Muleskinner

Issue date: 10/6/05 Section: Opinion

Facebook. It's the latest craze among students. However, I probably have a different opinion of it than most college students. I think it's creepy for several reasons.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Facebook, it's a Web site. There's a Facebook for high school students as well as one for college students.

I've noticed several people talking about how "great" this site is, and some of my friends have even tried to convince me to join.

There's not a chance that will happen anytime soon.

According to the site, "The Facebook is an online directory that connects people through social networks at schools."

The webpage also gives three ways a person can use Facebook.

"The site can be used to look up people at your school, see how people know each other and find people in your classes."

I have problems with the three reasons the site lists as to why it's there to "assist" you as a student.

First, we can easily use the Central directory to look up people at school. There's no need for students to look up people on some Web site.

Secondly, does "see how people know each other" sound creepy to anyone else? I don't find it necessary to know how someone knows somebody else.

If for some reason I would want to know that, I could very easily ask that particular friend in person or over the phone.

Finally, "find people in your classes." OK, so whatever happened to taking a glance around the classroom and finding someone that way?

I don't want to believe that people are getting so unfriendly that the only way they can make a friend in class is by posting personal information and "cute" photos of themselves on the Internet.

Facebook tries to address privacy issues by saying people who sign up are only affiliating themselves with a specific branch of the site that only includes other people from your school. That's great and all, and although I love Central, I don't feel it necessary to post photos and personal information of myself on the Internet.

All I am saying, is let's not get so involved in technology that we forget about meeting and speaking with people the traditional way.

Be careful and aware of what you could be getting yourself into when you post information about yourself anywhere on the web.

Although Facebook may seem like a fun way of getting to know others, it may be a way of inviting unwanted attention.

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