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Koobecaf Essay
Becca Thomas
Koobecaf Assignment
Katie Hines
September 20, 2008 The Nacirema people have an incredible obsession with a virtual society called Koobecaf. In the koobecaf community one can post pictures and videos, write on “friends” “walls,” express themselves by stating their interests, views, activities, and music choice, and see what everyone else in the population are up to. In the eyes of the Nacirema Koobecaf is a fun way to stay in touch with old friends and show their individualism to the world. In a sense, Koobecaf shows the fixation of competition among the Nacirema people and their need to look good in their culture The Nacirema people put a lot of emphasis on love and marriage and koobecaf only encourages this behavior. I cannot even count how many times I have heard the Nacirema people say “we are official now because it is on Koobecaf.” They do not consider friendships or dating relationships to be real until their koobecaf page says so. This shows the competition between the Nacirema because they need everyone to know whom they are with. The adolescents will become “friends” with people they barely know, who they have met only once, or sometimes never at all. This leads koobecaf to just be a way they can act as if they are staying in touch with old friends and acquaintances, thus raising their opinion of themselves. People with whom they would normally lose contact with, are suddenly the peoples profiles they visit daily, just to see what is new with them. When they communicate with these old contacts, it is usually just a meaningless “what’s up?” or “how’s it goin?” It is never a good conversation, but makes them feel like they are a better person. If koobecaf and other modern technology did not take up all of their time, the Nacirema people would be able to build deep and meaningful relationships. One positive thing about koobecaf is that it allows the Nacirema to express themselves as individuals. On their profiles they can post their values, beliefs, views, activities, interests, and the causes they are supporting. This could also lead to a competition of who has the most causes or groups they are a part of. However, most of them see it as a good way to get to know each other quickly. The main source of competition on Koobecaf is that of numbers. The number of “friends” one has. The number of pictures tagged of you. The number of bumper stickers you have. The number of photo albums you have. The list goes on and on. Every time the Nacirema log on to Koobecaf (which is multiple times per day) they immediately check to see if anything new has happened. Their excitement comes when someone has added them as a “friend” or written on their wall. It seems like the people in this community find their value and sense of acceptance in the number of notifications they have per day in this world they have created. The higher their numbers, the more love and approval they feel. Some have even gone so far as to get a text message immediately when this happens. This society, which started out as a way to keep in contact with students at other universities, has actually led the Nacirema people to be less connected with each other.
Koobecaf Assignment
Katie Hines
September 20, 2008 The Nacirema people have an incredible obsession with a virtual society called Koobecaf. In the koobecaf community one can post pictures and videos, write on “friends” “walls,” express themselves by stating their interests, views, activities, and music choice, and see what everyone else in the population are up to. In the eyes of the Nacirema Koobecaf is a fun way to stay in touch with old friends and show their individualism to the world. In a sense, Koobecaf shows the fixation of competition among the Nacirema people and their need to look good in their culture The Nacirema people put a lot of emphasis on love and marriage and koobecaf only encourages this behavior. I cannot even count how many times I have heard the Nacirema people say “we are official now because it is on Koobecaf.” They do not consider friendships or dating relationships to be real until their koobecaf page says so. This shows the competition between the Nacirema because they need everyone to know whom they are with. The adolescents will become “friends” with people they barely know, who they have met only once, or sometimes never at all. This leads koobecaf to just be a way they can act as if they are staying in touch with old friends and acquaintances, thus raising their opinion of themselves. People with whom they would normally lose contact with, are suddenly the peoples profiles they visit daily, just to see what is new with them. When they communicate with these old contacts, it is usually just a meaningless “what’s up?” or “how’s it goin?” It is never a good conversation, but makes them feel like they are a better person. If koobecaf and other modern technology did not take up all of their time, the Nacirema people would be able to build deep and meaningful relationships. One positive thing about koobecaf is that it allows the Nacirema to express themselves as individuals. On their profiles they can post their values, beliefs, views, activities, interests, and the causes they are supporting. This could also lead to a competition of who has the most causes or groups they are a part of. However, most of them see it as a good way to get to know each other quickly. The main source of competition on Koobecaf is that of numbers. The number of “friends” one has. The number of pictures tagged of you. The number of bumper stickers you have. The number of photo albums you have. The list goes on and on. Every time the Nacirema log on to Koobecaf (which is multiple times per day) they immediately check to see if anything new has happened. Their excitement comes when someone has added them as a “friend” or written on their wall. It seems like the people in this community find their value and sense of acceptance in the number of notifications they have per day in this world they have created. The higher their numbers, the more love and approval they feel. Some have even gone so far as to get a text message immediately when this happens. This society, which started out as a way to keep in contact with students at other universities, has actually led the Nacirema people to be less connected with each other.
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