This is going to start out with a rant (and a fairly petty one at that), but I swear there will be a decent argument/one-sided discussion shortly.
A few days ago (although I just found it now) someone I knew from grade school posted a video on youtube about things he's seen posted on Facebook.
Exhibit A:
A few days ago (although I just found it now) someone I knew from grade school posted a video on youtube about things he's seen posted on Facebook.
Exhibit A:
DISCLAIMER: he did point out in the comments that he doesn't think the people are bad.
Anyway as I was watching the video, expecting to laugh at some poor sod, I heard him repeat at least two statuses that I had posted on Facebook. (One of which, the "speak always in the language of the stars" was something I wrote and am still fairly proud of). Part of what frustrates me is that I'm incredibly embarrassed that I had TWO quotes. I realize that the video was supposed to be funny, but seriously, why create a video about a status someone put up a month ago? If they annoyed you so much why in the world did you write them down for later use? And what's wrong with posting about the stars...or about having to work at 8am? It annoys the begeesus out of me that I would probably agree with him if I were not one of the ridiculed. I know that I'm ridiculous and post stupid stuff sometimes, but I don't like having this pointed out to me via the interwebs by someone whom I haven't even spoken to in ages. I kind of want to just yell at him, "I am effing unique and you're fecking lame if you aren't absurd once in awhile". Then I remind myself of my frequent lack of leniency toward people more absurd than myself, or at least those of a different brand. So I guess, Tyler, let your damn hair down.
Ok rant done.
Now the discussion: What is the deal with social-networking? Posting this, tweeting that, hashtagging all around...and if that weren't enough, now there's Vine where you post random vids/gifs.
Now I am the last person to be criticizing Facebookers and Twitterbugs because I check both every ten minutes when I'm bored. I know...it's embarrassing. We get addicted. Basically my post is going to look at two things: why we social-network period, and our obsession with posting
First.
Networking used to be something that you started doing once you entered the real world and needed People to further your career. That's where sites like LinkedIn came in. You could communicate with potential employers or employees and see all their information as to employment history etc. People now use Facebook for this too, and in that case it's a good resource, but what is with the idea of "social-networking". (I do realize, you those snarks who are reading this, that I am in fact posting this blog to a social-networking site. Thank you for your concern. Shall we press on?) Myspace was one of the first sites. I had a Myspace for awhile because it was the thing to do (again, why?) and it wasn't as bad as the rumors, but still creepy. I got a Myspace to follow the activity of and to connect with the people I knew from my grade...all forty-five of them whom I saw everyday anyway. But no, I had to know how they spent their evenings etc, and even more importantly I needed to be a part of something. It was the same reason that I got an AIM and eventually a Facebook. Then Facebook came in all crisp and bright and shining opportunity. When I first got a Facebook in 2008, it seemed like the major goal was for everyone to have as many friends as possible. I know one guy who made it to 1,000 friending everyone he knew or had even heard of. In this our basic need to be included is evidenced. We want our connection with any one given person to be acknowledged by them, be it by a nod in the hallway, a smile in the supermarket ten years later, or by acceptance of a friend request.
No denying, Facebook does a good job of connecting people. It's done wonders for my family in that it's helped with the reconnection with far-flung relatives. It's also helped me stay in touch with classmates now that we're all in different schools, states, countries. But why do we care about everyone's lives? We feel like we're missing out if we don't have that tie. Or at least that's how I am. That is why I'm still friends with a bunch of kids from grade school. I don't actually really care about what's happening in their lives, but I don't want to cut the connection. (Evidence of my pathetic-ness is when there's a thrill when someone from my past acknowledges me) Because while I'm still even remotely connected to these people merely by Facebook authority, I am a part of the Class of '08 and apparently cool enough to be acknowledged. We use Facebook to stay connected to the world, and on the one hand this has, like I said, made it easier keep in touch, but at the same time people survived for decades with just a phone and for centuries with just letters. There have been so many times when I've wanted to just delete my Facebook (partly to see if anyone would notice/care...boohoo sad Bridget) but unfortunately sometimes it's the only way to get ahold of people. I think overall we social-network because then we're not alone. We're constantly surrounded, albeit virtually, by people.
This obsession with knowing what people are doing, how they're living, "staying in touch" almost to a creepy level has led to an even greater obsession with posting things.
Second: Screaming at the Screen-World
Why the hell do we have to post EVERYTHING?!?!
The thing with posting is that started with someone posting an update. And then someone else liked it. And then the first person was like "Damn, I should post some more". There is actually another side to posting that I'll get into later. The biggest thing I think that the availability of the "Facebook status" and now more than ever Twitter has to answer for is that now everyone thinks that whatever they say is earth-shaking. Random thoughts, normal routine activities, "awkward moments", my personal bane --> song lyrics, etc. No matter what it is, the world must be alerted. It has gotten to the point, helped quickly along by Twitter, where people post for the sake of getting the most likes. I don't know about you, but I've been guilty of thinking, "Hmm what can I post that people will actually 'Like'" and then pulling down recent statuses that have gone "unliked" in favor of something more interesting, unique, attention-grabbing etc. Isn't that unbelievably sad? This kind of leads into my second theory. I think we are so obsessed with posting because we, again, want to be a part of It. By posting we reinforce or presence in the Group as well as our importance and/or validity. Going further, Facebook and Twitter have just become another platform to seek the approbation of others in order to be included in the Group and/or to solidify our position. We post stuff that no one cares about to see if people will really care, or if they'll think we're funny, or smart, or pretty, or what have you. We want to seem brilliant and unique, or we want people to share in our indignation and frustration, to feel our pain and congratulate our fortunes.
Man it is a sad, sad friggin world we live in. O.o
I'm going to hide at Hogwarts.
Peace
Sláinte
Now I am the last person to be criticizing Facebookers and Twitterbugs because I check both every ten minutes when I'm bored. I know...it's embarrassing. We get addicted. Basically my post is going to look at two things: why we social-network period, and our obsession with posting
First.
Networking used to be something that you started doing once you entered the real world and needed People to further your career. That's where sites like LinkedIn came in. You could communicate with potential employers or employees and see all their information as to employment history etc. People now use Facebook for this too, and in that case it's a good resource, but what is with the idea of "social-networking". (I do realize, you those snarks who are reading this, that I am in fact posting this blog to a social-networking site. Thank you for your concern. Shall we press on?) Myspace was one of the first sites. I had a Myspace for awhile because it was the thing to do (again, why?) and it wasn't as bad as the rumors, but still creepy. I got a Myspace to follow the activity of and to connect with the people I knew from my grade...all forty-five of them whom I saw everyday anyway. But no, I had to know how they spent their evenings etc, and even more importantly I needed to be a part of something. It was the same reason that I got an AIM and eventually a Facebook. Then Facebook came in all crisp and bright and shining opportunity. When I first got a Facebook in 2008, it seemed like the major goal was for everyone to have as many friends as possible. I know one guy who made it to 1,000 friending everyone he knew or had even heard of. In this our basic need to be included is evidenced. We want our connection with any one given person to be acknowledged by them, be it by a nod in the hallway, a smile in the supermarket ten years later, or by acceptance of a friend request.
No denying, Facebook does a good job of connecting people. It's done wonders for my family in that it's helped with the reconnection with far-flung relatives. It's also helped me stay in touch with classmates now that we're all in different schools, states, countries. But why do we care about everyone's lives? We feel like we're missing out if we don't have that tie. Or at least that's how I am. That is why I'm still friends with a bunch of kids from grade school. I don't actually really care about what's happening in their lives, but I don't want to cut the connection. (Evidence of my pathetic-ness is when there's a thrill when someone from my past acknowledges me) Because while I'm still even remotely connected to these people merely by Facebook authority, I am a part of the Class of '08 and apparently cool enough to be acknowledged. We use Facebook to stay connected to the world, and on the one hand this has, like I said, made it easier keep in touch, but at the same time people survived for decades with just a phone and for centuries with just letters. There have been so many times when I've wanted to just delete my Facebook (partly to see if anyone would notice/care...boohoo sad Bridget) but unfortunately sometimes it's the only way to get ahold of people. I think overall we social-network because then we're not alone. We're constantly surrounded, albeit virtually, by people.
This obsession with knowing what people are doing, how they're living, "staying in touch" almost to a creepy level has led to an even greater obsession with posting things.
Second: Screaming at the Screen-World
Why the hell do we have to post EVERYTHING?!?!
The thing with posting is that started with someone posting an update. And then someone else liked it. And then the first person was like "Damn, I should post some more". There is actually another side to posting that I'll get into later. The biggest thing I think that the availability of the "Facebook status" and now more than ever Twitter has to answer for is that now everyone thinks that whatever they say is earth-shaking. Random thoughts, normal routine activities, "awkward moments", my personal bane --> song lyrics, etc. No matter what it is, the world must be alerted. It has gotten to the point, helped quickly along by Twitter, where people post for the sake of getting the most likes. I don't know about you, but I've been guilty of thinking, "Hmm what can I post that people will actually 'Like'" and then pulling down recent statuses that have gone "unliked" in favor of something more interesting, unique, attention-grabbing etc. Isn't that unbelievably sad? This kind of leads into my second theory. I think we are so obsessed with posting because we, again, want to be a part of It. By posting we reinforce or presence in the Group as well as our importance and/or validity. Going further, Facebook and Twitter have just become another platform to seek the approbation of others in order to be included in the Group and/or to solidify our position. We post stuff that no one cares about to see if people will really care, or if they'll think we're funny, or smart, or pretty, or what have you. We want to seem brilliant and unique, or we want people to share in our indignation and frustration, to feel our pain and congratulate our fortunes.
Man it is a sad, sad friggin world we live in. O.o
I'm going to hide at Hogwarts.
Peace
Sláinte
