Is it just me or is Facebook making life more complex by trying to simplify it? Just as I started to make sense of the social Rubix Cube of community pages, group pages, Fan pages, et al. They turned mutual interest, passionate sharing of information and interaction into the blandest word in the English language to express human emotion — LIKE.  “Eh, I like it, I guess.”

Are we headed for the playground in a year or two when LIKE no longer suffices? I REALLY LIKE LIKE YOU! — Mr. website, Mr./Mrs. person, Mr./Mrs. band or song! Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, I’m certain,  has me by 50+ IQ points and holds a grand vision for his company well beyond my comprehension, but that’s kind of my point.

I’m the end user and I already see the shelf life on this word. I know I’m going to have to embed a “LIke X 4″ widget on my site or client sites in the not-too-distant future.

In the race for Web  dominance, as well as amassing legions of  friends, fans, followers, supporters and now LIKERS (L-A-M-E!), I wonder if Facebook is adopting the news media maxim of “Be First, First. Be Right Later.” If so, ask yourself…how’s that going?

In the interim, I’m treating Facebook like a kid or adult with ADHD — waiting for the spazzing to stop before I react too firmly or adopt anything new. Facebook might, as a result,  lose me for awhile.

OK…yeah….Mark Z. and team are going to be heartbroken–only 399 million users now. Oh no! But I’ll bet there are at least a few of you getting worn out by it all. Seriously, how many of you have started Facebook Farms, played with Mafia Wars more than physically interact with your family or friends, allowed an application to suck you in for a trivia quiz –  only to be persistently annoyed by unwanted follow up?

Does this recent South Park clip hit a little close to home? (You will laugh and nod at the same time. I promise)

Or this one?


Trust me…this isn’t a pronouncement of a potential tipping point or leveling off of Facebook users. Just a question. How much is too much? Because if you were already at the eyeball level with Facebook’s antics and peripatetic machinations on things like their Terms and Conditions — you’re about to have your head blown off your neck in the weeks, months and years to come. Here’s an article on Facebook’s plans that you should read and know what you’re about to experience.

Maybe it will be great…but, frankly, I’m kinda wigged out about one entity knowing every preference, distaste, habit, or feeling I have right when I have it. I’m probably being naive. I’m sure Google is already cloning me for deep space exploration. That said, I think some things should just be left for old school social networking, like actually going to meet somebody for a cup of coffee or attending an event to learn about things and people. My former virtual pal @CarriBugbee became real to me recently when she “pulled me out of the basement” to speak on a panel. I’ve gotta say, it was great to meet her, talk to her,  interact with other  human beings and get to know people for more than their profile and prettiest picture.

With this new model, I wonder if people will just bypass personal contact all together. I’ve got my music, my friends, my news, food, beer in the fridge, and soon, hopefully, Netflix, after I convince my wife there’s actually an adult value proposition and application for Playstation 3. Sounds pretty sweet…..but….

Let’s just make a deal right now to not live like that. You pull me out of the basement once in awhile and I’ll do the same for you — by sending you fun things to do outdoors or at least outside of your home or office — to your Facebook page.

Until next time, don’t tell me you love me (Blip.fm)  just tell me you LIKE me.

M