On The Tyranny of Facebook Frenzy
The Facebook phenomenon is beginning to catch on, somewhat like wildfire, in my social circle. I'm watching as friend after friend joins the wave and puts their life on display to their friends online. The potential for keeping in touch with friends is limitless, networking is quite easy, and you can find that sweatheart from grade 5 that you never dared to talk to...
As I am occasionally wont to do, I must raise some caveats about the Facebook phenomenon. There are some people who are willing to put an incredible amount of information about themselves online. Let me just point out a few risks:
1. Your girlfriends might get to know one another.
2. You could go on a first date with someone who knows everything about you (if they did their Facebook homework).
3. All your break-ups can be public e-spectacles.
4. Your friends can hit on your younger sister.
5. Your younger sister can hit on your friends.
6. There is no polite way to unhook friends. In the old days of telephone, you just didn't call back, or you were "busy".
7. Your exes can find each other, bond, form a hate group, or a class action lawsuit. (Ditto for illegitimate and unclaimed offspring).
8. People can write the stupidest things on your wall.
9. People can write things like : "We met randomly in the sauna."
10. Everytime you clip your toenails, a message goes out to everyone letting them know that YES, you are clipping your toenails.
For all these reasons and more, I believe that we must beware what we feed this beast. I too am mesmerized by the possibilities, and the 2 degrees of separation that everyone has with each other in this big country. In sum, I will continue to walk the fine line between openness and exhibitionism.
As I am occasionally wont to do, I must raise some caveats about the Facebook phenomenon. There are some people who are willing to put an incredible amount of information about themselves online. Let me just point out a few risks:
1. Your girlfriends might get to know one another.
2. You could go on a first date with someone who knows everything about you (if they did their Facebook homework).
3. All your break-ups can be public e-spectacles.
4. Your friends can hit on your younger sister.
5. Your younger sister can hit on your friends.
6. There is no polite way to unhook friends. In the old days of telephone, you just didn't call back, or you were "busy".
7. Your exes can find each other, bond, form a hate group, or a class action lawsuit. (Ditto for illegitimate and unclaimed offspring).
8. People can write the stupidest things on your wall.
9. People can write things like : "We met randomly in the sauna."
10. Everytime you clip your toenails, a message goes out to everyone letting them know that YES, you are clipping your toenails.
For all these reasons and more, I believe that we must beware what we feed this beast. I too am mesmerized by the possibilities, and the 2 degrees of separation that everyone has with each other in this big country. In sum, I will continue to walk the fine line between openness and exhibitionism.
posted by Lt Smash at 8:04 PM
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