Russ: I can understand where you’re coming from, but I don’t think that’ll kill Facebook. It’s stupid to post pictures of oneself smoking pot or getting wasted on Facebook, Myspace, Flickr, etc, but that’s a person’s choice. It’s not the fault of the service, but of people’s own stupidity. I’m much more wary of a society that blames its own stupidity on a technology or service that could be completely harmless if used wisely. With Facebook, like many things in life, you make choices and you can control what information about yourself that gets let out onto the web. As for the “technological hermit” thing, I don’t deny that there are many such people. All I can say for them is that such folks will always try to find a way to avoid meeting society in person, and Facebook doesn’t change that. I don’t think it’s an overly scary thing, nor should it surprise anyone.

But Facebook is slowly becoming another version of Myspace. The original appeal of Facebook was the maturity level. With Facebook you didn’t have twelve year old girls shoving their chests out and taking whore-ish pictures. Now facebook is open to anyone…and has tons of annoying applications,requests,and raunchy dating site attached.

If you want to be my friend, come and meet me in real life. Let’s have a chat. Err, down at the local pub I mean. Yours or mine. Or join me on next weekends’ bushwalk around the Inner West Bay!

What is so social about Facebook, or MySpace, or Bebo or Linkedin anyway? Social. Noun: a party of people assembled to promote sociability and communal activity. Adjective: 1. marked by friendly companionship with others; “a social cup of coffee”;2. living together or enjoying life in communities or organized groups; “human beings are social animals”; “spent a relaxed social evening”. (Source: World Reference. http://www.wordreference.com/definition/social)

The good news is that there’s a bit of a counter reaction happening. In Australia for example, where a relatively new site called Getalife.com.au is connecting people to meet for a realcup of coffee. Or for a game of soccer at Centennial Park, or a games night at Chris’ place. Or a poke at mine

Simply put, Getalife.com.au offers easy to use tools for people to connect based around sporting, cultural or recreational activities. The activity might be a one-off, like finding a couple of buddies for a kayaking trip up Brisbane River. Others get together regularly, like reading groups. If members can’t find what they’re looking for, they can create a group or activity of their own and invite others to join.

In Australia at least, it seems that Getalife has struck a chord in the hearts and minds of ordinary city slickers who are not seeking to build virtual friendships by ONLY spending time on a computer. Instead, they are people look for alternative, contemporary and independent ways to connect with people in real life, get involved in a wide range of activities, meet people and find friendships (or even love) on their own terms.

In the age of pokes, cyber kisses, spam and the tons of sleaze and phony member profiles dumped on us, Getalife offers a refreshing alternative to get you personally invited by real members to real events. Not because you’re on an bulk mail list, or because you fit the profile of some sales campaign, but simply because the organiser of the event enjoys your company… in the flesh!