What is the protocol for removing one's self from social networking?

I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but I think I'm over social networking. Of the online kind anyway. Don't get me wrong, it has its pros, but I'm feeling more and more icky about being sooo available all the time.

I know, I know, some of you are thinking: "He's on facebook all the time, what a hypocrite!"... well, so you know, I'm well-aware of my transgressions. I'm even on facebook as I type. Not exactly the point, but hear me out: maybe its a comfort, knowing that at any time, I can get in touch with anyone I want. Or maybe its a way to put myself out there in a more positive light. A self-promotion vehicle. Here's where the icky comes in. Ugh, I don't like it. I shouldn't need a crutch to help me keep in touch with the people I want to keep in touch with, right? And I shouldn't need any help with promotion. My close friends know me, who cares if friends of friends of friends really know me (can they even really know me just from looking at my profile and reading my wall?) ... And unlike the real me, the facebook me doesn't reach out to people to deepen friendships. It's always just a snide comment or a joke I've randomly thought of. Which makes it more about me than about the relationship I have with whoever I'm' talking to.

I think I'm over it. I know I've said this before, but I mean it this time. Facebook and I are going to take a break. No more status updates, photo uploading, tagging, commenting, etc. I'm taking a facebook sabbatical. I will however, continue to post new blog alerts on it, because I can't abandon my readers. [love you, mean it...all 4 of you.]

Navigating the current channels of communication protocols

The most incredible headline I've ever written. All the way back to my high school newspaper column days. I was "Study Hall Guy" for all those inquiring minds...

I have a question for all you gen Xers, millenials and general communication gurus. How exactly are we supposed to communicate with each other these days? Let me list all the methods by which I can be contacted, and you'll have a better idea of what I'm talking about:
Cell phone
Text message
Work phone
Work e-mail
Work fax
Personal e-mail 1
Personal e-mail 2
Personal e-mail 3
AIM
G-chat
Skype
Facebook
Myspace
Linkedin
Flickr
Youtube
Snail mail

I guess my question is, why did we make communicating so difficult on ourselves? I mean, I like the speed of the web-related communication outlets, but greatly prefer the personal touch of phone calls, snail mail, and gasp, personal interaction. And following that logic, does it make phone numbers and home addresses that much more personal, and therefore, guarded? E-mail addresses, Facebook, Myspace, and AIM are all free, so if you want to change any of those, you can at any time with relatively little hassle. But if I'm trying to keep in touch with a greater number of people than I have in the past, what is the most efficient means of doing so? My instinct says Facebook or Myspace, but I wonder if everyone else sees it that way. There have to be the old school communicators amongst us that haven't yet adopted text messaging as an acceptable form of communication, and that's their prerogative. But seeing the dramatic increase in membership on the social networking sites over the last two years leads me to believe the communication paradigm is shifting completely.

I just want to know if Facebook is really going to be the way I keep in touch with my "network" for the next 10 years or so. If it's not, what else out there is better? How could I combine all the ways I can communicate into one, effective channel? Would I even want to do that?

Anyway, an aimless rant, just some thoughts that might stir the pot of communicators out there. Holler back. However you may choose...