I'm puzzeled by Twitter, MySpace, etc...

[LS8]

When I was a kid (and I'm not old, I'm 25) most adults I knew wanted to keep their personal lives private. They shared their stories and experiences with family and friends mostly and weren't that interested in complete strangers knowing their business. Now days though, things seem to be completely different. Everyone can't wait to tell anyone who will listen (read) their daily exploits. It could be a trip to the mall, a chore around the house or something extremely personal like getting divorced - they just have to tell someone, everyone.

I don't understand this. Maybe it's the way I was brought up in the Midwest (Chicagoland)? I still think that 95% of what I do is private... not to say my business is incredibly important, just that it's my own life, my own day and not really for others to share. Having said all that I think Internet forums are about as "public" as I want my life to be and at least I know some of you, or at least, know things about you. Are people so desperate for interaction that MySpace, Twitter and Facebook are their only outlets? I don't have accounts on those site myself but friends/family/coworkers/forum-goers are always directing me to their page for an update. Oh, they went to the pet store today, walked around and didn't buy anything - glad I took the time to read that.

I don't mean this thread as a rant, just my observations... maybe I should start a blog? (oh the irorning...)

 

[jlee]

My facebook page is private. FWIW.

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: JLee
My facebook page is private. FWIW.

 

[Regs]

It's like a tatoo on your neck now. I don't have much pictures on my profile either.

My other friends seem to bring a cam every where they go. The girls especially - they seem to have implanted a camera in ther hands and some how they can take a picture by snapping their fingers.

 

[Lean L]

I agree wholeheartedly. I never liked the concept of the wall on facebook or comments on myspace. Why in the world would I want everyone to be able to see my messages? It has become such a norm now that some people will post on your wall in response to your private message. wtf? Funny that some people actually use these sites to judge how cool a person is...

 

[silverpig]

Twitter's strength doesn't come from random average joes posting that they went to the pet store in the morning.

 

[Don66]

Originally posted by: LS8
When I was a kid (and I'm not old, I'm 25) most adults I knew wanted to keep their personal lives private. They shared their stories and experiences with family and friends mostly and weren't that interested in complete strangers knowing their business. Now days though, things seem to be completely different. Everyone can't wait to tell anyone who will listen (read) their daily exploits. It could be a trip to the mall, a chore around the house or something extremely personal like getting divorced - they just have to tell someone, everyone.

I don't understand this. Maybe it's the way I was brought up in the Midwest (Chicagoland)? I still think that 95% of what I do is private... not to say my business is incredibly important, just that it's my own life, my own day and not really for others to share. Having said all that I think Internet forums are about as "public" as I want my life to be and at least I know some of you, or at least, know things about you. Are people so desperate for interaction that MySpace, Twitter and Facebook are their only outlets? I don't have accounts on those site myself but friends/family/coworkers/forum-goers are always directing me to their page for an update. Oh, they went to the pet store today, walked around and didn't buy anything - glad I took the time to read that.

I don't mean this thread as a rant, just my observations... maybe I should start a blog? (oh the irorning...)

Totally agree.

We live in a look @ me society.

 

[alkemyst]

in the past, life was hardly secret, you talked to your neighbors. I am willing to bet the OP at 25 still lives at home with 'people' that think everyone is evil.

 

[LS8]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
in the past, life was hardly secret, you talked to your neighbors. I am willing to bet the OP at 25 still lives at home with 'people' that think everyone is evil.

Troll, troll, troll your boat.

 

[Ruptga]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: JLee
My facebook page is private. FWIW.

Me too, people can search for me but only friends actually see the page, and only actual friends are FB friends.

 

[Regs]

Originally posted by: LS8

Originally posted by: alkemyst
in the past, life was hardly secret, you talked to your neighbors. I am willing to bet the OP at 25 still lives at home with 'people' that think everyone is evil.

Troll, troll, troll your boat.

I thought that was a completely legitimate opinion.

 

[olds]

It's easy. When you spend all your time in your mom's basement playing WoW, all your friends have to be online.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Those type of sites have become a huge fad. I have a facebook and go on once in a while, but not more then that. I still have a HUGE queue of all sorts of requests to go through that I just don't feel like doing it.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: ADDAvenger

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: JLee
My facebook page is private. FWIW.

Me too, people can search for me but only friends actually see the page, and only actual friends are FB friends.

 

[natto fire]

Originally posted by: Regs

Originally posted by: LS8

Originally posted by: alkemyst
in the past, life was hardly secret, you talked to your neighbors. I am willing to bet the OP at 25 still lives at home with 'people' that think everyone is evil.

Troll, troll, troll your boat.

I thought that was a completely legitimate opinion.

Agreed, albeit from a well known troll. No one is forcing anyone to put their lives on the internet. Different strokes, ya know. Many of my friends rarely us facebook, and I am right along there with them, prefer the face to face interaction.

 

[LS8]

Originally posted by: Captain Howdy

Originally posted by: Regs

Originally posted by: LS8

Originally posted by: alkemyst
in the past, life was hardly secret, you talked to your neighbors. I am willing to bet the OP at 25 still lives at home with 'people' that think everyone is evil.

Troll, troll, troll your boat.

I thought that was a completely legitimate opinion.

Agreed, albeit from a well known troll. No one is forcing anyone to put their lives on the internet. Different strokes, ya know. Many of my friends rarely us facebook, and I am right along there with them, prefer the face to face interaction.

You guys have millions of neighbors? Really?

I do in fact live at home, my home, which I own. =)

 

[nageov3t]

who *really* posts every single aspect of their personal lives on their social network?

I like facebook because it's a nice, casual way to keep in touch with friends, especially ones that I only get to see rarely. I do not and would never, however, post every aspect of my personal life on there.

 

[Xylitol]

mine is private

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

I have nothing to hide, and if I do I won't post it on Facebook, but I share details of my life with people and enjoy conversation and hearing about what my friends are up to. Things are more open now, and I think it's fun and interesting.

 

[Circlenaut]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
I have nothing to hide, and if I do I won't post it on Facebook, but I share details of my life with people and enjoy conversation and hearing about what my friends are up to. Things are more open now, and I think it's fun and interesting.

Here Here. I still think that people are still too closed and private. I was raised Brazilian and to me privacy = loneliness. When looking for places I actually look for roommates, housemates etc... Living in an apartment by myself would be torture.