Sunday, November 29, 2009

Oh, hey Ted!


So, for our final project in my communications class, we'll be giving TED talks. For those of you who are unfamiliar with TED talks, they're little speeches packed with information about technology and--wait for it--communication! I'm not completely sure what I'm doing, but I have an idea.

So, any Facebook users out there? Yeah, I thought so. Facebook has revolutionized my generation. It's invented new ways to keep in touch with people you don't see very often (and the people you see everyday, because constant communication is apparently as necessary as air). However, Facebook also gives a whole new meaning to creeping.

Yes, you know what I mean. Facebook stalking. We all do it; don't lie. That cute guy in your English class puts up a questionable status: what does it mean? Quick, check his relationship status to make sure he's still single. While we're on the page, let's look at his pictures for the umpteenth time. Oh, he looks so cute in that shirt. Back to the wall. Wait, a girl likes his status? Who is she? Damn, her Facebook is private. We have a few friends in common, though. I should ask those people about her. Is she single? Is she interested in him? God, I hope not. Ugh, this sucks. I'm going to bed. Oh! A notification.

This is the thought-process of your average, everyday Facebook stalker. It's not a crime, nor is it as creepy as it looks typed out. But it's far too common on these types of sites. The more friends you accumulate, the more profiles you can view. And let's be honest, you don't really have 659 friends. No one's that popular. Get over yourself and stop looking at your arch rival from 8th grade's profile. Unless you truly care what that person is doing. In that case, I feel very, very sorry for you.

Facebook has its strong suits, but it also can detract from real human-to-human contact. You can keep an entire relationship afloat through messages and wall posts. You don't have to actually know or see somebody to know what they're doing, how they're doing it, and who they're doing it with. It's completely impersonal and a little strange. That's where I'm going with my TED talk. More to come....

3 comments:

  1. I love your writing style, it's very easy going. I think your TED idea is very relatable for everyone in our class and a topic that will be interactive in our classroom.

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  2. Dear Andrea,

    I'm laughing hysterically at your average facebook creeper thought process, detailed, ever so poetically in your third paragraph.

    Bring the wit to your TED talk mama!

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