The "anti-everything" or almost.

Not really, I mean I'm not -that- antisocial, but I'm close. I'm just not the social type. When people ask for a Myspace account so we can "chat" I have to say no, or say no because I've just recently had a stalker and I'm not comfortable engaging in on-line predatory behavior again. So they ask me; Facebook? No. AIM? No. After a while the "social inquiries" stop and you're left wondering what's the point of communication if people don't actually want to sit face to face and communicate?

So here's today's random observation, the fake gold: no one ever asks for a phone number any more. We trade e-mail and social networking site addresses, but never hand out that one remaining piece of our identities...our digits. Would it matter?

Maybe it's like going to a date 20 minutes beforehand so you can scope out your date and what they look like, how they act/carry themselves long before you're there, and then never show up.

Maybe it's only the browsing and gathering of information that interests -so- many others, and not the actual exchanges of being. Maybe.

Comment by Giant Mohawk Man on June 9, 2008 at 1:42pm: Thats a highly interesting question that I think more and more people are asking themselves. I know I do a lot. Just read an artical in details (yeah an actual physical magazine) this morning talking about facebook and the point or non-point.

I think lots of arguments can happen on both sides of the fence. There is a certain "richness of communication" factor still being developed, along with "annoyance of interruption" and real-time response vs. when you get to it response.

The cool thing that I have noticed here in what they would call more of a "vertical social network" is that people with seemingly niche interests can connect in a global way never before available to others with similar interest. Now for people that want to be the only mohawk in town, finding out that there are many others may or may not be a good thing. I however do like the idea exchange and learning from others with similar experiences, even if it is just "woah! how do you that to your hair" comments. The fact of the matter is that if we continue to do it, it says something about our personalities and maybe by talking to others that do that too, it helps us identify ourselves more.

Woah. Sorry, went off. Thanks for the thoughtful blog. Ok. Off to find a sandwich or something.

Comment by Neo Skunk on February 10, 2009 at 8:21am: i kinda hate to say it, but I use facebook for people I already know and myspace to find new artists of all kidns, music/video/photos and the like. Other than that though, let me out into the REAL world, and not that un-music television type. The raw, gritty, real life world. oh how i miss my hawk. :(

Comment by Alexis on March 27, 2009 at 6:08pm: This is the only website where I talk to other people. (Only 2 I know in real life: Mr. Eliott and Mr. Lucas)
I like this because its not just "hey ohmigwd are you going to the mall 2nite?" Ive learned a lot from the people here.
All the texting, IMing messaging ect. is soooo impersonal I can't stand it.

Comment by zero on March 27, 2009 at 7:20pm: I'm the same way, and it's weird...I just feel really awkward "chatting" online. I'll do it if someone initiates, sure, but the conversations end up really boring and kind of awkward because I'm really never sure what to say. I have a Facebook, but I never spend time on there, because what do you do? Talk about yourself, then look at what everyone else is doing. A blast, for sure...
I much prefer being somewhere with someone. I like to go out and do things and talk to people face to face, but it seems like no one's really into that anymore.
I really don't know what the deal with texting is. I don't have a cell phone, but I know that if I did, I would never, ever text in the company of other people. Maybe I just don't understand, but nothing annoys me more than when you go out with someone, and all they do is sit there and text other people. Like being together isn't enough for them, they have to have some other kind of supplemental communication while you're out.