On Facebook

In the past week, I have spent an unmentionable amount of time on Facebook. In cohorts with my mouse, I have clicked away at organizing, consolidating, and downsizing my 'friends'. The goal is to be more minimalistic (and thus, organized) on the social-network that has monopolized most people's lives. At first, it was a battle between deactivating the account to take a social-networking vacay versus deleting the account to wash my hands of the obligation. Both choices pointed towards a fluff-free future but also the threat of being ostracized from society. 

what to do. what to do...

Let me draw you a timeline of my love/hate relationship with Facebook:

At this point, I am press toward the following endeavors:

1- having less of a fb presence
2- removing 'friends' with whom I never speak (or can't remember their name or who they are or where I met them or how I know them)
3- keeping the 'friends' with whom I do 'keep in touch'
4- keeping all the 'friends' whose statuses I enjoy
5- keeping the 'friends' I stalk- hoping they won't unfriend me
6- and the hardest part: removing 'friends' without hurting their feelings

It is vain for me to think people would be hurt if I unfriended them.

But I am a youth pastor's wife... which means people will look for reasons to bitch about critique me.

Though intimidated at first, once I X-ed the first person who I didn't remember, I felt liberated and went on my click-happy way. Before this week I was in the 1100 range of friends (what?!). I have successfully narrowed it down to 997 people who I actually remember. Which is odd. I was expecting be in the 20s by the time I was finished. 

I'm not where I want to be. There remain connections that strip the term 'friend' of all it's meaning. But, I am moving forward. Any minimalist will tell you that you have to start small. I have taken my first baby step, and expect to continue towards a lighter, less distracted, clutter-free e-life. I figure getting Facebook under control will help set a precedent for the other overstuffed portions of my life. 

Any advice? Questions? Concerns? Insight?

Would you get offended if someone unfriended you? 

Do you use lists to organize your friends?

I do now and I love it. 

Slowly, but surely, these lists will help me filter those whom I am actually connecting with on Facebook.

UPDATE: I deactivated my facebook account for the time being.