I find Facebook a good way to talk to folks one-on-one and keep up with those I miss talking with when Mudchat goes into temporary eclipse or there is uneasy feuding among old friends. I miss the dynamic of multiple person conversations (They seem to be coming back of late) in Mudchat, but find Facebook a good way to talk to Catters individually, my daughter and other relatives and to lots of people on the local DC and Baltimore music scenes. And there's photo galleries of friends, some of which are pertinent to me or are enjoyable to view.

Of course, lots of cutesy, if well-intentioned, spam comes my way and invitations to participate in games, surveys and fantasies I don't have time for, so there's lots of editing and sorting to do, but it's good for the things I actually use it for.

It grows on you, in more ways than one. I joined up to keep up with one friend made on a UK trip and somehow have about a hundred people listed as friends, all tied in to other friends and activities, of course. Shared friends being the pedigree I look for and filter through. But I'm there for individual conversation with those who I'd want to speak with.