Astute folks will no doubt see where this is eventually leading.
I had a bunch of crap today and may not get to important posts tomorrow either but for now I'll just share an update on the whole The Social Network dealy from an article I read in the Globe this morning (note it'll only be free for a week or so unless you're going to a super cool bro college in Boston and have a free subscription): http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2010/09/26/aaron_sorkin_reaches_out_to_web_surfers_and_sources_to_fill_in_the_blanks_of_the_social_network/
The bits about anonymity, the "dark Internet spirit", smacks of someone who no doubt has run across certain imageboards of ill repute that reject the notion of facebook. Also it's so fucking true about people adopting artificial personae and attaching artificial importance to their actually meaningless lives. At some point I'll try to track down Jon Stewart's interview of Arianna Huffington where he tears apart blogging and facebooking and tweeting as tools in the gradual dumbing down of American society. There's also a piece out there somewhere about how PowerPoint caused the Iraq War by appealing to the dumbest parts of those responsible. Ugh, that's a lot of work though.
I started reading Against the Day last night, so don't be surprised if I suddenly start gushing like a fangirl at some point for Thomas Pynchon. I try to hold it in. I really do.
Seriously you guys :| .
Well I wouldn't put it as dumbing down, as previously put, because the mindless masses are, well... Mindless. So of course something new will draw new attention. But I guess in this case, with attributes to society, internet, and emotion, this generation has soared above the rest. That or technology is steadily growing at a surprising pace, which contributes to new ideas on the interwebz.
ReplyDeleteAlso, "wake up sheeple!"
Social networking really starts to annoy me. I already deleted my facebook account. It's nothing but a waste of time, checking up on people I'm totally not interested in isn't exactly a great way to spend your time. ...
ReplyDeleteHuffpo is awful. It's infested with anti-vaccine twits and the like. I don't know if it's a dumbing down but it certainly makes experts of the ignorant. Just because you have media exposure doesn't give you license to mistreat facts.
ReplyDeleteI only use FB and now even FB is anoying
ReplyDeleteYou have to show the Jon Stewart interview, I'm very interested - I think society is just naturally dumb though, I wasn't educated and I can see through the bullshit
ReplyDeletenice pic
ReplyDeleteI think economic and political issues have more to do with any decline in the USA than social networking sites.
ReplyDeletei dont know why simpsons porn came into my head
ReplyDeletebeck http://r9k.blogspot.com
Interesting post.
ReplyDeleteI have facebook and every time I log in someone has a bitchy whiney status up. Seriously, no one cares about it.
ReplyDeleteAfter deep reflection and consulting my spiritual advisers....I am not going to see this movie. I will however write a review of it. Keep a look out on my blog.
ReplyDeleteYeah, agrees to the comments about facebook. Every time I would log in there would be a superficial status update that didn't sound at all like that person, the sort of fabricated identities Sorkin was alluding to.
ReplyDeleteI don't know, I saw a "behind the scenes peak" last night and they all sounded like real douche bags about how important their movie was. I'll probably still go see it anyway because my Friday nights can't possibly get less exciting :\ .