Jack’s Buzz

Ed Stetzer has more Facebook friend requests than I do (probably because he is nicer than me), but he also has a dilemma. He wonders if responding to all those (100!) requests will open him up to all kinds of crazy stuff. Ed is from NYC, and he says that makes him wary. Will people try to rob him, steal his car, trick him into selling Amway? It’s a funny post, found at EdStetzer.com.

First, to answer the pressing question: “Will people misuse this information I put on Facebook.” The answer is, “Yes.” If you put those pictures of yourself hanging off the bow of a cruise ship, holding an empty hurricane glass, wearing nothing but your skivvies, screaming “I’m the king of the world!,” your Mom will find them. If you post the smiling photo of your best three buddies and you skipping work at the Cubs game, your boss will see them because, despite what your three stupid friends told you, you are NOT Ferris Buellar. People WILL try to rob you (they do that now, they’re called IRS agents), they will try to steal your car (they do that now, they’re called insurance agents), and trick you into selling Amway (they do that now, they’re called…, come on Ed, we know who we’re talking about now don’t we? [fist bump]). But the real questions Ed smartly asks are much deeper.

Let’s look at the deeper questions Ed raises, which are very good ones. First, I have a mess to clean up. Ed says I mocked him. Eww, mocking. Sorry about that. Ed brings up some interesting thoughts:
Q1. “What’s the point of social networking?
Q2. “Is it worth my time to join the conversation?,” and
Q3. (if so) “How to I use it?”

Social networking is something most of us never imagined. I liken it to the thought that one day we would have pens that do not require an inkwell. The point seems to be to stay in touch, which seems good. Of course, staying in touch does not mean poking me. I don’t like to be poked. It’s rude. Now that I wrote that down, I expect 17,000 pokes this week.

I do, very much, like to see pictures of peoples’ latest adventures (clean adventures, thank you), children, and ruminations about life and work. Many of us have been close to someone only to move away and lose touch and wonder what ever happened to him or her. Social Networking caught fire, I think, because there’s something inside us that does not want to lose touch.

My first week on Facebook, I also had more friend requests than I had friends. I hit “Ignore” a lot. Then I found out (from USA Today, or The National Equirer–I get those two mixed up sometimes) that people actually try to send you a friend request who never met you in their lives. They just saw your luggage tag or read something you wrote or you spoke at their church or they found your card in your publisher’s wastebasket, and whammo! they look you up on Facebook and send a request. I got one request from a pair of Russian twins claiming they were looking for American husbands. Since I am married and follow Jesus, I knew they must have me confused with another Jack Allen. Their post said, “click yes to see how cute we are.” I clicked “Ignore.” Sometimes “Ignore” is the nicest thing you can do for someone (especially if she’s a Russian, mail-order bride).

So, social networking is good like other networking is good, but it carries the potential for misuse like any network carries that potential. NOTE THE CONNECTION you house church and discipleship group leaders. All forms of networking can turn sour, but that does not mean we should ignore everything. Some people need to be counted as friends.

Second, is it worth your time to join a social network? Yes. You need friends and your friends need you. Everything is not about “what’s in it for me,” but I get a lot more from reading my friends’ Facebook status posts than they will ever know. Some cause me to pray, some to wince, many to laugh.

There’s a limit here, of course. It ceases to be good when it interferes with your job. Facebook makes money off of you, you don’t make money off of it unless you use it very smartly, which leads to answer 3.

How do I use it? Use it first to stay close to your friends, but don’t stop there. Build your brand. Connect your blog to your Facebook notes. Let people know your thoughts, your dreams, your prayer needs, your vision. Need a job–network it out. Have a book idea–test it. One of my students is developing his new church’s prayer network as a Facebook group. Smart guy–I like that!

Offer good, positive stuff that people find helpful. Let your friends know about it. If it’s good, you’ll find out soon enough. If it’s like Ed’s, you’ll help a lot of people and get invited to preach at the SBC! If it’s like mine, you’ll get cheap therapy. Either way, YOU WIN!

Hey, you winner, have I told about how you can millions of dollars in your spare time?