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I joined Facebook on March 11th 2007, at the urging of the daughter of my best American friend, and on the whole, I’m glad I did. These nearly seventeen years since have been mostly enjoyable, regularly hilarious and occasionally enriching. I’ve made new friends (some of whom I’ll sadly never meet in person), reconnected with old ones and had more than one relationship as a direct result of “meeting” someone there.

Of course, it’s not all been plain sailing – there’s been some very nasty moments, quite a few unfriendings and frankly I’ve encountered some highly unpleasant individuals… but real life is much the same. That said, it’s become part of my life, and in particular the daily “memories” function commands my attention first thing, helping me relive some wonderful times past… and occasionally causing me perplexity at a comment with no context, the intent of which is now forever lost. Yes, some of the memories are to a degree painful now, but these things happen. I can’t be doing with Instagram, Twitter/X or pretty much any other social media platform, so I’m staying put. Facebook will see me out, and I suppose maintaing a memory of me for those who care to look. A form of immortality if you like. I rather like that idea.