Last night as I sat in front of my computer, I opened Facebook. But didn't log in.

I'm still not sure if I opened the page out of reflex, or if I just wanted to look at it for the familiarity. I worry that it's more the former, rather than the later. As my cursor winked at me enticingly from the log-in field, I started contemplating bstrangely's question: what it is about this site that is so compelling?  And what was it about it that made me get so hooked on it.

I was a relative latecomer to the site (I'd tell you exactly when I joined, but as I can't log in...) but have had an account for maybe two years. I resisted for what felt like a long time. Before I'd signed up I couldn't really see the point. I didn't get into MySpace and was perfectly content with email. The whole thing just wasn't my style. I really viewed it like this, with all its satire and cynicim.

It was my then 12-year-old cousin, who lives on the other side of the country, who convinced me to join. I thought it would be fun to keep up with her this way. I wouldn't have to miss out on as much of her growing up even though I'm far away. So, I signed up. And I just sort of got sucked in. I got a few friends, enjoyed catching up with people, laughed about old stuff. Got a few more friends. Lather, rinse, repeat.

As an introvert, and one raised in a culture where emotional stoicism is highly prized (that's the understatement of the year: we don't talk about our feelings, we drink about them), sharing can be difficult. If I had to decide what about Facebook was so addictive initially, I'd have to be honest and say that there's something really intriguing about the idea of being someone's center of attention, in people being interested in what you're doing, even for a few moments. In an odd way, it's a reassurance that you're not leading a life completely isolated from your past (or your present, for that matter). It's a reminder that the memories you have of your experiences are shared by, and have mattered to, someone else, for good or ill.

That, or I just have a sick fascination with how much thinner/fatter/hairier/weirder people have become since high school.

Tomorrow's entry: Things I Don't Miss about Facebook, or How I Completely Supplanted Facebook with Obsessive Blog Reading/Writing