Facebook "Tree-hugging" norms?

As I watched the "Early Show" yesterday morning, they were talking about etiquette….and discussed which people actually did.  For example, the guy is SUPPOSED to go through a revolving door first….so that he can push it and get it going for his female companion.  And, I guess we should NOT ask for a house tour when visiting a friend….only say "yes" if a tour is offered.

I started thinking about my 18 year old who is about embark on his college experience and his recent swath of high school graduation parties….and how Facebook is changing etiquette as THAT generation uses it and other online/on-phone tools for virtually ALL communication.

My son received NO graduation party invites in the U.S. mail.  We as a family received a few from close friends…but HE received NONE.  At first I thought: "Is he a social outcast?" After all, he is a pretty straight arrow…..but he seems to have a lot of friends and be pretty social otherwise.  So, I asked him.

"Oh mom, everyone is sending their invites via Facebook."….I asked " How will the parents know?"….to which he had no response.  We decided that the convention is that we should assume that party invites were for he alone unless otherwise specified by a formal invite or a live conversation.

So, before the weekend would come, he would get on Facebook and see the schedule for grad parties and then plan out his weekend.  He never printed anything….the most he may have done is write down an address or two.

So, this generation who are communicating a LOT electronically, are also doing formal communications…ELECTRONICALLY!

Food for thought for those of us in midlife who discovered computer technology within the last 20 years for the first time.

If we want to communicate with, influence, work with, sell to….THAT generation, we may need to adjust more fully than we imagined… to a paperless world.

It will be good for us  to learn a few new tricks.

AND….it WILL help our efforts to live "greener" by saving a few trees.

I welcome your comments and other examples to share on this subject!!

Barb