Recently CNN did a feature, published as an article on the Internet, on the 12 annoying types of Facebookers. Like many others I found this article funny, because I could identify each type with almost everyone in my Facebook orb.

Wait. I could identify myself in almost every type. The article has gone on to become one of those often quoted on blogs. However, after thinking more about the list, I realised it was unfair, at least to some of the "types". In summary, here is CNN's list of the 12 annoying types of Facebookers:

1) The Let-Me-Tell-You-Every-Detail-of-My-Day Bore

2) The Self-Promoter

3) The Friend-Padder

4) The Town Crier

5) The too-much-information updaters (TMIer)

6) The Bad Grammarian

7) The Sympathy-Baiter

8) The Lurker

9) The Crank

10) The Paparazzo

11) The Maddening Obscurist

12) The Chronic Inviter

I am a person who, throughout my travels, has been lucky in friends, who have given me more than I can ever manage to give them back. However, I am one of those "bad" friends who never before kept in contact with them, and that is unfortunate and really poor behaviour. And the longer it goes on the more embarrasing it is for me to pick up the thread.

So Facebook has been wonderful for me. The embarrasment factor is over. In the last month alone I have regained contact with three of my running buddies from high school and now one is coming over for a visit. In addition many of my high school friends are on the network and we are slowly re-establishing contact.

I have found we all go through phases of the types listed above. But in most cases it is through these types of posts I have rediscovered who they are today over time, and why I liked them in the first place. OK, I might have to revise this opinion later on but isn't this kind of self expression to be appreciated, no matter if it does get annoying or tedious? Yes, I am hungry for what the people who trail through my life say about themselves, and I hope they feel the same about me. In fact, true to character, I am an occasional Facebook user (maybe even a Type 8?), but I always answer any comments sent to me, or chime in when someone requests it.

When someone notes they are doing something mundane (Type 1) in a small Northern Ontario town I grew up, or in someother place that I know, the memories start coming back in full force. I can sometimes almost smell the trees and the lakes and the atmosphere. When they meet up in person I envy them and I can imagine the kinds of conversation they might be having.

One might say Facebook is a pathetic and lazy way to pick up the friendship trail. But at least it is being re-established. And that cannot be all that bad. So bring on your Sympathy-Baiter, bring on the Chronic Inviter, the Cranks and the Criers. Let me have those obscure posts and self-promotions. Above all, give me some more bores. I want it all. After all I can simply scroll past it or filter out the person.

***

To see what news-related sites are doing in recreating how news and information is delivered online, check out the finalists for the Online News Association annual awards, with "many pushing the envelope of innovation in digital storytelling and information sharing". Forget the hyperbole, but any Bermudian online innovators should take note!

Go to www.journalists.org and click on the link to Online Journalism Awards/News. There you will find the links to the entries sent in by the finalists. Of particular interest are the finalists for the Outstanding Use of Digital Technologies category. Muckety and its Muck Tracker and Muckety Movers is a particularly quirky entry. Of those who didn't make it to the final cut (I was one of the screeners for these two categories) check out the Los Angeles Times project "Mapping L.A." I believe this is one way news presentation could become more interesting.

Another category of interest is the General Excellence in Online Journalism, Non-English, where finalists are from Kazakhstan, Italy, Spain, Argentina and France.

The SOITU.ES site uses an interesting and experimental layout. Does it work? It seems to go on and on. ¡bravo! for trying.

Send any comments to elamin.ahmed@gmail.com