Hey, I’m Andrew. I’m a sophomore in the
I see that a few people have already chosen to write about Facebook, probably because it is the online space most of us spend half of our day in. It is an online space beyond any that Wallace could have envisioned at the time our text was written. It combines the many characteristics of other types of online spaces, such as asynchronous chats.
Facebook gives you a way to find out almost anything about almost anyone. With nothing more than a drunken recollection of a girl’s first name and perhaps what dorm or sorority she’s in, you can easily find out every intimate detail of her life the next morning. If you want to get to know someone better, you can easily obtain a full list of all of your mutual friends. If you want to join a club or organization, you can easily scrutinize each of its members beforehand. Facebook also acts as a simple way to keep in touch, or communicate with any of your friends regularly.
However, I find that Facebook’s most interesting property of all is the relationship status. A relationship is now not considered “real” until it is put up on Facebook. On the plus side, this phenomenon makes it almost impossible to ‘forget’ about your significant other and not expect your new friend to find out the next morning. On the other hand, it makes it almost impossible to keep your own business private. While the obvious answer would be not to post a relationship status if you didn’t want to announce your involvement to the entire world, the custom of entering these relationships has become a completely ubiquitous social norm. Thus, it would not be unreasonable or unexpected for one member of a relationship to take extreme offense if the other did not want to enter this cyber-union.
One interesting and creative response to this feature is to enter a bogus same sex marriage or engagement. This situation is becoming increasingly more common, and leaves any would-be-stalkers without any real answer as to your availability.
4 comments:
I am one that really only checks facebook maybe once a day, if that. Through the summer I more then likely only logged onto it maybe 3-4 times, and i am logged on a computer at leaset 6 hours a day. I find it interesting how many people consider facebook the (rules of life) website, if that even makes sense. What i mean by this is that people say oh your in a relationship with so and so? well it doesnt say that on facebook... I guess I feel like facebook is more of a networking tool to keep in touch with those that you no longer see every day in person. As a thrid semester senior... (class cancelation :(...) there a many people in which i no longer see that i used to enjoy every day with. I guess my views of facebook are crafted a little because of my views of myspace and its lacking of networking... I think you make some really interesteding points here and I do feel that many people does live life everday dependent upon what people put on facebook, i find is somewhat sad honestly...
Hey Andrew,
I definitely agree with you about a relationship not being real until it's on facebook. Not kidding, I've legitimately had friends who freaked out because they didn't know if they should initiate the facebook status, or were pissed because their boy of the moment was still listed as single. I also just "got out" of an "engagement" with my best girl friend, so I got your point there. Now I just don't list any relationship status. Another point about the whole facebook/relationship phenomenon is the concept of "it's complicated". I've found that very few people actually use that because it's just awkward to initiate a "complicated" relationship... unless you're sort of broken up. I definitely just rambled. So, good point.
Well Andrew, I have to say that I completely agree with you. The relationship status option on facebook as definitely become an issue. I've seen it even break up perfectly good relationships. Now a relationship isn't official until its on facebook. Which in my point of view is completely ridiculous. I understand why people would like to have the status up there, but why does facebook all of a sudden dictate social norms? Why do we look at facebook to confirm or deny everything from our sexuality and maritual status, to our favorite tv shows and music? I think this obsession with facebook however has a lot to do with the fact that we are a narcissistic society. We have become so obsessed with ourselves and who we portray ourselves to be to the world; and facebook is simply the perfect online space to "show ourselves off some more"....from our current boyfriend, to pictures dipicting what we did last night. So maybe if we really want this facebook obsession to end, we should think about ending this obsession with ourselves.
Hey Andrew! I think you make some really interesting points here. Interesting because your perspective is so different from mine on this fascinating phenomenon that is Facebook. Which is not a bad thing! People’s reaction to this environment has really helped me see how fast times are changing. I am an “older” junior (soon to be 23) who has just transferred to Cornell and I can honestly say that in the 2+ weeks I have been here I hear a lot more freshmen and sophomores rave about Facebook than I do juniors and seniors. Granted, that could just be related to the nature of the classes I am taking and my experiences at orientation, but one thing is for sure-- freshman and sophomores are much more openly enthusiastic about it. With that said, I think your comments on validating a relationship via Facebook and a person’s ability to “find out anything about almost anyone” are a little exaggerated and over emphasized.
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