Facebook Tells All

"Amy wants to add you as a friend. Accept or Decline?"
"Dave and Holly are now in a relationship"
"Bryan's relationship status has changed from in a relationship to single"

What Facebook says, goes.

Facebook is like a personalized Perez. You log on each day (or for some of us each hour, or even minute) to find a News Feed displaying the latest information in our "friends" lives. I put friends in quotations because half of my "friends" happen to just be people that went to the same high school as me. Being from such a small town of course you know of everyone so therefore you feel obligated to add them or else you seem rude right? So when I log into Facebook I can find my town's gossip , find out things about my family because even my Mom's oldest sister now has Facebook (don't worry she is on a limited profile) and of course find out whose birthday it is...I could go on.

What's unique about Facebook is the fact that everyone is being completely honest. When MySpace and online dating websites first started there were often jokes about creating fake names or putting up fake pictures of yourself. In fact, Brad Paisley a big country star says it best in one of his biggest hits Online (its a must see!) What's happening with Facebook though is that because everyone is being so honest, people give it greater value in their life. With this honesty the police have now realized that they want in on the action.

Recently I've had a request from a girl named Alissa Quigley, whom I don't know but have 86 friends in common with. While performing my usual check on the people who attempt to add me that I don't know; I quickly realize that she has no pictures, or much description at all and that all the friends she seems to have live in my surrounding area. First thought was that this was just some random person trying to create a fake account for whatever reason. Then after reading a few posts I realize there is a discussion going on that suspects Alissa Quigley is actually the police. A bunch of people have also created a group titled, "Who the hell is Alissa Quigley" in search of the unknown...Now if this really was the police (which I don't believe it is) with people just randomly adding them, they in turn give the police alot of personal information and from there the cops can willingly find suspects, or settle cases. Think about something as easy as your Facebook status could give your alibi, or get you into more trouble if you didn't remember to make it fit your story.

Police want to get involved with the world in which the rest of the public converse to monitor of course. About 3 years ago in my first year of university I remember being invited to this party called Wabash that wasn't happening until June but the event was formulated on Facebook around Christmas. Needless to say the event circulated and had a crazy high number of people attending. Somehow, someway, I'm sure with similar access like the possible Alissa Quigley account, the police found out about this big party and it hit the news. I distinctly remember planning to attend and tuning into FM 96 where they said anyone planning to go to the Wabash party, don't bother, you really smart folk created so much attention the police know and are now supervising the area (apparently it was also going to be held not on private property). Anyways this just goes to show that people do need to be aware of the laws and how public and open Facebook really is.

Now my last interesting fact for the day is the the OPP have now joined twitter! An article in the Toronto Star talks about how some Canadian forces have already joined social networks sites to help catch criminals. Does having police in social networking sites really help catch crime? Do you really think about the fact that the police are reading or overseeing pictures you post? What if illegal substances are used in pictures on Facebook does that give enough warrant to search a person? It's almost like the idea of Web CT discussion boards (university's way of allowing students to talk however they are monitored by professors). Both Web CT, Facebook and Twitter are more like panopticon. Agreed?

Skype: Killing or Creating Distance?

"It's been forever since I've seen you! Let's skype tonight. See you then"

I love technology, and without skype I don't know how I would've survived studing overseas for 4 months. However I am still undecided as to whether the online world is helping or taking away from life.

Skype is an application that allows anyone in the world to video call for free. It also offers features like call forwarding, answering machines, call any phone (landline or mobile) and also gives you the option of having your own skype number that landlines can call. With all these features at the your disposal how much longer will we continue to pay for house phones?

Being an avid Skype user I rave about its amazingness which allowed me to talk to my family and friends for free from Denmark. I still find it mind boggling to think that from the convenience of our home we can talk and see anyone we want. It really takes convenience to a new level.

Although Skype appears more personable because you can see each other; and it is compared to talking on the phone or typing on the internet, it creates distance. It does this because we have all started to accept a Skype date as a replacement for a face to face meaningful event. It is much easier to sit down at your computer for an hour than make your way to a coffee shop. Apparently that time spent commuting to that meeting point is too valuable these days.

Not only has Skype seeped into dorm rooms and homes, we have even taken it to work. More businesses are using Skype for conference calls and interviews and saving millions on airfare as they do it. I've already had the luxury or awkwarness of a Skype interview. It felt very cold. And I overall did not enjoy the experience. Although it saves money I feel it shields our ability to make an honest first impression. I have a feeling they will become more popular through the years and someone has already taken it upon themself to create a How to Ace a Skype Interview.


So in conclusion, I'd say it sounds like I dislike what Skype has done to our relationship building however with a busy schedule and the high cost of communicating I will continue to impersonably chat with friends. This discussion has however has made me realize that I need to put a little more effort in making real dates rather than cyber dates.

Skype is both, killing and creating distance.