The Great Cyberspace Vacuum

A year and a half ago, on the cusp of leaving NYC (We have really got to stop moving every year), I was having a casual conversation in a church hallway. In the course of talking about babies or diapers or whatever aspect of motherhood it was that was weaving its way through the group, I mentioned that I was sad to be leaving. "Wait, you're moving?!" said one mom, "I was so looking forward to getting to know you better!"

"Well, you can always friend me on Facebook," I said.

"Oh no, I think Facebook is such a waste of time! I would never join."

Caught off guard by the woman's aversion to polite dishonesty, I wasn't thinking clearly when I tried a different suggestion: "Well, if you really want to know what I'm up to, you can always read my blog."

Her snort of derision could be heard all the way across the Hudson: "Oh, I never read blogs. Like I want to know all the details of someone's life."

I think I responded with something like, "Oh, well, I can see your point." And then I laughed nervously, as one is prone to do when she has just been informed that two things she enjoys doing are a complete waste of time.

(What can I say? Apparently this woman and I were not meant to be bosom buddies).

Honestly, I think there are three kinds of people in this world: those who have never heard of Facebook or blogging, those who are on Facebook or are blogging, and those who take outspoken, self-righteous satisfaction in staying off of Facebook and far away from blogging, as if they are somehow better for having avoided the great internet social vacuum, unlike the rest of us lemmings.

Obviously, this woman fell squarely into the last category. But I'd still like to know what her family is up to and we weren't close enough to warrant tracking down her email address.

Hmmmmph.

Do you think she's on Twitter?