In checking on my Fire-EMS application today I stumbled over something new residing on the bottom frame of every Facebook page. Confused, I started clicking wildly, of course. Come to find out that Facebook has instituted a new chat feature, akin to Gmail’s, where now you know what friends are actively on Facebook at all times if you so choose to know such information, and you can speak with them straight through Facebook, instantly. It’s like having a private wall with instantaneous updates, which is great assuming you have no cell phone, no AIM, no MSN Messenger, no Gmail, and no life, really.

I understand the boardroom conversation that would have spawned something like this. “What do other services that link people do that we don’t do, that’ll get someone to come back to our website and generate more ad revenue?” While this is a sound question in internet business principle, it’s just another example of services being provided that erode what is left of our humanity. That’s right, even I, who loves me my technology, must admit that there needs to be some restraint shown occassionally in what we developers unleash upon the world. Every step we take to being that much more compelled to not even call someone is a little scary to me. To not even hear a voice? If we should learn anything from our parents’ technology frustrations, let it be that there needs to be some human in the process somewhere. And while, as an introvert, I am often compelled to stay in and not speak to anyone, the least thing I really need is for Facebook to be my enabler.

It’s beautiful outside, so honestly, rather than worry about this, I hope you all don’t mind if I just cut it here and go out to play some football. You have, at least, been informed, so my job is complete.