Why I Don't Use Facebook

It sure seems like I am the last person without a Facebook account. My wife and her friends are addicted to it, and even my mother-in-law has given in to the peer pressure and setup a Facebook account. So why I do continue to hold out? Here's some thoughts on that:

- If I haven't spoken to you since junior high, there's probably a reason.
- Did you just finish making breakfast for your kids? Yeah, so what? I'm not that interested in your status.
- I have 3 phone numbers, 4 email addresses, and 5 instant messaging accounts. If we have something to say to each other, there are already plenty of good ways to do it.
- I don't want to take any more personality quizzes, play trivia games, or participate in other nonsense.
- I once saw my wife feeding a virtual puppy in a Facebook app that a "friend" had sent her. I promised myself that I ever did anything like that I would have to kill myself.

Look, I use LinkedIn now and then. There is value to social networking when it has an actual purpose - i.e. staying in contact with former business associates in case I need another job. But Facebook takes it too far. I proudly remain the last holdout.