I'm a Luddite...

… or maybe I’m just getting old.

Earlier, while reading a site I used frequent, generally half-drunk ripped and at 3AM, I noticed that they have decided to add a new ‘feature’. Rather than display an email address in a user’s profile, they are implementing an internal messaging/email widget.

This pissed me off. Well, it did until I started wondering why I was so angry about changes a stranger who happens to own a website three thousand miles away is making to his web site. After a bit of thought it dawned on me that I just don’t like social networking sites and any site that attempts to moderate my communication with other users is a social networking site.

I don’t know how to use social networking sites, short of obsessively checking them, and I’m sick of people trying to cajole, bribe and intimidate me into using them. Stop inviting me to join these things. I’m not going to. Ever. Even if I had the desire to meet hundreds of new: friends, vendors, Nigerian bankers, employers, horny singles in my neighborhood, people who like that same obscure band, potential employers and people who hated me in school but are now cool I wouldn’t have the time to keep up.

I imagine these sites are incredibly useful to the millions who use them daily. Jolly good for them. If I had the time, inclination or means to maintain relationships with hip professionals in exotic locations, I’m sure I would too. But I’m not, so I don’t.

I am not looking for a relationship and while I am looking for a job, I am not willing to relocate. I’m not a hobbyist or a gamer and feel the same way about political advocacy as I do about social networking. In essence, unless this is the Schenectady Drive My Kids Around network, I won’t be joining.

Hell, reading that over, I’m not sure any social network would have me.

I should mention that the admin of the site I didn’t name above has clarified his position. Compromise and consensus, once again, rule the day.