Facebook

Blogging seems to have taken a back seat this week. Of course all the usual things that get in the way of it are still getting in the way of it, but a new element has entered the equation that has started eating into blogging time.

Facebook.

I’d been invited to join a few times in the past but the front page is fairly dull and the site tour doesn’t inspire much confidence, but after the fourth invite from someone I knew I thought I’d try it out.

Now I have yet another thing to be addicted to.

I really hadn’t been expecting much. I figured it was going to be a poor imitation of MySpace, would only have a handful of people signed up to it and would probably disappear in a few months.

It turns out there are over 30 million people currently on Facebook

I’ve found precious old friends I’d lost contact with and several people I never expected to bump into. I was even recently sent a message from the drummer in my school band, Granite (we played Hard Rock, obviously), who I’d not seen or heard from for at least 24 years.

There are all sorts of groups and networks you can join, from regional to political, hobbies to fashion, religious to historic, including one or two that seemed like they were tailor made specifically for me.

It’s quite a different style of ‘social networking’ to blogging and I can see how the two will compliment each other well. It certainly won’t replace the blog because it fills a different need, however it has been a little distracting while I’ve been setting up my page and exploring what can be done with it.

So, for anyone who is signed up to Facebook, or plans to be, look me up – I think I’m the only Kim Ayres on there with a beard – and add me to your friends list.

In the meantime, we apologise for any disruption. Normal service will be resumed shortly.