Social Networking? Me???
There are a handful of things I’ve always felt comfortable predicting I will never, ever do in my life, and will never want to do. Running in the New York City Marathon is one of them. Climbing Mount Everest is another. (Have you ever seen one of those documentaries about people who try to climb Mount Everest? One word: Ceaseless misery. Okay, that’s two words.)
There was another one: I would never join an internet social networking site, like Myspace or Facebook. As my wife will be the first to tell you, I don’t do any social networking in real life; why would I do it in cyberspace? And it’s true; as the years have gone by, my social life has shrunk to roughly the size of a dime. I often joke with people that I have no friends, and it would be funny if there wasn’t an enormous degree of truth to it. Basically, I’m a hermit. My wife, of course, is extremely outgoing and loves parties. It always seems to work out that way. Nobody knows why.
But before I start going on about my lonely trek through the desert of human existence, let me get right to the point: I got a Facebook page last week. Oh yes I did.
My reason for doing so is that we might eventually use Facebook on the “PIX News at 10” to communicate back and forth with viewers in real time during newscasts. That’s down the road, but already my Facebook experience has made quite an impact on me. For one thing, whereas I would have said last week that I have no friends, or at least no-ish friends, it actually turns out I HAVE 52 FRIENDS! And counting! Every time I log on, I have five or six more friends, and the fact that I don’t know many of them doesn’t make them any less… friend-y… in the alternative universe that is Facebook.
A colleague has been my Facebook “advisor” and first friend. He told me not to get too technical about whether to confirm someone as a friend, or to use the word as a verb as Facebook does, to “friend” them. He says it’s really a contest to see who can get the most “friends” and that I shouldn’t be concerned with minor matters like whether I’ve actually ever met these people. When he said that, I thought maybe this was a good thing for me after all. If I enjoy not socializing, what could be better than having friends I don’t know? On the other hand, some of the people I’ve been friended by (I’m not going to put that in quotes anymore) are former colleagues and acquaintances I haven’t heard from for years. But my advisor tells me this doesn’t mean I’m going to have any real contact with them, that although we can message back and forth if we want, most people just continue acquiring friends and don’t bother communicating with them, even the ones they already know. Speaking as a practicing hermit, this is sounding better all the time.
But some people also do that Twittering thing, where they write in to say they’re going to the store, or to the bathroom, and all their friends get to find that out. I think that’s weird. I will never do that. I’ll run a marathon on Mount Everest before I do that.
Jim is: trying to think of more ways to say that he’ll never fully commit to Facebook.
| Search Blog
|
Comments: 24
Hahaha...thank you for the laugh! Your "Facebook Advisor" is correct in that people just try to get as many friends as they can. It's silly, really. I get requests from people I barely knew back in high school (15 years ago) and I simple click "ignore". I'm not interested in adding a +1 to their "friend" count. Btw, don't trust the applications. They are third party applications and can contain viruses....not to mention they are just plain annoying.
Ahhh, poor Kaity...now she'll be pressured into getting a Facebook account too, huh? =)
Hey Jim; Facebook is for losers. Oh by the way, I have 56 friends and counting.Yea!!!
Joining in facebook is still one of the hot things to do, as long as you are comfortable with it. Let's face it: in this information technology era, this trend will be more and more common.
And this DOES not, in any way, implies whoever joins it has no life. It is simply another way (or platform) of social networking. Facebook let people do something that is hard, if not impossible, to do before.
By the way, blog or facebook give out an easy way for public figures (like you) to communicate with their fans more effectively.
Hey jim where's your facebook, never knew how many Jim Watkins there are! Dude the PIX/CW/WB news is amazing. I make sure to watch it every night for your shenanigans. You're right Hamburger Helper is not food.
Mr. Watkins, you are hi-lar-i-ous! I felt much like you did about social networking sites. While I have a facebook account, 2 - myspace pages, linkedin, hoover-something and tagged I don't frequent them all and I also thought I would never join any of them. Never say never, bro. My Auntie/Unkie Kali who is an artist says that all of these free social networking sites are great for free advertisement.
I am always cautious of people wanting to be my friend knowing nothing about me, "why, why do you want to be MY friend"? Some want to befriend me because there are similarities in our names, some fiend my smile captivating, some are old friends. I don't search for strangers based on the first couple of reasons. I barely remember what I had for breakfast let alone who I went to high school with...I rarely seek friends. I will look for you of course, because you're alright, but it certainly isn't a numbers game for me. Well, welcome to the facebook fam.
I am too tired to check my grammar so I apologize in advance...
Agreed with all of the above. Social networking is fun when there is a flow of communication really... then again I know people who have them just to check up on other people. In any case, like everything dealing with technology or otherwise, it's delving into it with caution, not trusting every link that's sent to you and such. I enjoy using facebook to keep in contact with family members that don't really check their email too much, so it all boils down to how you use it mostly.
In addition, I can't believe I missed the newscast tonight and whatever banter that may have happened... I got sucked into watching the new Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. I know, I feel so ashamed. :(
i think you're the sexiest newscaster out there....way better than Anderson Cooper.
;)
Well, I cannot find you, so I give up. See, it's that simple for me...Good night.
I thought if I joined 1 or 2 or 3 social networks, I would have to stay in touch with every person on every network ... it would just be rude. But the rules sure have changed! I guess social networking is kinda like sending XMAS cards to people you haven't seen in years, but are still friends.
Suni, he could just have his profile non-searchable... see Jim, it's easy to be an online hermit as well!!
I found Chris Knowles and an I love Kaity Tong page, but not The Jim Watkins on Facebook. My father and I agree that Channel 11's news is the best. (Yes, social networking is bizarre. Do I want to be tagged as friends with these people in 30 years time? A tattoo gone bad? But your news is the best and I like affirming it.)
Facebook is a wonderful way to network, although I've been hounded by a few low life sleaze bags trying to hit on me. Dont do that, jim. Dont be one of those guys! Everyone can see what you do on facebook.
I can't find you neither, you need to supply the direct link.
Jim - I'm enjoying your blog. I like the PIX news - often tape it to watch at 11 rather than the other stations. I like that it focuses on local stories; and the anchors and reporters don't seem to take themselves as seriously as on other stations. There's a glint of humor and slight cynicism in your eyes that is attractive.
Incidentally, hermits marry social butterflies for the same reason that people who love to dance often wind up with someone who absolutely can't or can but won't. It's to keep a balance in the universe otherwise we'd all be friendlied to death. I, too, like a little distance from people and don't care to associate 24 hours a day with anyone, (including my husband when he was alive)
I can attest to Jim's comment that his social network is the size of a dime. You see, Jim and I have been friends since the 5th grade. We were at the Who concert together mentioned in a prior blog, but a more memorable scene was the day I pulled the fruit loop off his shirt and he was so mad he made me go home :-)
Anyway, maybe you could write one less paragraph on this voluminous blog of yours and use the energy to write to your old buddy Tom......
I can attest to Jim's comment that his social network is the size of a dime. You see, Jim and I have been friends since the 5th grade. We were at the Who concert together mentioned in a prior blog, but a more memorable scene was the day I pulled the fruit loop off his shirt and he was so mad he made me go home :-)
Anyway, maybe you could write one less paragraph on this voluminous blog of yours and use the energy to write to your old buddy Tom......
too funny! i can totally relate especially since i'm one of your very few REAL friends! like, we actually get together and talk. i'm not on facebook either but i also never thought i'd text as much as i do now. things change. see you soon jim.
In response to Jen's comment: I also enjoy going to bed with thoughts and images of Jim Watkins fresh in my mind. :)
Hello Jim
As i was reading this blog, I already knew what I wanted to post, and how you are right when you said that these social networking things are getting out of control.
I have avoided them like the plague, however I do know some people who have become victums of them and it does take over. I think having real friends who are humen and that you could speak with is better then having hundreds of "friends" out there on cyber space.
However, that's just my point of view. Fell free to disagree.
Adella, frequant viewer of pix news at 10
Hey can't find you on facebook. any suggestions?
Jim: I disagree with your so-called Facebook adviser when he says that "it’s really a contest to see who can get the most “friends” and that I shouldn’t be concerned with minor matters like whether I’ve actually ever met these people". He's confusing MySpace with Facebook. It's on MySpace that people fight to get the most "friends" (that is the reason why we've even heard of a talentless person like Tila Tequila: her biggest claim to fame before being given a reality TV show was that she had hundreds of thousands of MySpace "friends"). The reason why Facebook is as popular as it is now is that they go for quality more than quantity. It's no problem to "friend" as many people as you want to there, but that's not the prime objective. Don't let anyone tell you different.
The WB11/CW11/WPIX News at Ten (make up your minds guys, you've had more name changes in the past three years than Michael Jackson has had faces!) is the only news broadcast I watch every night at that time. You and your "office wife" Kaity Chung (heheheh) rock!
I am usually looking up health issues and not blogging for pleasure or meeting people. I guess for me, as a writer of editorials and such, I consider the computer, a working tool. Guess I am old fashioned....LEE
What the heck is facebook, I don't think it is for me, because, I am a basic loner - only still married with other marriages under my belt. Crazy in Westchester.....Lee
Jim,
I spend countless hours writing, because, that's what I do. It is kind of a solitary life, however, it is much enjoyed by me. It fills a void of pain that I feel for my daughter, so I found my niche here, writing editorials and ghost writing. I am very good at it, as I always get my "stuff" published. I got bored with news editorials, and I am now writing my about my own experiences in the hospital last year. I am ok and holding my own, however, I have my moments of truth. I won't be entirely well without my medication, so I take it faithfully. I can't help blaming myself for my daughter's illness...actually, that's what started to make me sick. She is a mother trying too hard with her children, so hard to make things normal, that she doesn't need to add a sick mother to her list of woes. Not an easy child, and I'm tired of all the Oprahs who give advice on these issues. Adult parents of adult children with cancer. It hurts and this blog has been a kind way of expressing myself, and its fun for a change....Lee