This post really isn’t about the Facebook privacy settings changes, though that debate has me thinking more about something I’ve been thinking about for a couple of months now. I really don’t care who reads my status updates @Dane on Facebook. Indeed, I’ve had my profile set for public display from the start. I don’t see any reason to close people off from the things i discuss with my friends and family.

If I have something really sensitive or private to say to someone I don’t say it in a status update on Facebook or anywhere else for that matter.

But, as I said, the debate raging about Facebook’s changes in privacy settings has given my thoughts about the nature of my Facebook use vs. other social spaces I use. Most of the people in my Facebook friends list are people I am related to, went to school with and or have known in person and closely. There is a growing set of Facebook friends that are different though.

Increasingly I’m being found on Facebook by people I know from professional circles and from the on-line blogging and internet Marketing communities. Some of these people are close to me as well, and even if we have never met face to face I consider them close personal friends. Some of us have sacrificed for each other, and that is a big part of what friendship is for a guy like me.

Now, the thing is, I sometimes publish things about my on-line business life to Facebook, which really, is a more personal space. I know that the reason for this is the friends from on-line who are into this sort of thing. But it causes a disjointed flow for my other friends.

I know that I am going to make a concerted effort to separate what I publish to my blogs and to places like twitter more rigorously. I am going to reserve Facebook as a purely personal space. I’m going to stop publishing things about blogging, social media, WordPress and Internet Marketing there. I have no problem with people reading whatever I do publish there, and for those interested in getting to know and understand me as a person, are welcome to view my wall anytime.

But what about who I add as a friend. Should I continue to add just anyone who requests, or should I limit my friends list to just those who I am personally close to? This is the big question. Part of the question has me leaning toward unfriending anyone I don’t have some personal connection to. Anyone I have never shared personal communications with.

They are all still welcome to read my wall, but it doesn’t entangle the two worlds so much and allows me to make Facebook a more personal space. My online business associates and I can connect in other places like LinkedIn and Twitter.

How do you separate your personal and public spaces on-line? Do you draw a distinction? Do you find the line getting blurred at times? What strategies do you have for dealing with it?