i don't think it's my space

a couple days ago i found a college roomie through a social networking site. no, not through facebook or myspace, but through the more eloquent, more grownup site: linkedin.

linkedin is the slower paced, more austere cousin of its over-hyped freakout raver siblings: facebook and myspace. it's true, i feel more at ease using linkedin, more able to opt out when i'm not feelin' it, and take advantage when it works for me. i didn't feel guilty or dirty using it to find mariah. i found out where she works and what her married name is through our alumni magazine, and i simply typed her name into the search box. since i'm a member, i could reach her, and give her my email address. there. done. i used linkedin as a surrogate; albeit not for the use case scenarios they likely revised and ruminated over, but still. i'm a happy customer. i'll come back.

i shared my reunion with the remaining roommate in our threesome, and when i openly mocked myspace, she admitted she has an account. she giggled while she recounted the reason behind her membership: it was the only way to get in touch with a famous person she and her husband met on vacation. and now? her 39-year old husband is berated with countless requests a day to be his "friend." her account will expire soon.