Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Couldn't resist...

I wanted to wait before I posted about this topic again, but the blast from the past topic is really just too good. While this may not be what initially prompted this post, this is a perfect detour.

Love it or hate it? I have my theories on the whole Web 2.0, social networking platforms that exist in today technological world. Being of the generation who has grown up with this technological gizmos, I admit, I should be more tech savvy. Especially after living in Europe and still not mastering the text message. I am embarrassed on how long it takes me to type 2 sentences. ;)

Anyway, I resisted myspace when it first came out. In fact, I had thought I had resisted it completely, until I got some email about my account being inactive for too long. I must have created an account, never used the thing and gave up during my european tour thinking it would be a way to stay in touch with the homelanders. I tried to resist facebook, but it just seemed more professional and clean than myspace. It wasn't screaming stalker / sex scandal.

I've heard the notion of computer natives and immigrants. Okay, so I am a native, but often I feel like an immigrant. I often wonder what is so damn important about all of this social networking stuff. Yes, it is a great way to reach younger audiences, but does it cheapen the way conversations and social interactions are made between people?

The answer to that question, according to moi is YES! How many of us really have over 250 friends? Friends who we let see our bar crawl photos, relationship status and personal wall messages. Frankly, I'm glad I don't have 250, or 150 for that matter - I wouldn't remember all their names, birthdays and my cell phone surely could not store all those numbers (It would take me a year to just type their names into my address book ;) - I kid, I kid, I'm not that bad).

So one thing that irks me is this sense of false social being. I block the person who isn't my friend but I accidentally accepted. You block one of my contacts because they kissed your boyfriend once in high school. He says he's in an open relationship when you think you are being exclusive. What is this bull shit anyway? Last time I checked - I wasn't in middle school anymore. I don't thrive off of drama how I once used to (or maybe used to).

On the up side, I really do enjoy being reconnected with long-lost friends. It's nice to know you can find people online, send them an email or just know where they are and what they are doing. That aspect is cool. What takes it over the edge is when a crazy ex finds you through the platform and all of sudden wants to know you again. Hello, when it's over it's over. You don't try to find ex's over the internet just to "catch up." (Well, at least not in my opinion. Doesn't matter if you never got closure, had a 'nice break up', ya de ya da...).

I just sometimes do not buy getting back in touch with some people from our yesteryears. So you sat behind me in middle school algebra. Want a cookie? By the way, my grade on that quiz would still be better than yours, even if you cheated off mine. You were a friend of a friend of a friend at some summer camp. Yipee!

Am I cynical? Yes and no. I do enjoy walking down memory-lane. I love surprise letters, emails and phone calls from friends who I haven't heard from in awhile. What I don't enjoy is having to filter through layers of memories trying to remember where I know someone from. And, I especially don't like the drama of online social sites.

This post has been a tangent, and to think it all started because someone I know was freaking out about a picture she saw of a future grad classmate on Facebook. Yes, there are people who wear mini shirts and high, high heels out there. And, yes some of those people post those pictures to the internet. Do normal people do that? Well, maybe. Does it give you a memorable first impression with a headful of ideas of how the person will be in real-life? Hell yeah. I'll be curious to see how this one works out...

P.D. Alvito, me alegro k eres mi amigo por facebook ;)

1 comment:

famos said...

;-)

Me alegro! I had my doubts after reading your post...