MySpacers sometimes become three-dimensional. Author with Joao Mugeiro, Portugal 2009.
The definition between virtual relationships and orthodox relationships is being redefined by random communication, accessability and the democracy of the internet. In principle, I think it is positive because its nature is essentially libertarian and grants greater individual freedom. On occasion, 'real' friendships can be forged through MySpace and Facebook; that is, people whom go on to become three-dimensional. It's very last century but nothing quite beats uncorking a bottle of wine and having a good old face-to-face natter.
Facebook promotes itself as a social networking tool and is an highly successful global enterprise. Rather like MySpace but perhaps more personal. For example, you cannot pre-approve comments by friends posted to your Wall. So one must be a little careful with people in case, logging in with your first coffee of the morning - the facial expression vaguely expectant and beatific - someone has daubed:
"JAMES MAKER IS A CUNT".
Disappointingly, on Facebook one cannot customise or crayon one's homepage with a vermilion sidebar or select a fancy font for your Notes page (Facebook's blog). It's dry, corporate, unrelentingly verdana and does not facilitate artists - as MySpace does.
Facebook, in practice, is not really about social networking or connecting. Its growing purpose is to archive oneself online. There is nothing wrong with that. We're all copy-typists curating our own photo galleries, posting status marquee updates and participating in applications that test one's adeptness at identifying the sleeve of a 1980s UB40 album. However, you use these applications at your peril, because one's failure to answer correctly is immediately dispatched as a pop-up notification to everyone on your list. In the generic sense of the word it is meant to be fun - like chain emails that contain 'hilarious' cartoon images and multiple exclamation marks - but in truth it is degradation and continuous horror. Due to the cross-fertilisation of family, friends and contacts it's an effective tool in monitoring somebody. Spying. I prefer to compartmentalise my life. In other words, to be selfish.
Popularity is arithmetic. A Facebooker who has collected an excessive tally of friends in the frenzied attempt at self-validity is naturally more fascinating, more socially mobile than you. Converse to the spirit of Facebook I enjoy de-friending. Diminishing my friend base. It is one of the few pleasures this social networking tool offers. In truth, you are purging people for whom you exist purely as a unit of their cyber-narcissism. But also it is a way to exercise pòwer over one's dominion. Ex-friends have flipped through their online rollodex of face thumbnails - all 850 of them - and fired off an email baldly demanding:
"WHY DID YOU LEAVE?"
Caprice.
I plan to leave Facebook at some point because its overall effect is encouraging me to become less available. With a little effort I might even reach the ecstasy of becoming unavailable. "JAMES MAKER IS A CUNT".
Disappointingly, on Facebook one cannot customise or crayon one's homepage with a vermilion sidebar or select a fancy font for your Notes page (Facebook's blog). It's dry, corporate, unrelentingly verdana and does not facilitate artists - as MySpace does.
Facebook, in practice, is not really about social networking or connecting. Its growing purpose is to archive oneself online. There is nothing wrong with that. We're all copy-typists curating our own photo galleries, posting status marquee updates and participating in applications that test one's adeptness at identifying the sleeve of a 1980s UB40 album. However, you use these applications at your peril, because one's failure to answer correctly is immediately dispatched as a pop-up notification to everyone on your list. In the generic sense of the word it is meant to be fun - like chain emails that contain 'hilarious' cartoon images and multiple exclamation marks - but in truth it is degradation and continuous horror. Due to the cross-fertilisation of family, friends and contacts it's an effective tool in monitoring somebody. Spying. I prefer to compartmentalise my life. In other words, to be selfish.
Popularity is arithmetic. A Facebooker who has collected an excessive tally of friends in the frenzied attempt at self-validity is naturally more fascinating, more socially mobile than you. Converse to the spirit of Facebook I enjoy de-friending. Diminishing my friend base. It is one of the few pleasures this social networking tool offers. In truth, you are purging people for whom you exist purely as a unit of their cyber-narcissism. But also it is a way to exercise pòwer over one's dominion. Ex-friends have flipped through their online rollodex of face thumbnails - all 850 of them - and fired off an email baldly demanding:
"WHY DID YOU LEAVE?"
Caprice.
The definition between virtual relationships and orthodox relationships is being redefined by random communication, accessability and the democracy of the internet. In principle, I think it is positive because its nature is essentially libertarian and grants greater individual freedom. On occasion, 'real' friendships can be forged through MySpace and Facebook; that is, people whom go on to become three-dimensional. It's very last century but nothing quite beats uncorking a bottle of wine and having a good old face-to-face natter.
0 comments:
Post a Comment