Blog n: a web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and brief philosophical musings about social issues that generally represent the personality of the author. Blogs are defined by their format: a series of entries posted in reverse-chronological order.
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Monday 7 March 2011

Facebook is the novel we are all writing

When MTV spanked popular culture with it's Real World series in 1992 I realized that reality TV (RTV) was not just a fad, like fondue or pleather, but a new genre that was here to stay.  Riding on it's coat-tails followed a multi-million dollar pursuit to interview and document the lives of the massively mediocre and dull.  While cat-walks spun orange into the new pink, RTV tailored the boring into the latest thrill.

Basically, the RTV phenomenon divides society into two groups; those who watch it religiously, and those who watch it in secret.  I don't have a television so I can't sling too much mud because I subscribe to the great and spacious building site of Facebook.  



Personally, speed-limits and taxes have felt more comfortable than FB at times.  But you can't fault the genius of it.  Conceived in a womb of the world's greatest of universities and fertilized by the deepest of pockets, Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg wrote the algorithm (in answer to the myspace problem) and provided a forum for students to express themselves succinctly, outside of the classroom, to connect, collect, and organize the individual expressions of college life; from campus to campus, throughout academia, and beyond.  A buzz so contagious that by 1994, in less than a year, a new social network secured it's face within the books of history.


It's fairly straightforward to deactivate Facebook.  So feeling bold I took the plunge and suspended my account for a while.  My exit was so badly received that a visit to each of my friend's houses in the middle of the night and throwing rocks at their windows and spray painting farewell's all over their cars seemed a more civilized departure than the havoc I wreaked from a simple click of a button.  So to keep the peace I returned to Facebook and also to a wall splattered with the annoyances and cries from a posse abandoned.

Social networks are fueled by billions of tweets and narcissistic updates driven only by the need for people to broadcast their own uniqueness.  Pull the plug on that and the chaos which started in Egypt is only the beginning.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love facebook. I've been in contact with lots of my friends from years ago. Im sure youve have the same experiance. I will check out that film tho. Nancy from Manchester

Anonymous said...

FACEBOOK CAN KISS MY A** it has been a nightmare in my family. One comment has created a riff witch is imposibal to repair. DOug London

Anonymous said...

what's facebook? We don't have that hear in Wales.

Starbuck said...

Thank you for your thoughts regarding FB. I do know that you have very mixed emotions regarding the internet and different social sites on it, but, the fact is you continue to login and communicate via FB and others. Why? Well because it is the false sense of closeness that it brings. False or otherwise I am happy to have the opportunities and entertainment that FB and the internet bring. abettablog.blogspot.com 1 of many examples. Welcome back!

Starbuck said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Hello Miss Penny.

My aunt Marigold will be 86 years old next Sunday. I've been reading out loud your blog to her and she laughs almost as much as I do. What is your real name? We would both love to know because we talk about you often.

Kindest regards,

Pru and Mari

pru58@hotmail.co.uk

Anonymous said...

"I'm so over Facebook."

I remember that comment of yours and have tried to achieve that state of mind myself. Facebook is an addiction that somehow takes it's usere into a realm of pretense and shamless sel-promotion. Maybe I'm just weak but that's what I feel is happening to me. Any advice?

kkbb

Anonymous said...

I left facebook for close to a year and don't think anyone really noticed?
Then again, i like to live in complete and utter obscurity. It's this twisted facade of reality i keep dealing with.

Anonymous said...

Do you's folks have a Bebo or a Facebook supporter blog? I searched for 1 on the Facebook and twit follower yet unfortunately couldn’t identify one. I’d want to be a follower! [url=http://www.lookwhosblogging.com][img]http://www.lookwhosblogging.com/images/smile.gif[/img][/url]

Anonymous said...

I like facebook. thanks for your post. I saw that film and reely enjoyed it. YASome! Tiff NM

Anonymous said...

I've never had a face book but I did have a Myspace. Guess what. Turned out along with a Myspace account I got a little sister and a little brother. I guess my dad, who I've never met, is quite the player! Love you girl! Thought I'd randomly check in on my iPhone icon that is the Berta blog and sue enough your still typing away. Call me sometime! Or email.. Whatevers clever. This is big nick from S.L.UT. miss you!

Sevenwinds said...

revive revive, great post again and again,

small bird

Oregan

Turlin38 said...

hahahaha! I love that South Park episode

Buffy78 said...

Social Network great movie

JacksonJ said...

Been home visiting family in New Zealand, great to be back up over.

KarenB said...

Love your blog, keep up the good styles:) KB

KarenB said...

That astronaut is a bit of a weirdo, be careful x

Anonymous said...

Stylish but no substance or conclusions. This vacuous blogger holds a vacuum of sycophants in her grasp.

Southern Belle said...

Your languge is wild and exciting as is your dynamic face picture.You have imagination in your dancing words and style of writing.
Do you have a story inside you?You could write a goo book.

Anonymous said...

you're so very special.... love that theme tune, is that Radio Head?