Tag Archives: facebook

About Yourself

  By Riley | April 9, 2010 - 10:47 am | Quotes
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Months ago, Facebook introduced a feature – a box below one’s profile picture for users to “say something” about themselves. For many, this is a place to publish a personal creed, a meaningful quote, or a maxim summarizing the way they live their life.

For others, though, it’s just another way they can try to be funny. For example, Adam Berley took the invitation to “write something here” as a simple command. Below his profile picture reads, “something here.” Jim Walker’s confusion regarding the text box is evident: “what the fuck does this thing do?”

And then there are the more philosophical, the emos, the creative types. These are the types of people who put an ironic nickname in between their first and last name, or (even worse) spell their name foNETickly (phonetically) for Facebook’s sake. A fellow intern of mine from L.A. (who shall remain nameless and “nameless”) had a text box that reflected her concern for all of mankind: “My manifesto was not meant to be written in a 160-character text box.” Harrumph!

What does your text box say – more importantly, what does it say about you?

I No Longer Understand Facebook

  By Riley | January 23, 2010 - 11:06 am | Rants
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Facebook, much like cheap beer and it being a hilly walk to get to wherever you’re going, is something I will immediately associate with being in college. I check the site daily and as regularly as I check my e-mail. I’m not an addict, nor do I accomplish much on Facebook. It’s just become a habit, I suppose.

With changes to the format and different/new/more/less applications available, Facebook has changed a lot since I first logged on in the summer of 2006. With each new wave of changes brings feedback, resistance, and retaliation; it’s an e-revolt (r~E~volt?). Perhaps the most popular new features are the option to “Like” something and the ability to comment on a post.

I admit, I “Like” stuff that I see on Facebook. It, at the very least, provides a conversation starter next time I see the person (what’s up Scott Walker?). But the “Like” feature transcends forums, leaving cyberspace and entering everyday conversation. Just as people have begun to literally say the phrase, “LOL” instead of laughing out loud, I’ve noticed people saying “if this were Facebook, I would ‘Like’ that.” Well guess, what, this isn’t Facebook – it’s real life. Leave the lingo on the laptop, and don’t tell me to STFU. It really makes me sick when people can’t sever ties from cyberspase. I love the Internet as much as the next person (unless the next person is Alex Spamponito – that kid loves the Internet), but I don’t let it affect the way I speak in person.

What’s worse is when people “Like” the wrong things: Rest in peace, Uncle Steve! – “Like.” Broke my leg, in crutches for two months – “Like.” Horrible, I know, but I’ve seen these and worse on the site. And I’ve seen aforementioned retaliation in the form of official Facebook Groups: “If this group reaches one million members, Facebook will install a “Dislike” button!” No they won’t, and you know it. Decent way to show your support, though.

And I don’t even know how to respond to wall posts. This is the cornerstone of Facebook activity, unless Status Updates have surpassed wall posts, in which case I’m even further out of the loop than I originally though. In the past, if someone wrote on my wall I’d simply go to their profile and write on theirs. But now, with the comment feature, I don’t know what to do! Some people will respond to the wall post simply by commenting. Is this the protocol? Is responding to a wall post by writing on someone’s wall old-school? Is it unacceptable? I don’t know!

I just don’t get it anymore. Soon, I’ll be graduating. Maybe then, LinkedIn will take over. I’d “Like” like that.