Facebook, Luddite Style.
Dad brought an old New Yorker on the trip and I couldn’t stop laughing at this cartoon.
I keep marveling that taking the basics of Facebook off the internet makes it seem ridiculous. Can’t quite put my finger on why though . . . interesting.
I think the idea of being that narcissistic and inviting that level of voyeurism from strangers, in any other realm but the internet, well, yeah, ridiculous. Okay, off to update my FB status….
Katie
July 26, 2009 at 7:47 pm
lol
furthermusings
July 26, 2009 at 8:44 pm
But (of course I have to offer a counterpoint!) Facebook isn’t strangers, it’s folks you know! Granted, those folks may not care to know 25 random things about you, much less how you’re feeling at any given moment, but still, they know you a bit better than someone driving by on the street.
RT
July 26, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Fair enough. Perhaps b/c I have only seen Facebook through Charity’s I have the impression that you see info about a lot of people you don’t care about.
furthermusings
July 27, 2009 at 6:48 am
I’m fascinated by status reports. I think there must be a whole team of sociologists out there who are documenting this era of Twitter and Facebook. It’s life reduced to short blurbs–blurbs that explain what interests them, what they look forward to, what they’re thinking about. Mini-diaries, if you will.
I think my personality is well-suited to Facebook. I’m endlessly interested in people’s stories and I love to gather information. Sometimes, granted, it’s overkill and I need to turn it off. But I can definitely understand why other personalities (yours perhaps, definitely Jeremy’s) aren’t interested in all the info posted on Facebook.
RT
July 28, 2009 at 11:58 am
Interestingly C & I were talking with Steve C at the C’s house last night about this topic and the major theme was the need for narrative.
I agree with you about the love of story but I fail to find story in Facebook. Status updates seem to be news flashes and witticisms but not stories. I think there is a lot of information but unlike a story I don’t think the medium of Facebook is giving you the context and personal interpretation to know what the information means, why it means that to that person and how they feel about it.
Also, and these are my values, I’m usually not interested in information about specific people (which is why I don’t read People) and I’m not interested in knowing more than the broad details about individuals that I don’t hang out with in real life. I’m interested in whether my highschool buddies have kids. I’m not interested in what their kid said today.
I am however, interested in thoughtful reflections about life and experiencing art (both in written and visual format) which is why I like blogs (including yours!) so much.
furthermusings
July 28, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I wish I could’ve discussed and debated with you and the C’s in person! : )
RT
July 28, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Schedule a return visit and your wish will be granted!
furthermusings
July 28, 2009 at 2:08 pm