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The Koobecaf Revolution
By Amanda Caldas
Sept. 20, 2008
Consider all the things that drive the image-crazy young Americans. Technology, money, individualism and networking to name a few of the things for which we would gladly sacrifice close relationships for. Is it really a surprise that Facebook took over our lives? Having given the tech savvy public the ability to see and talk about nearly everything we could possibly dream of, Facebook is now shaping our culture into a technological hearts-and-hands-free frenzy of memos and indirect messages.
It used to be we had few ways to talk to our friends. We waited until school or we called them. Either way, we were talking, and for most part the way we spoke to each other portrayed our emotions. Now, a quick dash to the nearest computer equals a five-word message that could have been at any other time an hour-long conversation. The problem is largely due to ourselves, though. Facebook feeds off the superstructure of our society. We’ve become image conscious, and we think that by saving time we are maximizing our productivity and success. We are so competitive in so many ways that we think that the greatest number of friends we have the more important we are. And for that matter, the more attractive we make ourselves seem then the more friends we have, even if we spoke to them once or twice. How long did it take you to decorate your profile? You could have used that time for a quick chat with a friend that truly matters. Which brings us back to the crux of Facebook, if we care so much about establishing that bigger-than-life personality, shouldn’t we spend our time making the bonds we already have stronger? Does Facebook allow for that to happen?
It’s interesting to go back through some of the posts displayed on our walls. Read one or two and you’ll realize they make absolutely no sense, first because they are so short and second because you must not have cared enough to elaborate on the subject. Not caring is the whole point of Facebook, it’s entertaining to the eye but it has no substance. Argue as much as you think is necessary to say it’s a useful method of communication, but find me one person that truly prefers to type away on a limited amount of space versus having a conversation that could lead to hundreds of other interesting topics. Are we lazy? That can’t be it because we already spend enough of our time checking and rechecking our inboxes for anything new. Or are we so self-centered that we no longer truly care about what others are doing? Or maybe I’ve been looking at this revolution in communication the wrong way…maybe it’s just the evolution of our culture. There is no need to talk, because the computer can do that for you. No need to state your views out loud, copy and paste something you found because that saves time.
As social as we like to believe we are, we are only as good as the Internet connection we have. If we woke up tomorrow, and Facebook had disappeared, what would you do? Do you have that “friend’s” phone number hidden somewhere so you could call them up to make that snide bit of remark you would have posted on his/her wall? Or if it is truly and forever gone, would you even care enough to call them? Maybe that’s the kind of wake-up call we need as a society. Facebook isn’t forever, so are you prepared for the day it disconnects for good?
Sept. 20, 2008
Consider all the things that drive the image-crazy young Americans. Technology, money, individualism and networking to name a few of the things for which we would gladly sacrifice close relationships for. Is it really a surprise that Facebook took over our lives? Having given the tech savvy public the ability to see and talk about nearly everything we could possibly dream of, Facebook is now shaping our culture into a technological hearts-and-hands-free frenzy of memos and indirect messages.
It used to be we had few ways to talk to our friends. We waited until school or we called them. Either way, we were talking, and for most part the way we spoke to each other portrayed our emotions. Now, a quick dash to the nearest computer equals a five-word message that could have been at any other time an hour-long conversation. The problem is largely due to ourselves, though. Facebook feeds off the superstructure of our society. We’ve become image conscious, and we think that by saving time we are maximizing our productivity and success. We are so competitive in so many ways that we think that the greatest number of friends we have the more important we are. And for that matter, the more attractive we make ourselves seem then the more friends we have, even if we spoke to them once or twice. How long did it take you to decorate your profile? You could have used that time for a quick chat with a friend that truly matters. Which brings us back to the crux of Facebook, if we care so much about establishing that bigger-than-life personality, shouldn’t we spend our time making the bonds we already have stronger? Does Facebook allow for that to happen?
It’s interesting to go back through some of the posts displayed on our walls. Read one or two and you’ll realize they make absolutely no sense, first because they are so short and second because you must not have cared enough to elaborate on the subject. Not caring is the whole point of Facebook, it’s entertaining to the eye but it has no substance. Argue as much as you think is necessary to say it’s a useful method of communication, but find me one person that truly prefers to type away on a limited amount of space versus having a conversation that could lead to hundreds of other interesting topics. Are we lazy? That can’t be it because we already spend enough of our time checking and rechecking our inboxes for anything new. Or are we so self-centered that we no longer truly care about what others are doing? Or maybe I’ve been looking at this revolution in communication the wrong way…maybe it’s just the evolution of our culture. There is no need to talk, because the computer can do that for you. No need to state your views out loud, copy and paste something you found because that saves time.
As social as we like to believe we are, we are only as good as the Internet connection we have. If we woke up tomorrow, and Facebook had disappeared, what would you do? Do you have that “friend’s” phone number hidden somewhere so you could call them up to make that snide bit of remark you would have posted on his/her wall? Or if it is truly and forever gone, would you even care enough to call them? Maybe that’s the kind of wake-up call we need as a society. Facebook isn’t forever, so are you prepared for the day it disconnects for good?
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