Remember, it's a book of human faces.

Facebook gives near-unlimited opportunities for people to shed any excess dignity they may be carrying, by displaying people's thoughts (and I use that word loosely) across a wide range of their friends (term used even more loosely). The websites that are devoted to stupidity broadcast on Facebook give further opportunity for humiliation, potentially sending a brainfart to a much broader audience; fortunately for my self-esteem, I don't have any friends that belong in such a log - my niece would get closest, with her determination to launch 874-comment arguments from her phone. But with a slight change in timing, Facebook can help bring a sense of perspective, and that idea that seemed to be demanding it take its place in the chatter can have its claim on the attention of others shown in a more accurate light.

My whinge was loaded, and ready to fire... let's just say that last night's journey home took two hours longer than expected, and involved a tow truck. If my phone had a little more battery, whoever of my contacts was spending part of Sunday night cybernetworking may have seen a couple of my complaints amongst the World Cup reactions. Eventually I got home, the words "cracked head gasket" ringing in my ears, and fired up the laptop to spread my tale of woe to screens across Australia, New Zealand, the US and Europe.

Suddenly, my car didn't matter as much.

One of my colleagues in another city - a gentleman I have only worked with a couple of times, but wears the mantle "good bloke" comfortably - has an infant son in hospital, heading into emergency surgery, during overseas travels. He posted this information, to gather support from his friends without the stress of actually vocalising the situation, and the support has been coming. As most people have the misfortune to find out at least once in their lives, when you reach out, it is comforting to have people reach back. And while it's a tad voyeuristic, it is also heartening for a bystander to see the rally. It also puts a couple of hours of transport difficulties into a different context.

There's been a lot of media coverage of Facebook lately, with some people announcing their foibles to more of the world than they intended, and others mistaking fiddling with privacy settings for actual privacy. Like all other forms of human communication, Facebook is as dignified, as stupid, as self-obsessed and as compassionate as the people who use it.

And Simon, our thoughts are with you and Fletch.