Speak for yourself. I know my friends and relatives are very real. I went to a very small school from 1-12 grades. I went to school all 12 years with most of them. We knew just about everyone in the school. My graduating class had a grand total of 49. Then I went on to college with some. I took the local paper and back then, there were news articles about most of the others. I belong to a FB page about my hometown and learn even more about people I knew way back then. It is like walking through a memory trail seeing pictures of everyone from then up to the present. I also have friends who share the same political beliefs. A high school friend reminded me of my love for black/white saddle oxfords and bobby socks. Sure that dates me but so what. I am very proud of lving as long as I have but doubt if I will live as long as my mom who died just 3 months before her 103rd birthday in 07. I love keeping up with my friends from years ago. We have a bond that many only dream of. Who else can share the horror of our school burning or the deaths of classmates? We grew up in a different era and a different place. We miss that. It s a shame that you do not care about things in your life.
Read your comment about liking FB for the connections with friends from long ago. I can relate and I will add the BEST friends I have on FB are those who flew with my dad in Vietnam, or who are related to those who flew with him. Not only does FB allow me to stay connected with many friends, I stay connected with my dad who passed away last year. NOTHING like sharing memories, laughs, tears, pictures, etc.
It s a shame that you do not care about things in your life.
Try not to be an emotional wacko regarding my general observations about young facebook users. Not “sharing” on facebook does not mean one does not have real time friends in life. Some people write letters and send pictures and share memories in other ways. Some even really SEE each other regularly.
I have had many young people crushed that their “friends” on Facebook - where they spend all their social effort and time - don’t act like real friends. That is because they are not real friends. They are virtual friends. Is that you? No. So get a grip.
If you did not have facebook, you would still find a way to keep in touch with your old friends because you are experienced, resourceful and care about the people you know. I’ve been here on free republic all this time and you aren’t my friend? I’m shocked and heartbroken. Actually, no, but some people confuse virtual life with real life. The Facebook social scene is a problem for those people.