Facebook and Ghosts from the Past
September 7th 2008 21:13
From six degrees of separation to zero in no time!
I resisted being on the Facebook servers for a long time, but curiosity got the better of me and I succumbed. I apparently did not learn from ‘the cat that was killed by curiosity.’
I decided to join as part of (a personal) social media experiment to see for myself what the buzz was and to be part of this wonderful social networking platform called Facebook.
Little did I know I’d be exposed from all angles – from six degrees of separation, it was down to zero in no time! Information about me and the people I was connected to and the applications that I (and they) had were all privy to the servers and beings behind this social media application. Fine, it was my choice and I think it’s all in the fine print.
No, I actually don’t want to ‘add you as a friend’
For whatever reason(s), we’ve not kept in touch and I don’t want to be a part of your friend collection .
I can see your friends, you can see my friends and I can my friends’ friends and your friends’ friends, hmm…
Ok, pretty exciting especially when you’re bored or have lots of time to waste. …and hey, you might spot someone good looking and/or interesting so, you can potentially ask your friend to set you up.
So, as you can see it can all be fairly voyeuristic, bordering on obsessive.
We know how incredible the web and the infrastructure behind it is, but we probably don’t realise how powerful it actually is.
So powerful enough that, when aided by Facebook, it can:
- Drag you into the past so fast that you don’t need a time machine – your memories of X (Y and Z) are brought to life as you’ve just caught sight of him/her/them on a friend’s list.
- Leave you in the past for a few sordid moments to relinquish the thoughts on how and why you and X (Y and Z) are no longer friends.
- Submit you to hours and hours of wonderment about X (Y and Z).
- *Force* you to google X (Y and Z) and trawl the Net looking for ‘??’.
- Abandon you to submission on how scarily powerful this social media monster is and how potentially, ghosts from the pasts can/will be brought back to life…
So, don’t try to throw a sheep at me nor try to ‘add me’. I really don’t care to be found…
At last look, the account was bordering on deletion...
Written as recalled from The Cathartic Sessions (Lara M ©)
Main image courtesy of Laurens van Lieshout, Wikimedia Commons, second image, Kakinsky.
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Comment by katyzzz
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Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I know what you mean. It took me a while to try it and when I did I was amazed at how people expose so much of themselves on it. Plus all the little inane things it offers so that time is wasted faster.
I agree:
So, as you can see it can all be fairly voyeuristic, bordering on obsessive.
I’ve done the searching for past people...and I’m glad I didn’t find them. Usually there is a reason why we’re not in touch.
I also don’t like the feeling that however many friends a person has shows how popular they are.
I’ve considered deleting many, many times...
Tracy
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I refuse to join Facebook, absolutely refuse, I hate it so much, it is the most ridiculous, adolescent, self-propaganda and false interaction enabling waste of time...
So I log in periodically under a friend's username, to spy on everyone, anonymous and guilt-free. Lol.
Mich
Comment by Lara M
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Food Slate
Yea, seems like it's a giant vacuum cleaner with a bottomless bag!
Hiya Tracy.
I'm glad I'm not the only person who seems to be *over-reacting*
It seems so high-school, though they've brand it as a networking tool -- hah, I don't even like those so-called professional links.
...and yes, there usually is a reason why we're not in touch with some
Mich...that's a brilliant idea! Now I just need to sell the idea to a friend or two
It probably started out as a good (?!) tool but it's lost its way or maybe we don't get it <lol>. Anyhow, if they were real friends, they would've kept in touch no matter how or when.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
It probably started out as a good (?!) tool but it's lost its way or maybe we don't get it <lol>. Anyhow, if they were real friends, they would've kept in touch no matter how or when.
Tracy
PS I love your idea, Mich!!
Comment by The wonderful Peter Yang
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Comment by Michaelie
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Comment by Postmodern Critic
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Comment by cleangreenneen
[LINK=http://www.cleangreenneen.com/mamas-dont-let-your-babies-grow-up-to-use-facebook/[/LINK]
Comment by Cheryl J
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Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I have a couple of friends that I keep in touch with thru FB and who live overseas, so it's been good in that way, but all that info is concerning.
Thanks for the helpful info,
Tracy
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Food Slate
Yea, Peter...it's quite a time waster!
You're definitely one of the majority who delights in it then, Postmodern Critic
I can see how great it is in closing the borders and it being a less subtle form of RSVP but it certainly is a lot more exposure than I'm comfortable with. Seems though it's not quite for everyone
Comment by Lara M
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Food Slate
Kids -and sometimes parents for the sake of their kids- will usually succumb to peer pressure -- it's probably gonna be tough to monitor them not using Facebook.
That's scary stuff, Cheryl! It sounds like a corporate evil, and I really don't like that malicious thieving under all that nice image of connecting you, bla bla.
It's crazy isn't it, Tracy?!
I see it like a playground and nothing much more really. Personally, I prefer to just stay in touch the *old* way
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
I saw an interview with the guy who created Facebook. He said something like Facebook is a website primarily designed for advertising.
I wonder what the next Facebook will be...
Anyway great post!
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Food Slate
Yea...don't u hate that? It's as if it is the only communication tool around -- I so hate it...but that's just my humble opinion
Yep, Facebook is simply just about advertising and mining your (your friends', their and their friends') information. It's quite an *evil* machine... Though I can also see what Facebook's appeal might be...a borderless (fun!) world... Hah...