I subscibe to, and only read, three magazines.  ESPN The Magazine, Maximum PC, and Wired.  The only reason I currently pay to have these paper wads delivered to me is 1) I only paid about 5 dollars per mag for the year and 2) I wanted some physical copy to read while on the many airplanes I (used to) frequent.

In the latest edition of Wired, I found the most fascinating article I've read in quite some time.  Granted, I was a little late to the party because it was a summary article of an earlier Wired stunt (totally missed this) in which one of Wired's (freelance) journalists attempted to drop his identity, and disappear.  The article explores not only the lack of privacy in the digital age, but the strength of human passions and tendencies.  I highly recommend this read...just so incredible to me.

This post is inspired by my friend Ben’s blog describing the separation anxiety he endured after his iPod spontaneously went kaput last week.  Ben explains, “Since going totally digital the only way to listen to my music is through the iPod. Hook up in the house, FM transmitter in the car, headphones at work.”  This got me thinking...

Candice’s recent obsessive fascination with Facebook and all the distant names that she has once again made proximate struck me to think about the worlds largest web-enabled social community and why it scares the shit out of me.

Facebook is the self-proclaimed largest web-based social directory on the planet…quite an accolade.  But it’s the “social” part that I’m terribly afraid of. It’s one thing to have a profile and show the world what you’re all about. That’s sorta what my blog is for…and twitter, flickr, and last.fm to a degree. But it’s something entirely different to have to interact with these people.  I mean, it talks back!!!  Computer doesn’t just say “no,” computer talks back!  As an early-adopter and long-time user of the asynchronous internet, this concerns me.

Signing up for Facebook, I expect, is like diving into a shark filled pool with a massive flesh wound. You will be immediately inundated with friend requests and then Pandora’s box is opened. I actually signed up for Facebook sometime ago and I had a friend request from a high school acquaintance within 25 minutes. When I faced this realization, I consulted my wise friend Jorli and she imparted the following nugget of wisdom:

“Just ignore them.”

Hmmmm. An option I had not considered. Which is great and all, but then they know you are ignoring them and that’s not very cool. I’m looking for an option that says “You can be my friend but please don’t contact me…ever.”  Let’s have it, Facebook!

Perhaps my fear is a result of the overwhelming thoughts about all the people I know, living, breathing, and reproducing out there. And I’m sure there are more than a few pocketfuls to which I owe apologies.  This also concerns me.

And has anyone noticed Facebook profiles appearing with increasing regularity in the news these days?  It seems anytime a crime or random crazy event happens to anyone aged south of 40, they immediately identify mysterious Facebook activity as being a key piece of evidence in the investigation. Facebook can get you fired, arrested, and killed.  Possibly all in one day, for the supremely unlucky.

But there are some merits to Facebook’s social design and architecture.  I suppose it’s one step above internet forums/message boards where the community is almost completely anonymous and is therefore free to spout off lunatic remarks without any real-life repercussions. For crystal examples of this, visit any one of the free University of Illinois sports forums; you will be dumbfounded.

Since I am a professional technologist and business person, I must evaluate the situation in those angles as well.  In terms of technical, marketing, and cultural accomplishments, Facebook should be lauded.  Zuckerberg absolutely crushed the concept of a killer app.  Hopefully he accomplishes the goal of acquiring Twitter to crush it further.  Then let’s see if he can exit.

And finally to Facebook’s credit, there are a few things I’d like to gain access to like some photos exchanged between friends and family.  Candice yesterday told me we were being ridiculed by a friend for appearing in a picture wearing sweaters with matching purple colors on Thanksgiving.  Now that sounds like some shit I’d be interested in!

Despite there being no sufficiently strong argument for joining, I may just possibly sign myself back up on the site and crank up the “go piss off” filter as I take my first toelength step into bizarro-world.  There is a sense of intrigue and mystery behind this unopened socially relevant curtain of past, present, and future.  Stay tuned for my decision!