Facebook, twitter, and society

Good morning,

For some inane reason, my body clock decided to wake me up at 6 am, probably due to my severely screwed up circadian rhythm. Maybe it's the fact that I organise events on facebook (fb), or that I'm staying at home alone, but I couldn't help but log on, and check my facebook, instead of rolling over and trying to get some more sleep.

Why ?

Perhaps the whole concept behind social media, is not that people care, or that people want to connect, but rather that people are afraid. People are afraid that there aren't others like themselves out there. People are afraid of being alone, or different, and being the only one, who say, has a habit of (to take an example off fb), "counting the hours you have to sleep before you sleep".. Ok, that would be a minor fear. Granted, the majority of fb users aren't quaking in fear/maudlin emotions.. oh wait. Anywho, my point is, if you take away all the social pressure and gossip to be on facebook, at the core of it all, is a human desire to belong. But do we really belong there ?
I know that a similar thing about dehumanisation was said of SMS, and twitter and the internet in general.  To a certain extent, they are true.  However, some forums get along well and community members have no qualms about telling others that they post there, in real life. But an online presence is not the same thing as an actual presence and here's where my theory gets interesting, While excess fb usage is a fear of being alone, an actual social gathering requires effort, and carries the potential for awkward situations. So, fb usage is a combination of fear of being alone, and a fear of being rejected.

But why ?

Fb is society in a microcosm, and an intensification of fears and hopes that dominate our normal lives. Often, people don't know how to react to the immediacy of fb, and twitter, and either play it safe, or go above and beyond the call to "be yourself".. We have manufactured fb personalities, and while we would like to believe that everyone is acting honestly in our everyday environments, we know that to be impossible. We put on a face when we go to work, school, mosque, gym. We want to make ourselves look good. Certainly, these concerns aren't at the forefront of our mind, but they certainly do form a great part of our motivations.. 

But for someone who has just recently moved Cities, I can understand the feeling of non-belonging, but I also accept that there are some groups that you do not want to belong to. Clearly, for me, I would prefer to belong to a group that did not organise, and revolve around facebook. Hell, even texting, I consider to be closer personal contact than tweeting or fb. Fb has it's uses, but is not personal, and only an illusion/chimera?/ (insert fancy term for cure that only works for a short while), for our fear of loneliness.

Unfortunately, we all die alone, and nothing can change that. Having said all that, I still find my fb usage spiked when I moved, until i realised that my friends back in sydney probably had better things to do, and could not possibly respond to every tag that I had. So the only solution for me is to engage with friends I have here, while using fb to keep in occasional touch with people over there. Unfortunately, that's easier said than done, because physical interactivity requires a lot more effort and risk than typing away on a keyboard..

Wow.. didn't think this would still exist

 It occurred to me (rather forcefully, thanks to my friends) that facebook is no longer a space to express my thoughts as freely as possible while still ensuring that they get heard outside of my own head. It also was impressed upon me by the same friends that, my thoughts are not welcome on their walls. Hence, facebook does not, or rather, your friends do not want to know, what's on your mind, unless it's funny, important, or work related.

To a certain extent that is understandable, but I ask this, No one is asking you to read my wall, or even include me in your newsfeed. Furthermore, If you do strike me from your precious friends list, I'm not going to go all superficial on you and suddenly not speak to you in real life, or as they say on the internet, IRL.  I generally do not think about anything that I post on FB, because I didn't think that people took it seriously. Evidently, I was wrong. I make this blog post for two reasons, To put down my thoughts in a medium that is available, but not ubiquitous, i.e. something that doesn't appear on peoples walls unless they choose to, and to ensure that I maintain some form of record, of the paltry existence that is my life.

To this end, I have resolved to:

1. Post Once a week, and ONLY once a week, barring holidays. 
2. Make my posts as coherent and non-context specific as possible. 
3. To limit my posts to a general subject area.

I recognize that no one may see this post, and that I may eventually give up on this adventure, but It is , as they say, A start.

Left wing radicals ? You don't say ?

That there are two sides to every coin ?

Seriously. I find that there are more rightwing bloggers than ever. For example, an entry by someone calling himself "Dr Sanity", complaining that hostages rescued weren't even thankful, then further twisting their apology, into an accusation that all left wingers bite the hand that feeds them.

First of all, the hostages were grateful to be rescued, but this doesn't mean that they should change their views. It's like becoming an athiest because god didn't grant your wish.

Really.

Of course, I'm referring to something thats 2 years out of date, I just googled no good deed goes unpunished. and I get right wingers.. figures.

Somedays...

People just don't get satire..

Really. I'm of course referring to the hype surrounding that satirical cartoon...
Considering it was two of the NY times journalists who got (the west) us in to Iraq, I'm surprised they even ran with the cartoon. But hey, Sometimes USAmericans are too dumb, even when it's obviously satire...

For example, one of my posts in sciforums was so badly misread...
http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=82850&page=3

Just posting coz I'm bored.
Although I really should study.

Long time.

It's been a long time, since my last post.

It's also been a long time since my last promotion.
I really haven't been told explicitly whats wrong with me. Which only makes it frustrating and more apparent that the staff at my squadron have a grudge against me. (If anyone from the AAFC is reading this, note this is my personal opinion, not those of the AAFC). Seriously.

It also could be people adopting a wait and see attitude. Obviously one of them is not me. I'm going bright, and I'm going to go out with a bang. If i have to.

Right now, I've been at this rank for 2 years now, and the people below me are ready to take over soon. I owe it to them to tell them the way things work, and to ensure that the people below me get the best i can offer them. They deserve better.

Meanwhile, I'm standing by my opinion. If the AIR force cadets places more value on Fieldcraft than aircraft, then it's not the place for me. If it values charisma, sweettalking, and bludging more than blood,sweat and tears. Then screw em, who needs em..

Well, that said, hopefully the grudge doesn't extend around the wing, one more GST and a couple more flying courses then I should be out of here.

Fitna.

Gather round, ladies and gents, for a fine piece of propaganda.

As a semi muslim. I laugh, conjuring images with random clerics and quotes taken out of context, is an age old trick.

Nothing new, except how dumb people get.

here, see for your self, unless you're a white supremacist.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=7d9_1206624103

Legacy

A man passed away, My grandfather.

Leaving behind a legacy, Headmaster of two schools, father to a large extended family, and general champion of the community.

I am reminded of the song, "everyone's a top bloke when they're dead" by chasers, but I don't have enough memories of him to point out, why he shouldn't be a top bloke.

Legacy.

I am his legacy.

But I am not him.

Therefore.- I am my own legacy.