*Cough* Uhh....I'm sorry, what?
The biggest concern on my mind for about 15 minutes was literally how I would phrase my status update in a way that would make someone knock on my door and give me the hug I was sincerely needing.
I came up with this:
After realizing my somewhat ridiculous train of thought, it occurred to me that perhaps I should be thinking more about my safety as I ventured home alone through a truly dark night, with little company and very empty streets.
When the fear for my well-being finally settled in, somewhere around Tolman, and nestled itself in the accelerated rate of my breathing, I strummed up the remnants of my previous thoughts and wondered - - if something were to happen to me, would Facebook be the appropriate way to notify my friends?
How much of my life can be adequately explained through an online status?
It is undeniable that Facebook is perhaps the most efficient and effective way to notify people about your life. You can reach hundreds of “friends” and your chances of them seeing the message is rather great.
In a time where everyone can follow their peers via the “stalker feed,” my social processes have clearly adjusted to accommodate this phenomenon.
But honestly, what is the appropriate reaction if someone puts something horrific in their status? And does advertising it to the world cheapen it?
“Alexandra just got beaten and raped because you let her walk home alone at 2am. FML.”
“Alexandra's mom just died and now she's sitting in the middle of an empty house with her dog. Please stop inviting me to the hoes and bros party, I'm not in the mood."
“Alexandra fell down the stairs today because the Lithium her doctor put her on makes her lose all sensation in her body. Who wants to sign my cast?? :D”
These are all hypothetical (don't worry!) but I think if I actually saw these from anyone, I'd stare at the screen in utter disbelief and would have NO idea what to say. I would probably revert to something immature and distracting, such as “Oooh I want to sign it! I have a pink pen!”
When tragic events happen, what's the proper way to notify your support system? Would I really call my friends to tell them I was in the hospital, or would I hope that somehow they found out and came and visited me?
Everyone wants to feel cared about and validated by those around them, but I feel as though the invention of the Facebook status, as well as the “like” option, has created a surreal dependence for feedback on personal events.
I love the accessibility of Facebook and I use it religiously, but when I want to cry and I need you to be there for me, I can't help but wonder, is sending you a tiny red flagged notification really the best way to reach you?
xoxo
I think that people have lost sight of the appropriateness of media. When the telephone first reached prominence, there were huge questions of etiquette as to whether it was appropriate to console or invite via telephone, and style and etiquette guides addressed it. I believe our generation needs the same. If I see a horrific status on facebook, I assume it's a joke, because it is not the appropriate medium for that sort of thing. It's like a text message break up, or breaking of an engagement via e-mail, or conducting a job interview via AIM. With the prevalence of new media, we need to consider the appropriateness of each of them, and I think we will in time.
ReplyDelete