The Social Networking Era

I'm not really a fan of social networks. I think that websites like MySpace and Facebook promote self-glorification and are single handedly destroying relationships of people ages 18-34. Its laughable that the socially accepted definition of the term 'friend' has been reduced to mean nothing more than a person that has said "hey" or "sup?" once or twice. Then, for good measure, you're asked to confirm your friendship. Of course you wouldn't want the wrong people in your cyber social circle.

Plus, I'm not comfortable with the privacy issues. I don't like the fact that the random girl who sat next to me in my plant bio class during my sophomore year at Maryland, the kid I sorta know through a mutual acquaintance that I met at a party while drunk, and the HR assistant at my office can see that "Mr. Jones is..." on Facebook or what comments my crazy friends make on MySpace. I don't like the fact that you have to hide from paparazzo at parties now for fear of being tagged in a unflattering or compromising pic. In fact, I just don't like the fact that you can be found.

The muse for today's rant is a series of messages exchanged between 'OH SO SEXY', this chick with whom I went to high school and haven't heard from or thought about in over 5 years. My thoughts/comments are in read. What happened to the days graduating high school, going to college and resurfacing in 10 years at your reunion?

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From: OH SO SEXY
Date: May 31, 2007 7:11 PM

im so glad i found you!!! hit me up when u get this baby!!! (First, she's waaaay too cised.)

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Mr. Jones
Date: Jun 2, 2007 2:20 PM

Hey. How's life? (Against my better judgement, I decided to entertain her. Not responding would have been really rude.)

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: OH SO SEXY
Date: Jun 2, 2007 2:53 PM

shit just bein me ya kno. i was thinkin bout u a lot lately. im glad i found me (What?)

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Mr. Jones
Date: Jun 4, 2007 6:03 PM

Oh, ok. Were you lost? (Seeking clarity and being an asshole in one fell swoop.)

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: OH SO SEXY
Date: Jun 4, 2007 10:53 PM

no stupid im gald i found you (You make the mistake, spell glad incorrectly and I'm the stupid one? yeah, right)