Facebook...sketchy...me???

So, yesterday, I had a former student tell her sister that a 30 year old guy having a facebook is sketchy.... I can't stop thinking about this for a couple of reasons:

First, is it? I don't feel like it is. It is a window into the lives of those who choose to become friends with me. In that way I guess its a bit voyeuristic. However, I don't request friends, my students inevitably request me as a friend. Also, I use facebook primarily to keep in touch with former students and also with friends of mine. I don't think thats sketchy... I haven't felt sketchy in any way.....until she said that.. Its probably just "Guy Teacher Radar." GTR is standard issue for any guy teacher. I am so Over-the-top sensitive to anything that might be miconstrued it is crazy.... I have never done anything even remotely sketchy. So, yeah.... that is probably it.

Second, why would she think that.... what does she use facebook for....This one I think I am going to have to think about more to really under stand. My initial reaction is that they maybe hook-up using this as a tool.... or .... idk.....Maybe she feels that it is "sketchy" for any older guy to want to stay in touch with younger people.

There is a strange thing happening right now with my eighth graders. They are telling me that the highschoolers have told them that they can't use facebook because its only for older students. This....is completly with out reason. But it does lead me to a couple conclusions. I think that this generation has taken to owning this kind of communication and therefore, my participation is an intrusion on something that they do. Kind of like older people liking the beatles in their hayday. It was the sign of a generation. Is public communication a standard by which the current generation will be defined. If that is true, how will that label that generation The Beatles were a peace loving rebellion that pulled at their generation through freedom of thought. Maybe this generation has found its voice.... even though its pressed through the anonynimity of the sheer mass of voices, still it is their voice nonetheless. And I am not supposed to be there.

Its just where I want to be.