Overly Positive

Just yesterday a whole bunch of photos of me in college popped up on Facebook, leading to a lot of having to explain to current friends and associates why I was somehow locked in a faux cage made out of a box and duct tape, or why I’m surrounded by a bevy of women. Ah, college…

But anyway, watching how Facebook disseminated the information about my past exploits (to my embarrassment), and the community tagging that old friends did, it had to validate, somewhat, why Facebook is good for me and others to use.

A lot of people like to tout the tech of Facebook as a way of networking, keeping in contact with friends, and generally updating people on what you’re doing or thinking. But perhaps the secondary, and perhaps underappreciated, function of Facebook is to turn back the clock, share memories, and appreciate “the good old days” – times that you probably took for granted, but which you look back upon with fondness.

When I look at my college photos, and see myself – a bit more carefree, a slight bit lighter in the wasitline, and ready to take on the world, I feel good – not because of where I am now, but because of the fact that back then, I had a foundation on which to get to today. Through good friends, great opportunities, and shared teamwork, I learned values, philosophies, and practices that I carry with me today. Through connections made in college, I’ve gotten farther than I ever could, and for those I’ve kept in close touch with, I have a network of people to draw upon. These are the kinds of things that just aren’t possible without a social networking tool like Facebook.

Maybe this is par for the course for Facebook, since it started out as a university and college-specific application for students. But it’s curious how looking back helps me look forward, as last night’s shenanigans of the past have helped me find and reconnect with people on Facebook and in other places as well. Heck, that’s only in the first 12 hours since the pictures went up, too!

So despite the embarrassment that these photos create for me, it’s nice to see that social networking is worthwhile, that it does help you feel nostalgia as well as a connection, and that technology like Facebook is just going to evolve to make it more worth it. Besides, there are worse ways to spend your lunch break than re-living the (in)famous past.

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