"We should run through the forests
We should swim in the streams
We should laugh we should cry we should love we should dream
We should stare at the stars and not just at screens
You should hear what I’m saying and know what it means to-...
Yeah we wish we were happier, thinner and fitter
We wish we weren’t losers and liars and quitters
We want something more not just nasty and bitter
We want something real not just Facebook and twitter
It’s the meaning of life and it’s streamed live on YouTube
But I bet Gangnam Style would still get more views
We’re scared of drowning, of flying and shooters
But we’re all slowly dying in front of fucking computers."
(Scare Away the dark by Passenger)
Today in my English class we talked about how people are very attached to social media. We had articles to read before hand, we discussed the one by Ian Daly Virtual Population Isn't Cool- It's Pathetic and most people who spoke were the one who disagreed with the author. They disagreed with social media being useless. Some of my classmates felt that social media brings us together, it helps us keep connected, it helps us meet people and helps us socialize... I disagree very much with them, like the lyrics of the song I posted above, I feel like we are loosing the art of communication and the need for adventure and happiness because we have an artificial source on our laps.
I agree with Daly when he say "take a good long look at your list of friends list and ask yourself how many of these people would meet you for a beer- or how many you would actually want to meet for a beer." Ok guys lets be honest... nobody does that!!! Ok I lied maybe not "NEVER" but maybe 5% of the time it MIGHT happen.... most likely not. Honestly if you think those people are you friend try this: piss them off just a bit, push there button, disagree with them. When you think of a friends think of the as bridges. When you make a bridge you should try it out and see if it is stable right? If those people are "friends" they should hold up right? 1 out of the 600 friends would survive right or maybe 5 or maybe 20. But I bet you that the ones who did hold up on the test were the ones who actually knew you for years, those who really have had memories with. Well now that you eliminate the fact that most of those people will not help you out, they won't be there when you cry, when you loose those who matter for you, why does their opinion matter? Why do you care if you get their like if they really don't care about you when you are down... We spend so much time on those website that we forget how to truly make friends. When you are at a café I bet not many of us know how to start a conversation with a stranger, we are used to just send a friend request. I hope most if not all disagree with me so you can go out there and prove me wrong! If you do prove me wrong, try talking to people in person and see how it is much more difficult but much more fulfilling when you make a real friend not a virtual one.
I agree with you. Society has become ridiculous when it comes to social networking. It's crazy how people crave the attention of people they don't actually know. What's even worse is when they rather be looking at a screen during dinner than the person they are with. That's when you know that person has a problem. Social networking has become something a person need to live. Most people can't live without there phone. Insanely sad and ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteXanat, what is interesting to me is how differently your class reacted to Daly's argument than my other one did (Marliny can attest to this). While the vast majority of students in your class instinctively rejected Daly's premise, most in Marliny's thought he was spot on, if a little hyperbolic. I don't think either response is right or wrong, as Daly does highlight real problems with social media while also glossing over any positives it might have, but the two reactions surprised me.
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