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Fuck you Facebook.

I'm not a fan of facebook.  I really don't like using it.  I don't agree with their ever-changing privacy policy.  But what I hate about it most is the fact that everyone uses it, and how it's replaced other modes of communication.


Ever since I moved out of my home town, I have lost touch with many people I knew from back then.  Although I don't care about the majority of them, there are some people I still think about, and wonder how they are doing.

So I started a new facebook account.  I deleted my old one a long time ago, when I found out that employers will sometimes check the facebook profile of applicants.
So yeah.. new account.   I added a few people I know, and a few I forgot existed through the handy "people you may know" option.   After hearing some crazy rumors about my sudden disappearance (I didn't tell anyone I was moving before I did), I lost interest in facebook and stopped checking it. 

Then one day while bored, I decided to check my facebook.  Within seconds I found out that 3 of my friends (including my closest friend from childhood) were pregnant,  and that one of my friend's dad died in a house fire.  I sent my condolences, and congratulated my friends.  But when I spoke to my closest friend (who was already 4 months along, and knew about the tragic house fire... and had my phone number) I asked her  "Why didn't you call me when you found out?"  She told me, "I posted it on facebook... it's not my fault if you don't check it."

So I guess I need facebook if I want to keep in touch with people properly.  I can't expect my friends to know that I don't like facebook, and would rather they call me... not that they're obliged to tell me or anything.  I wonder if the generation that was around when telephones were invented were angry that nobody came by to tell them the news anymore.  

I know I'm not the only one to feel left-behind by ever-changing technology, and how society adapts to it.   Although it has many benefits, it has it's share of down-falls... especially for those who choose not to participate.

Like televisions for example.  My old tube TV showed it's last episode a few weeks ago.  The boyfriend and I felt no need to upgrade to HD... our picture was just fine while it was there.  I went to a few electronic and department stores looking for another tube TV to replace the old one.  Couldn't find one... not a single retailer sells old-style TV's anymore.   I didn't want to risk buying used, so we caved and bought a brand new plasma HD TV.... only to find out that my old digital cable receiver wasn't very compatible with my new TV. The picture was shittier than my old TV... it was all pixelated and "blurry" around the edges.   So we had to upgrade to a new receiver, which costs an extra $20 a month in rental fees.  We're happy with it now.. but we could have been just as happy with our old TV had it not stopped working.   We went through a lot of trouble with our cable provider (of course... we always do) to make this upgrade.. even though we didn't really want to upgrade, and wouldn't have, if we didn't have to.

The less I participate in the development of technology, the more alienated from society I feel.  Despite this, it is very interesting to witness these changes in culture, and experiencing the impact first hand.   I'm both excited and worried about the future of technology and it's impact on culture. Will it make us smarter, lazier,  less, or more connected? 

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