Facebook Dilemma

I am one of the 17 people scattered throughout the U.S. that doesn't have a Facebook or MySpace account. Part of me hates what these "social-networking" sites have replaced - meaningful communications and relations with people in the flesh. I understand the merits of such a tool, especially when keeping in touch with friends that are slaves to lines of longitude between them. I abhor this site for many reasons, much too many to list here in this insignificant blog.

That being said, I'm also aware that I'm a walking contradiction, but chief among the reasons for abstaining is the notion that some things are better left off of the intertubes. I know what you're thinking: Wait. What? You idiot you have a blog. That's true. But the blog, while incriminating, doesn't have my face and name tagged all over other people's half-naked pictures. I'm not taking the holier-than-thou approach here, because I can't recount all the infantile antics I've participated in whilst inebriated. However, I have no desire to become a MySpace or Facebook celebrity because of the digitized megapixels portraying me naked and straddling a porcelain throne at 5:16AM.

The only thing that makes me even consider opening a faceless account, is so people know I exist (and to pimp the Scriptural Apothecary). Facebook and MySpace have become a tool for people to do a background check on new acquaintances. It raises red flags in their minds when they find out I don't participate. I can understand that it's a bit strange and that I should just stop being me and create some stupid profile, but the stubborn Irish in me won't let me budge from my moral stance. I could picture in my mind's eye, as I typed the keys to fill out my bare-bones profile, my mother questioning, "If everyone jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you do it?" What can I say? I've always been a sucker for D.A.R.E. scare tactics.