CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- I like it when people use Facebook for more than reconnecting with classmates and spying on exes.

I have a friend, Candace Jordan, of Morgantown, who uses Facebook to find homes for animals, organize social and citizen action events, and play accidental matchmaker, among other things. My favorite, though, is how she uses Facebook to make her friends think.

Candace's "Question of the Day" is the kind of thing that will get my wheels turning, and the answers posted in response are often so well considered that I find myself wanting to get to know these friends of a friend.

Occasionally, her questions might make her sound like a bit of a hippie, but mostly, she's philosophical, unpredictable and quirky. And one of my favorite people ever.

Last Sunday, Candace's question was, "Of all the things that have happened to you personally and that you have observed personally, what thing has made you fall most in love with the human race?"

Some answers were simple, yet sweet.

Cynthia Maddox wrote that for her, it was having her 5-year-old grandson notice she'd spilled a little of her coffee, and racing to the sink for a sponge to clean up her mess. The child's desire to help, paired with his willingness to do the task for her, made her recognize her love for people.

Tom Wilkinson wrote about the time he was hospitalized in Pittsburgh with a broken back. "Many people sent me cards," wrote Tom.

"Get-well cards and cards of encouragement. They came from people I knew and people I didn't know. Those cards were pinned up on a bulletin board on the wall of that room. There was not enough space on that cork board. I spent hours gazing at that collection of good will and encouragement."

Denise Warren wrote about the time her family was driving back to Utah from California with four kids after most of their belongings had been stolen from a campsite in California, and they had nearly no money left.

When they were too tired to drive any farther, they stopped at a cheap motel in Reno, Nev., but were told they weren't allowed to let six people stay in one room.

"But hey," said the clerk. "There's a two-rooms-for-one special going on right now for, let's say, $30?"

Next door to the motel was a pizza place. "The kids were jumping around naming toppings, and Gary and I were searching our pockets. We said we had to agree on one pizza and one topping," wrote Denise.

When the pizza was delivered to their room, a second pizza was with it. The driver made up some story about how a mistake was made on another order and they were just going to throw it away, and he asked if we wanted it. It just happened to have all the toppings the kids had been asking for.

"We saw the best and the worst of human nature on that trip," wrote Warren. "But it's Reno I remember."

I've had so many times over the years when I've fallen in love with the human race, and it's those times that I cling to when I find myself being picked on by life.

Since I doubt I'm alone in craving positive news every once in a while, I'd like to share reader experiences that might help balance out the bad. If you have a story to share, please e-mail it to karinful...@gmail.com.