I resisted Facebook for some time for reasons already expressed. Then a 
colleague from my Swedish business interest asked me to give feedback on his 
page and I agreed, not knowing that meant establishing a page of my own to 
make good on my promise. 

Over time, despite some annoyances and certainly a myriad connection 
requests, I have found that FB is a great way to keep in touch. Firstly with 
my daughter when I was in Hong Kong and she in Ireland, then Japan.  Lately 
with old friends. Surprisingly, with clients where FB has added a dimension to 
the relationship that builds familiarity and trust.

I have come to welcome contact from people with whom I share interests and 
when abroad typically let people know I am in the area. Thus, FB connections 
have become, in some cases, actual friends.

My work is international (I write now from Russia where my shcedule has 
precluded contacting RIM folk, but try me at +7 (8) 909 248 5621 today or 
tomorrow).  Being accessible and timely in multiple timezones means that tools 
like LinkedIn, Academici, Ecademy, Viadeo, FB, Naymz, etc. have moved from 
pain in the neck to lifeline in my very specific context.

Like others, I wrestle with the distinction between personal and professional 
and have decided that where absolutely necessary, I can create a different 
online id and personna to meet the need.  More difficult is the fact that I have 
several business interests which are not obviously related.  I figure that being 
selective is more problematic than being diverse. My page is more akin to the 
Canadian mosaic than the US melting pot in this regard.  

The problem with FB is less a matter of its functionality than with the 
propensity of viewers to assume, conclude and judge in limited context and 
perhaps with great effect. That is human nature I suppose...not unrelated to 
those ethical questions in another thread that I must delay response on. I do 
not expect people to assume that because a friend posts X in a political vein 
that I share the view,  same for Y.  

LinkedIn and Naymz are less social, FB more so. But for many online 
networkers, it is no longer best practice to draw such a hard line.

One guy's thoughts while on the road. 

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