I always wondered if there were others out there that detested social networking sites such as these. Perhaps I’m a sore thumb among millions since the darn thing is so how shall I say “widespread” its hard not to succumb to the pressure of others who want to see you on there.
Maybe I like to see evil where there isnt any but FB seems to be a concoction that will end in its own undoing. Consumerism and this concept of technology becoming obsolete in mere months to perhaps the longest span of a year or a little more already irks me so much. I know that has nothing to do with FB but I feel like whats going to happen to the kids of the 1-2 generations below mine that are just starting to come up in the world now. Between Facebook and constant texting instead of communication becoming more widespread (which it is in a technical sense) it looks like its gonna become more primitive as interpersonal/ social skills are gonna be traded in for FB updates and turning the whole english language into a severely abridged acronyms with no sense of how to form a sentence.
Im not bashing anyone who uses Facebook because I’m well aware that some people are actually capable of using FB and other forms of web/phone related communication without letting it hinder their lives or their own social skills.
I remember when “myspace mania” was the “in” thing to do. I never really hopped on that train, but I do use Facebook.
Perhaps the people living in this generation could be technologically outpaced by those youth that are raised tomorrow. I have a strange curiosity/fear of the current state, for as technology connect people more and more closer, human interaction could become a scarcity. As for I, let’s just say… … fingers crossed for sexy maid bots.
I despise Facebook. I’ve never used it and never will. The biggest reason I use sites like this one is because pheromones are a technology that encourages people to get out there and interact with everyone else the way Nature intended. The complete opposite of what other technologies are encouraging.
It’s already happening, OA. My first encounter with a cyborg is posted up here: Is a new dark age at hand? - #3 by MuskCloud I’m using ‘cyborg’ to describe someone who cannot interact with anyone without using technology.
Something bad enough to suppress a woman’s natural ability to talk until the cows come home scares the living daylights out of me. I never thought I’d be coaxing a young woman to talk or be so happy to hear a ‘normal’ woman yapping non-stop after that incident. You can talk in your sleep 24/7 if you want, ladies. I don’t care any more.
I honestly got a very strong impression this female cyborg didn’t know how to talk! I know that sounds crazy.
It’s getting worse. Since then, I’ve sat on interview panels in previous jobs and we have rejected cyborg candidates for their inability to have a simple face-to-face conversation. Some young people, both male and female, just sit there and give monosyllabic answers with all the personality of a wet lump of clay and make no attempt to initiate conversation.
It’s not interview nerves. The older ones - late 20s and up - are OK. This age group might be rejected, but it isn’t because they can’t have a normal face-to-face conversation.
It made us shudder. Humanity will fall if this carries on. I’m convinced of it. I’ve even made a decision to favour Skype over emails when I’ve upgraded this machine to Snow Leopard. Skype is not perfect, but at least it allows voice calls which can be called human contact, even if it is only voice.
Yeah I mean Myspace was the rage when I got into prolly my junior year of high school. The whole thing has become I dont know crazy say the least. Oh we will our own constitution and law in terms of marrying robot chics. Synthetic saliva, skin, orifices we’ll have the full 9 yards
I appreciate the input Muskcloud. So you’ve actually been in their trenches.
I think Skype is okay personally. At least some body language can be emphasized and yes the voice is there. Dude thats awful though. When the sex that is supposed to have social muscles is failing at her own innate attribute DAMN. It has no relation but its like finding a woman who can’t multitask. Shall we create new careers that employ thumb and mouse masteries? Im a tech junkie myself but I will always hunger for that full human interaction that I dont get from MMO’s, IMing, Talking on PT and what not.
I got a VERY HIGH number of friends there. It is a great way to connect with people from the past and current. The other day, I needed to deal with some issue, so I messaged someone, who I know that has some knowledge about it. Boom, he called and gave me some tips.
Also, I wasn’t trying to do this but… Some girls DIRECTLY commented how they really enjoyed looking at my extensive travel pictures, list of songs from various parts of the world, witty comments and VERY genuine and cool profile. I guess you can DHV without even trying.
Plus, I should start spending more time there than in this forum, when I am not studying or something.
I also hate the way it has damaged the other boards I’m a member of. Especially one, a diverse and vibrant online community that has become markedly quieter and less challenging place since Facebook (in particular) became so popular.
Then again I still view facebook like it was back then when I first joined, only if you were in college, and the approved networks. It was a great tool for alumni and current students to network and interact. I can see how bad it can get, but also I’ve stayed in touch with family members a lot easier through FB.
Like everything else, its how YOU use it whether it can be beneficial or not. Unfortunately through technological advancements, if it isn’t facebook, then it’s something else.
It serves its purpose as I have lived all over the world and I’m able to keep in contact with casual friends. The ones you always liked but didn’t want to put the effort into calling all the time. Either way, its no biggie to me, but face it social media is here to stay.
Though I understand the attraction it holds for some, I don’t do MyFace or SpaceBook and I don’t Tweet. I have no interest in being part of any of it, even though people keep insisting I have to! LOL! No, no I don’t.
I know a number of people who’ve had bad experiences with people they’ve “met” on line. Not long ago a friend of mine informed me he’d seen a picture of me on someone’s page that this guy lifted from a forum I belonged to!
Then I found out that all my posts from that same forum, along with everyone else’s, were being Tweeted. It pissed me off royally and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. If my face or words are somewhere…I want to be the one who chooses to put them there. Once you hit send/post, it’s out there and completely outta your hands…and could end up anywhere…unbeknownst to you.
We need to keep up with technology if we don’t want to get left in the dust but how we do so effects other areas of our lives. Unfortunately, I’ve been pursued by and met my share of whack jobs on the internet. Even though I’ve been cautious in my interactions and in choosing on line friends…I’ve made a few mistakes because of the nature of the beast. Enough so that I’ve backed off considerably from hooking up with people even if they seem to be OK/genuine. It usually starts off OK, until it comes to light that you’ve been lied to and taken for a ride. Not sayin’ everyone who participates in these social networks is a liar. It’s just so easy for people to camouflage their real self and real intentions over the internet. You’re always taking a chance by extending yourself to someone and you can’t be sure of what you’re getting into.
I don’t have Skype and am hesitant to get it. It’s more real/connecting than just words on the page but also opens doors that could be harder to close and I’m afraid of what that could bring. So, if I do get it, I’ll probably restrict it to those I already know.
That said, I’ve forged some real friendships over the internet. They are few but genuine and I plan to hang onto them as long as it’s mutual.
Several months ago Wolf and I went to an ice cream parlor that we’d both frequented as teenagers. We hadn’t been there in many years but when we heard it was closing we wanted to go for one last Atomic Sundae. We were sitting at the counter enjoying our ice cream, reminiscing, when a group of teens came in. They all sat down and immediately took out their cell phones and began to text so they could “chat” with friends who weren’t with them. LOL!!! So very sad that it was more important to do that then to be present and verbally engage one another…and when they did speak to each other, it was about who they were gonna text next. I infinitely prefer to engage the bird in hand.
These guys were too busy to text, for about five minutes.
It’s frightening to see first hand their inability to articulate and when they do they don’t know how to properly express themselves. They have no idea how to properly write either, only text speak. Forget grammar and spelling altogether. It’s often akin to a foreign language, lol. Gah. I don’t have the time nor the inclination to decipher it. Carry on…
If I’m the odd man out, I don’t care. I’d rather live in the woods, eat berries, and scratch my initials into trees.
I didnt really intend to make this thread to validate my concerns about aspects of social networking. I know all things are capable of facilitating beneficial properties for people. Even with that said though I feel like the masses have gone down a dark path with places such as these. We are NOT dolphins, as much as sharing is caring theres bits and pieces of our life that are important to be kept within our inner circle with utmost privacy. I feel like these sites let others pry into peoples lives incessantly whether for fun or out of malice.
In 1987 or was it 1986 the first nintendo came out (dont feel like looking up the date). CD burning and copying became the rage in the 90’s. Texting didn’t become prevalent until I was out of middle school to around 9th grade. Then an unimaginable wave of photo/movie taking phones became available to the public. When the technology became available to actually pull those pictures/videos off your phones to send it to others combined with the new aspect of online community (Twitter,myspace,facebook) the possiblities became endless. Now we even have search engines to actually look up people’s general address and phone numbers as well as other info. I know all these technological advances are here to stay but just look at where we’re heading. I know the world in general thinks we are lifting our perceived as well as real limitations of the past but IMO I think we’re caging ourselves in all the more. Do you want to live in a world where you have to think about every instance and consequence of what could happen because of the phones and social communities that exist to post these possible negative/ personal paraphernalia.
Noone would be allowed to be themselves anymore because big brother could always be watching. You can tell me you know what your doing but as graphic as Im gonna be right here think about like this. If you were to hypothetically be in a sausage fest in a prison shower of say 20-30 other dudes how long do you think youll last before you drop the soap? You cant cover your ass forever and your guard will be down at one point in time. And no, dont give that rationalized bullshit that you’ll have your soap on a rope necklace around your neck either.
Anyway Bella and Musk at least share my concerns so I dont feel like I’m the only one in the world who feels this way (When the world doesnt share your views its hard to stick to your principals even though thats when they are needed the most) I understand what Steve and P51 says because it is possible to use FB and other sites to reconnect with people we think were lost forever from our lives because of distance or the hecticness of our own lives and for aspects like that I’m greatful such sites exist.
Carry on…