I am a facebook addict. From dawn to dusk, the refresh button is my muse. Wall posts, pictures, and messages draw me into this social network giant. Graciously, some computer programmer created the “Remember this password” option, allowing me to log in faster. I am instantly plugged into this online community. Contained in your profile is all the personal information you choose to include. Once your online identity is established, the search bar can help you peruse the network to find old high school buddies and meet new people. However, the most important element to facebook is that it legitimizes relationships. It appears that in today’s culture you are never truly dating anyone until you’ve updated your status on facebook. This “social alarm” is put in place to inform all potential interests that the user is now off limits. As facebook continues to grow, so does its diversity. Groups can be created and joined by any user and this enables like-minded people to connect in serious or humorous ways. These groups are often formed because of inside jokes or campus events. The colorful personality expressed by each individual through the simplicity of words, and not lavish layout, separates facebook from other social networking sites. Facebook allows each user to portray his or herself in a concise and equal manner. After searching for new friends or joining another group, I find myself scrounging for wall posts to boost my post count. Other users are able to leave messages on a communal board located on each user’s page. I often find myself competing for posts in a not so ethical manner, all for the sake of who can get to 3000 posts first. I won. Joining this network is simple, fun, and educational. Facebook has shaped my interactions with my peers and reconnected me with old friends. I do not take lightly the communication gift that is facebook.
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I really used to like Facebook, but it seems lately that it is becoming too much like Myspace. Facebook has recently added new "features" that third parties create. This is just annoying. I'm always getting invites to these new tools that allow me to do the things I already did, except a little better, or things that I never wanted to do (like be a zombie and battle pirates).
It seems like Facebook is becoming more and more cluttered and un-communal. Also the fact that my personal profile will be soon up on Google to be searched by any pervert out there doesn't exactly tickle my fancy. Oh well, I guess all things must change. . . Even Facebook. . .
Your portrayal of facebook confuses me slightly. In some areas when you're explaining the online social network, you imply that it's a bad thing. Like, for instance, when you go into that bit about the "social alarm" that informs others whether someone is in a relationship or not. You state that nothing seems official anymore unless it is enforced on your facebook profile. The way you write, it seems like you find this aspect of facebook wrong in some way - and I would agree.
You also later make the comment that facebook causes you to enter into popularity contests of sorts where you compete to get the most wall posts - normally in a not-so-ethical manner.
These two points make it seem that you are ashamed, at least to some level, of your addiction to facebook.
But then you end your blog by saying that facebook is a communication gift that is simple, fun, and educational, which seems to contradict your earlier statements....
Just trying to clarify.
Oh, and what's with your blog title? Being alcohol free for 20 years deals with facebook in what way??? Just curious. :)
Comment on my blog. . . No one has written on mine yet and it kinda sucks
Oh and by the way Alyssa. . . That statement "Alcohol free for 20 years" is a very post-modern statement. In a post-modern setting (such as the one which we are now participating in), things can often seem very irrational and incongruent. I guess it's just a symptom of Phil's conversion to the dark side of the cultural norm that is becoming Post-modernism
On that note, does anyone like Cheese fries here?
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