Down with 25 Things
Posted on February 5th, 2009 in Uncategorized |
You’ve probably seen that thing on Facebook—”25 Things You May Already Know about Me,” I think it’s called. You’re supposed to list 25 things about yourself and then tell 25 other people to do the same.
It’s basically an exercise in narcissism disguised as an act of friendship: Here, let me gas on about myself because that’s what friends do. Then there’s the chain letter aspect of it: Pass this on to 25 people! Thanks much.
Meantime, people are posting these things that you really don’t want to know; it’s far too much information. I learned that one of my “friends”—someone I don’t know well, and now don’t particularly want to—sleeps around and that her father doesn’t talk to her, which makes her sad. Like I care? And yet, there it is, for all the world to see.
Thankfully, other people agree with me. Here, TIME makes fun of this silly Facebook ritual.
I much prefer websites that make fun of cute animals.
10 Responses
2/5/2009 12:39 pm
I have to say, that on this particular and well-argued point, i wholeheartedly agree with you.
2/5/2009 2:22 pm
I should think, if she sleeps around, you’d want to know her better.
2/5/2009 2:31 pm
Not my type, Anon.
2/5/2009 3:00 pm
I am a cynic myself, Richard, and must admit that when “25 Things” first showed up on my own FB page I was nothing less than annoyed.
However, after being “tagged” by some of my closest friends (I actually learned some pleasant new information about them) I finally gave in to this “silly ritual”. Hesitant…but I did it.
I don’t think “25 Things” is the real area of concern here, and doesn’t deserve such criticism.
This is Face Book, after all, and I ‘m quite certain that “25 Things” isn’t your first introduction to awful facts, statements and photos from people you “know” on Face Book.
I think Face Book is a great place for keeping in touch with long distance friends, reconnecting with someone from the past, or sharing discrete vacation or family photos with your friends. (BTW, People should not “tag” their friends in awful photos. A person like this is clearly NOT your friend)
The real criticism should be directed at people who are constantly updating their status with things like “I’m tired” or So and So is doing something meaningless or disgusting today. A list of 25 things isn’t as bad as 365 lame (and sometimes telling) status updates.
And who actually accepts ‘pokes’ or a challenge to be a vampire??!!
Face Book is a mindless waste of time, and just another excuse for people to spend more time in front of their computers than sharing time with REAL friends face-to-face.
In defense of the social networking craze, whether it’s “25 Random things”, a UTube clip or a blog, I do think people are just trying to communicate with one another and share. Unfortunately, technology has allowed people to hide behind their keyboards, computer screens and video cameras letting them believe they are safe to share whatever they are thinking or doing without realizing the power of language and the written word.
Well, we live and learn, I guess.
I hope your “friend” has learned something about posting on FB now that her ‘personal’ information has been plastered on your blog.
….or maybe it’s you that has learned something about “friendship”…
http://nymag.com/guides/etiquette/17332/
2/5/2009 3:14 pm
Very interesting post, HB. Thanks for taking the time to write it. Just for the record, my FB-friend’s personal info has been presented here with much more privacy than she presented it on Facebook—which is to say, it was anonymous. What I think is interesting is that many, maybe most, of the people who write those 25 things don’t want them to be anonymous; they want them to be read by as many people as possible, because if lots of people read them, then they must be interesting, right?
(I emphasize that I don’t think this is true of everyone who responded to that “tag.”)
But in this Oprah-fied world in which we live, too often people measure their self-worth by how much they disclose about themselves, and how many people want to hear it. And Facebook is a wonderful vehicle for that—in some ways, too good a vehicle; it makes personal disclosure and the voluntary sacrifice of privacy too easy.
We are on the same page about ridiculous status updates, by the way!
2/5/2009 4:20 pm
Rich, your response to Anon’s comment about the “friend” who “sleeps around” requires a little clarification. Surely you didn’t mean that she’s not your “type” because she sleeps around — what was it, her hair? body type? job? age? Just curious.
2/5/2009 4:22 pm
If I even started to answer that question, Anon 4:20, I’d utterly contradict what I wrote above. Good try, though.
2/5/2009 5:42 pm
If you don’t want random people/friends to make little comments and evaluate this or that from your Facebook page, then don’t either be on Facebook or don’t put it on your page. If you don’t want snide comments about your relationship status or the 25 things, being mocked for your daily statuses, questions on who you are “hugging” or “throwing a sheep” at and the whys and wheres of how you know this or that person, then again don’t be on Facebook or don’t put it on your page. Personally, I hate Facebook and MySpace. It’s beyond annoying. To me, it’s a boil on the butt of society. I tried it. I hated it. It’s for children or, only if used properly, business associates.
2/5/2009 6:03 pm
Wow, Anon, you’re crankier about this stuff than I am.
For what it’s worth, I think Facebook has real utility and value, but it can also be a massive time-waster.
MySpace, not so much—not for me, anyway. The younger folks seem to like it.
2/5/2009 7:40 pm
You know the old saying, “listening is the act of waiting your turn to talk again”