-Conan O'Brien
I love using Facebook, but Conan makes a hilarious and truthful statement. These social networks have heavily impacted the communication lines. I could go on about the advantages of these networks as much as I could discuss reasons for text messaging over calling. My point today is not to mull over the debate between technologies, but to rather point out a couple of human observations.
1. People are screaming for attention.
2. People demand privacy from others, yet keep none for themselves.
Why would anyone take the time to publish a 140 word description of the menial, daily activities on a regular basis? It's a desire to be noticed by someone and anyone. It's a time-filler when a person believes their time is more valuable spent impressing others, instead of facing a brief, solitary moment to themselves.
Updates that make me cringe the most are the bragging updates.
Example 1: "Enjoying the beautiful flowers my wonderful husband surprised me with today. I love you!!!"
My Response: Why in the world would you thank your husband online? He's sitting right next to you.
Example 2: "Another 'A' on my accounting exam. It's a straight-A record."
My Response: Yay. Now what?
On the flip side, I admit I'm pulling out funny ones as I'm looking some up to write this entry.
Example 1: "Writing this thesis is like passing a kidney stone."
Example 2: "Whoever hit my car will die."
Anyway, the truth is no one needs to know everything about someone else. In fact, it is advantageous to not reveal everything about one's self. Have people forgotten the attractiveness of mystery? How about the value of effort (as in getting to know someone over time)?
Keeping in touch is important, but people don't create memories through reading someone's wall or updates of their best friend online. Nothing would be left to talk about if the two people met up, except about what they read on each other's wall.
I wonder if people are losing the sense of privacy and self-confidence. In a way, these social networks promote people's need for validation from others. It's not the social networks' intent, but people have turned it into that. For example, I see a lot of, "Feeling down, need some cheering up." People are reaching out to the masses, instead of someone personally closer to them, such as a sibling, parent, or best friend that could offer more fulfilling encouragement.
I will be logging off next week to remind myself of life before my addiction to e-mail, Facebook, and all things google.
1. People are screaming for attention.
2. People demand privacy from others, yet keep none for themselves.
Why would anyone take the time to publish a 140 word description of the menial, daily activities on a regular basis? It's a desire to be noticed by someone and anyone. It's a time-filler when a person believes their time is more valuable spent impressing others, instead of facing a brief, solitary moment to themselves.
Updates that make me cringe the most are the bragging updates.
Example 1: "Enjoying the beautiful flowers my wonderful husband surprised me with today. I love you!!!"
My Response: Why in the world would you thank your husband online? He's sitting right next to you.
Example 2: "Another 'A' on my accounting exam. It's a straight-A record."
My Response: Yay. Now what?
On the flip side, I admit I'm pulling out funny ones as I'm looking some up to write this entry.
Example 1: "Writing this thesis is like passing a kidney stone."
Example 2: "Whoever hit my car will die."
Anyway, the truth is no one needs to know everything about someone else. In fact, it is advantageous to not reveal everything about one's self. Have people forgotten the attractiveness of mystery? How about the value of effort (as in getting to know someone over time)?
Keeping in touch is important, but people don't create memories through reading someone's wall or updates of their best friend online. Nothing would be left to talk about if the two people met up, except about what they read on each other's wall.
I wonder if people are losing the sense of privacy and self-confidence. In a way, these social networks promote people's need for validation from others. It's not the social networks' intent, but people have turned it into that. For example, I see a lot of, "Feeling down, need some cheering up." People are reaching out to the masses, instead of someone personally closer to them, such as a sibling, parent, or best friend that could offer more fulfilling encouragement.
I will be logging off next week to remind myself of life before my addiction to e-mail, Facebook, and all things google.
Hahahahah! YOU TWIT FACE!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant on Conan's part and there is so much truth to that.
Sure those websites boost your network by quantity, but at what level of quality?
Having learned that the less you say, the less you have to take back. I will say, you need to come to Dallas for quality. :P
ReplyDelete