Babies R Us

I thought I’d lost it when I started using Twitter. Now I realize that was only the first step into a downward time-sucking social networking spiral. Yesterday, I did the truly unthinkable and joined Facebook. Not so much so that I can connect with others (I’m pretty abysmal at that in the real world let alone virtually) but because it’s kind of fun spying on people. It certainly appeals to the stalker in me and it’s fortifying to see former crushes looking distressingly non-hot.

The biggest thing that’s struck me so far is the rampant use of babies (worst) or you+spouse (almost as bad) photos used for profile pics. This is what I’d expect from people who graduated from my high school, didn’t keep their maiden names so I now have no idea who they are, and that I wasn’t friends with anyway…but ‘90s friends by choice who I’ve lost touch with are doing it too.

It’s not so much that I have issues with parents loving their children, that’s probably a good idea, but they don’t have any place representing you in a profile photo (it’s not as if you can’t include loved ones in online photo albums). 

I noticed the same phenomena with telecommuting coworker Christmas cards. They had photos of their children on the front, nothing else. I have no idea who these kids are. I could totally understand a family group photo on a holiday card, but just the offspring? Or should I be able to appreciate these group mailings just like a fine Anne Geddes artwork?

Then I look at my NYC friends and this behavior is nowhere to be found, which could have more to do with my taste than geography. As much as I’m not married to living in New York (given the right opportunity, I would move in a second) I can’t help wonder if the older I get the more inclined I will be to stay put if only because I have fundamental problems with individuals who view themselves as their children or only in conjunction with a spouse.