Does Facebook make a Reunion redundant?

Photo Credit: Here

This summer will mark 7 years since I've graduated high school.
I remember talking to people on that last day of school in the gorgeous sunshine. Signing yearbooks, crying, laughing and excited for "the future". We joked with each other, saying "See you at the reunion!" It seemed so far away.

Now, more than ever, we are able to connect with practically anyone we are thinking about. Anyone who crosses our minds is a point and click away. Thanks Facebook. I now know that those two who were inseparable in high school have separated, that the girl we all thought was easy lived up to her name and got pregnant right out of High School, that one of the girls from my rugby team still plays rugby and that this guy can take some really amazing pictures and has made a living out of it. I know most of you have done it. Googled, Facebook stalked, found on twitter...etc that person from high school that you wanted to see "Where are they now?".

I was having lunch with a couple of girls that I make sure to stay in touch with, even if it means 1 lunch a year. One was the valedictorian and she brought up an amazing point. The point of a reunion is to catch up with those who you're interested in catching up with. Find out what they've been up to. However, the internet has taken the mystery out of it. The big reveal of "WOW, she lost a lot of weight!" or "Man, he's so much nicer now!".

So here is my question to you: Does Facebook make a Reunion redundant? Should we, who live in this technical age, even bother with the time and effort it takes to put together such a big event? If I want to meet up with someone... I can just send them a message and get together for a personal 1-on-1 coffee date!
I'm really curious, let me know what you think in the comments below! :)

The UN-Guilty No

'Tis the season... the season of parties, get togethers, old friends, new friends, family..etc. Your Facebook event invites are ridiculous, your friends are sending you tweet-vites, messages, texts, e-mails all inviting you to this that and the other. I hear people saying all the time how everyone is so busy!

If you're anything like I was as recently as a few months ago, you would probably feel guilty for not going to your friend from high schools party that you haven't seen in a couple of years, or your coworkers shin dig, or your best friends CandleLight party and finding the time is stressing you out. 

WOAH WOAH WOAH. Calm down there sunshine.

First off, let's take a moment to appreciate that you have this many friends and acquaintances that want your attendance. Stop stressing yourself out and bask in the moment of feeling loved.

Secondly, stop feeling guilty for saying no. I know this is the hardest thing I'm asking you to do. This season is meant to be about friends and family - but it's also about YOU. Yes, YOU. It's about YOU being surrounded by friends/family and your family/friends being surrounded by YOU.

This is what I challenge you to do: Go only to the things you want to go to. You'll end up enjoying the season a whole lot more. Plan only what your schedule can hold. Don't worry though, you'll end up seeing the people you wanted to see, and if you don't get to see some one write yourself a reminder to pop up around January 15th that you want to meet up with them! They will probably be really stressed around this time of year anyway because they didn't read this post. ;)

Final Thought: Remember that the point of meeting up with people is to share in their company and for them to share in yours. If you aren't feeling it, don't go. You should never feel guilty for saying no.

Facebook: How do YOU use it?

When I use a tool in one way, I sometimes forget that the way it is used is as unique as the person using it. I've recently had a few discussions with friends and acquaintances about Facebook. Here are a few uses that have come up in conversation.

Staying "In The Know"

I had lunch with a couple of high school friends this weekend and one thing they said stuck out. "Facebook makes the idea of a 10 year reunion pointless." While I would still love to see everyone in the flesh for a reunion, they make a good point. Facebook is a great way for staying informed on what your friends are doing. Same is true for a reunion, finding out what your friends have been up to. For my generation, it would be strange to see one of my fellow graduates not on Facebook.

Games/Entertainment
There are those that have a Facebook account, but the only thing that seems to bring them back there are their Farms, their Restaurants and Monopoly. You won't see any updates from them unless they need your help to unlock the next level!

                                      Business Page
One of my favorite uses of Facebook that I've seen recently has been by Tourism Nanaimo. They ran the "Amazing Nanaimo Getaways". It was a great way for people to see the things that Nanaimo has to offer and to bring some new people to the city. The only thing I didn't like about this contest was that I didn't win!

Daily Ritual

Yep, there are those people for which Facebook isn't an option. They log on every morning, noon and night. They don't live without it and it's their source for the news. They love to tell you exactly what they're doing and they are active on commenting and liking your posts.

There are so many different ways that Facebook is used. I actually don't fall into any of these categories. Do you?

Too Transparent?

Hello all!

It's been a while since I've sat down to write a blog post. I got the overwhelming urge to type tonight and have a topic!
Here we go!

So the other night, someone asked me to tell them a secret about me. Which I was all too willing to do... until I realized that I don't really have secrets. I'm a very open person. I share things. Lots of things... and outside of really personal things that I wouldn't tell my own mother I don't have secrets.

The question that came to mind from this is "Am I too transparent?"

When I was a teenager, I would go into chat rooms online. Random ones, I think there used to be a site called Talkcity.org (?? I think) that I would go chat in! I loved meeting new people.
I loved 'playing' 20 questions. A 'game' in which people ask questions back and forth until they've both asked the other 20 questions.
I found that you can tell more about the person by the questions they ask then the answers to the ones you ask.

Then Facebook came along and not only did I get to share what I thought and was feeling, I got to read others doing the same!
Then Twitter came along. Oh Twitter, I like you a lot. You allow me to connect with people and read about what they are thinking and feeling in a short, 140 characters or less.

I love sharing about myself and, in turn, getting to know others! Human connections are the most valuable thing in my opinion.

As a society, have we gone too far? Do we let the world know a little too much? I personally think that the more we share, the more we learn.... what do you think?