used to. I always thought it was for college kids, but it's actually a nice way to keep up with what people are doing. I just got to look at some pics of friend's who recently had a baby.

And, some of those folks from high school have grown up into nice people...

[LostinVA]

14. I've had a very positive experience with "long lost" people on there

1. A Freeper aunt-by-marriage I haven't seen since 1987. I figured she would take one look at my being gay and a pinko and "unfriend" me. Instead, she welcomed Haruka to the family and added her as a friend.

2. A guy I graduated HS with. We weren't friends, but we had quite a few mutual friends, and we were in a TON of classes together. We've become quite friendly on Facebook, and we have botrh said what a shame it is we weren't friendlier in HS.

I've also been able to keep in touch with a bunch of my old students.

[MorningGlow]

17. Aw, that's nice

I must keep examples like yours in mind.

[GOPisEvil]

20. It allows me to maintain connection with my friends that are all over the place.

Left to my own devices, I tend to be out of sight, out of mind.

I have only run into two people from high school and they pretty much leave me alone.

[fortyfeetunder]

21. I don't think it's creepy.

Personally I think it's great to reconnect, meet new people, and there is always the option to ignore invitations.

My FB friends age ranges from 20-75. They are all rather active with their posting.

There is one relative now deceased, he died before e-mail and the internet and I know he would have definitely been into Facebook. I have even toyed with the idea of 'creating' his Facebook page....

[Left Is Write]

22. I am 42 and I like Facebook. If someone from high school that I didn't like contacted me...

I'd ignore it.

[Kat45]

26. On MySpace, I've reconnected with some friends I'd lost touch with

One is a very good friend from about 20 years ago. I've also reconnected with some musicians I knew back in the day and I'm learning about recordings and shows of bands I like (without having to go out of my way to find the information). I'm also keeping in touch with a troubled 14 year old girl who I'd become friendly with before she moved out of state to live with a different parent; it's nice to know how she's doing.

[Haole Girl]

27. You couldn't pay me to get onto Facebook

DU and work = too much computer time already!

[Digit]

29. I am 57 and have had at least three people contact me from HS who said

The nicest things about me which will last forever in my memory.

I was very popular in high school, but was friends with everybody...even those shunned unfairly by the "popular crowd". In fact, I stood up for many of them back then. I hate to see people being picked on.

I never expected a thank you or acknowledgement since I wasn't being heroic, but was very surprised to receive several emails of thanking me for being a friend to them during those times. Those emails still bring tears to my eyes. I had no idea that I had made such an impact to their lives, and they make me wish I had done even more.

Ah, but more recently, an old friend added me as a friend to her facebook account and I want nothing to do with her. She left her 3 children and husband after sleeping with dozens of men on the internet, finding a man and wrecking his marriage as well. I cannot respect a woman who leaves her children behind, and one of those children is not even her husbands. That one is awkward for me. I am friends with her husband though since he was the innocent party. I emphasize the "friends".

[devilgrrl]

30. People have been much nicer as adults than they were when they were kids

much more empathetic... some are really cool people too :shrug:

[tinymontgomery]

31. Just starting using it and think it's great

heard from a friend that I grow up with start at around 6 years old, after 35 years of not knowing what happened to him he contacted me on face book. it was great to find out what he's been doing.