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one of the pitfalls of social networking

Facebook. Now theres a subject.  I held my ground for years, not even slightly curious, despite most of my friends hooked and a husband spending an hour a day glued to that laptop screen. I guess in those teen years where online social networking is expected, I was busy spending my time like an overworked adult. Marriage, changing religion, new countries, full time jobs - who am I kidding, I didnt have time for friends or a pen pal, let alone an online profile to upkeep.

I gave in two years ago, not because I was constantly missing parties because I didnt get the "facebook invite", or that my friends were spread around the globe and eager to stay in touch, or because I was recently divorced and its apparently a good place to pick up, or at least stalk our date. I created an account, struggled for hours to find a decent image of my face for the profile picture box, all because a less than average looking guy, with surprisingly mis-guided cockiness, and a terrible adolescent mustache (movember or something to the like) accused me of being conservative for not having a social network - to which I replied; I have a Myspace!! derr!! (and quickly turned pink remembering my profile nickname I gave myself in 9th grade - which is too embarrassing to share... and anyway, Im trying to appear charismatic and not nerdy, being that this is a blog... plus, my affirmations encourage me to withhold judgement against myself
He worked in a shoe store opposite the menswear store I was managing at the time (terrible time of my life). I was known as Laura (first name on my birth certificate). I wore knee length skirts, cotton blouses and hush puppies. I was the picture of conventional, but c'mon, couldnt he, and everyone else for that matter, tell that I was ultimately a cool and interesting person underneath my neatly brushed back ponytail.
Two years later, a new country, new language, and my first ever "in a relationship with..." facebook no longer serves me. I serve it. 
Working, relaxing, on holiday, sick, there is no excuse for a day off from facebook. Even a poor internet connection is not enough now, with internet available on your mobile phone, ipod and free wifi at every cafe on the globe.
Facebook, alternately known as stalkbook, envybook, datebook, is fast becoming problem-book, especially where my relationship is concerned. 
Old flames, flings and photos with the slightest promiscuity are targets of pathetic arguments, and thats just from me!
Who wants to see your current relationship and all there dirty past splashed all over wall feeds and profile pages. What ever happened to "what happened in the past, stays in the past"?!  If you've removed the photos from your bedside table, thrown away all the gifts that were exchanged and deleted their number from your phone, than why is it socially excepted to have your ex on facebook??
With all the new settings, facebook is now more transparent than ever. They should have a "save my pride" security setting when you add a new relationship to your status, that prevents your new partner from seeing any past ones. Or are we so insecure that we need our partner to see our ex's, hoping that in some unnatural way they will appreciate us more?
Deactivate option is looking good ;)

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