Social networks run risk of becoming more than just tool
By Brandon Himes
Rocket Web Editor
Issue date: 10/21/05 Section: Life
The quintessential social network that everyone who doesn't live under a rock will recognize is, of course, Facebook. Should someone out there possibly have missed the memo, Facebook is a social networking website that has become one of the most ubiquitous resources on the web for college age students, sucking the souls out of more than 2.5 million members.
Facebook implements a social network, allowing its users to fill out profile pages that describe themselves, their interests, class schedule and last but not least their friends. Facebook's network is social as it describes its members via their relationships with one another. Facebook can tell you all about a person, their classmates, and their friends both at their institution and at other institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Facebook's web address is http://www.facebook.com.
I HATE Facebook. I like the idea that is there. I like the fact that from time to time I can use Facebook to find contact information for an old high school buddy or check in to see what is going on with my friends who go to other universities. What makes me hate Facebook is the way some folks use, or should I say misuse it.
First off, you people with the addictive personalities, stay the crap away from Facebook; it is very bad for you. The number of Facebook addicts that I see around campus destroys my faith in my generation. Don't try to pull that "I'm a millennial student (echo boomer, generation y)," with me, alright? I'm the same age as you and I'm not using the proliferation of technology to excuse myself from the fact that I'm wasting my life away in front of the glow of a monitor.
Secondly, all of you Disgracebook users who think that Facebook is supposed to be an online popularity contest: drop dead! I've got an account, obviously. I get daily requests from people who I have never seen before in my life who want me to confirm my friendship with them. What? Of course I'm not going to confirm our non-existent friendship. As a matter of fact I'll probably cross to the other side of the street if I happen to see you in public. Stop trying to bolster your self-confidence with the number of Facebook friends you have, please.
Facebook implements a social network, allowing its users to fill out profile pages that describe themselves, their interests, class schedule and last but not least their friends. Facebook's network is social as it describes its members via their relationships with one another. Facebook can tell you all about a person, their classmates, and their friends both at their institution and at other institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Facebook's web address is http://www.facebook.com.
I HATE Facebook. I like the idea that is there. I like the fact that from time to time I can use Facebook to find contact information for an old high school buddy or check in to see what is going on with my friends who go to other universities. What makes me hate Facebook is the way some folks use, or should I say misuse it.
First off, you people with the addictive personalities, stay the crap away from Facebook; it is very bad for you. The number of Facebook addicts that I see around campus destroys my faith in my generation. Don't try to pull that "I'm a millennial student (echo boomer, generation y)," with me, alright? I'm the same age as you and I'm not using the proliferation of technology to excuse myself from the fact that I'm wasting my life away in front of the glow of a monitor.
Secondly, all of you Disgracebook users who think that Facebook is supposed to be an online popularity contest: drop dead! I've got an account, obviously. I get daily requests from people who I have never seen before in my life who want me to confirm my friendship with them. What? Of course I'm not going to confirm our non-existent friendship. As a matter of fact I'll probably cross to the other side of the street if I happen to see you in public. Stop trying to bolster your self-confidence with the number of Facebook friends you have, please.
