What was life like before Facebook? Or, better stated -- what was love like?

Now, I'm not one to blog about personal relationships, sure they're juicy, but get too personal and it feels like a middle school Xanga -- not my target audience. But let's be honest, who doesn't love to talk about relationships? Specifically love. Personally, I think one can tackle various aspects of this topic (safer on the comedy side) with complete ambiguity. After all, romance is spice.

What I'd like to focus on is Facebook love. This very blog, being a public, easily accessible medium that'd I'd assume two to three people read a day (one who accidentally found this page on a google search, one being me, then sometimes good 'ol mom ... ok, maybe not always mom). All in all, I feel like this is a safe setting to get out my views on Facebook love. But before I continue, let me define it:

Facebook love is a proclamation of love between one person and their boyfriend/girlfriend, finance, spouse, etc. Facebook love can even go so far as to include the tormented soul who prides them self on cryptic status lines such as, "if only he'd notice me" or "ain't no sunshine when she's gone." (Admit it, at least half of Facebook users have gone here once -- if not multiple times).

How do I feel about Facebook love? Well for starters, it's about as entertaining as Saturday morning cartoons (in case you're culturally confused, that's entertaining). I have several roommates (all female, naturally) and I hear them on repeated occasions squeal with delight when a wedding or engagement album has been posted. I am guilty of this as well. But it doesn't stop there, oh no.

For starters, there's the relationship status: complicated means I'm sort of invovled but want out, single means I'm confident that I'm alone or I'd like to not be alone, in a relationship means you can know I'm taken but not with who, in a relationship with ___ (insert name) shows relational pride, married is a clear off the market, engaged is usually a giddy female, then lastly, not listed -- the crypic bunch -- often the crowd that is either A.) sick of dating B.) Been badly hurt C.) Not interested in dating (rarely this one) or D.) Un-condoning of Facebook love. Or, of course, there's the occassional, "too many relationships to list just one so I'll leave it blank" sort. And if it stoppped here maybe Facebook love would be somewhat under control, but as one could guess, it doesn't.

There's a bucket load of other aspects of Facebook love that can be fun time wasters for the "purpose driven procrastinators" (not to be confused with Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life). Take couples wall to wall, for example. Sometimes the things people post to their beloved is stomach-doubling funny. Then there's blatant "lovestoned" about me sections. Albums, let's not forget the albums! Ahh, and messages (which no one can see) but we know we've all been there, stealthly conducting Facebook love behind the scenes.

Is there shame in any of this behavior? I don't know. Am I guilty of this behavior? Though less than some, when I meet "Mr. Right" odds are, they'll be at least a picture or two posted, and who knows what that first dropped domino will trigger.

Here's the catch, the kicker, the conclusion of this post, if you will. Facebook is about "connecting," it's designed to "share your life," and though the concept of sharing life in such a public, unpersonalized manner is a bit unnerving, it is our culture. Whether we resent it or love it, love is a part of our lives, and Facebook can only hide that for so long.

What was love like before Facebook? Between two people ;)