Friday, 27 March 2009
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The Pithy Trap
Last evening I had the opportunity to take an introductory tour of the Facebook phenomenon via my brother who has acquired a site. I will candidly confess that I was not impressed. Why is this so? I realize I could be accused of needless discrimination against a wonderful innovation, reminiscent of the Luddites in the early nineteenth century, (Interesting individuals, the Luddites, and people from whom we could draw many thought-provoking conclusions and applications. But I digress), however the reasons for my tepid response are many. They could be expounded at length, but I would not be doing justice to my particularly title, the pithy trap.
As I was mulling my own presence on Xanga, I was aware of a curious rut in which I am prone to languish. This rut could be defined as the failure to post due to irrational phobia concerning post substance. I am not sure where I acquired the thinking that web log entries must contain deeply thoughtful arguments evidencing several days of preparation, but it is there. This I would venture to guess has been partially responsible for the neglect of my personal cyber soapbox. Here, I am indebted to my friend, deepbrew, “blogging because I feel like it” who articulated this argument with breathtaking clarity. It was as I read this startlingly freeing thought, that by degrees I began to work toward taking the liberty to be my incoherent self. J
How does this relate to my Facebook forage last evening? Simply, that I severely scolded myself for taking such a reactionary stance in light of my own less-than-stellar devotion to Xanga. I shall attempt to curb the inconsistency.
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Comments (5)
Hmm, I think I have to look up "Luddites" now.
..."deeply thoughtful arguments evidencing several days of preparation..."?!?!?!?
My site would be pretty much empty...
In case I fail to remember to otherwise announce the date of the spring program; tis on Thursday, April 9, at 7:00 p.m. at the school. Come! Bring your sister! :) (F can come too;)
"...the liberty to be my incoherent self." I like the phrase. And that liberty is what I like about posting, too. Saying what I feel like saying, whether or not the readers get it. Who cares about coherence? Okay, well, sometimes I do, too. :) Post away!
As usual, Andrew, you have articulated your thoughts with great aplomb. I am very hesitant to take on Facebook without much forethought, because it lays everything before the whole world to see. I was amazed at the one time that I went on there to see how "exposed" people are, both literally and figuratively.
Is it just me or have we lost our sense of privacy and sanctity of personhood in this society? Is there no restraint or modesty left? Why do people feel the need to vent all of their anger, testosterone, ego, libido, and lack of sanity all over the cyberspace? Why do young women want to throw all sense of decency and propriety to the wind in a huge vacuum that sucks in all the vile and defamed of society to prey on one another?
I guess the larger question is: Why would genuine Christians want to be so involved in such a place? If it were the corner pub down the street they wouldn't, or...would they?
Just call me archaic, out of touch, behind the times, or geezerized I guess...
@gcdonner - No it is not "just you." I wonder about the loss of self-respect nearly every day I spend at BU. Whenever I observe the masses walking across campus to the next class, I am struck by the thought, "This is the future of society-at-large!" It is sobering and enlightening.
Facebook... I'm not sure I want to get into it. To me it's like a great big room packed. full. of people. In one corner are a few people I recognize. In one corner of that corner are the people I know well. And I would be required to be a social butterfly with everyone in that great big room.
Nope. Not for me.
Oh, and did I mention that in this room all we do is say exactly what we're doing and feeling and thinking right at that moment, or take strange quizzes about ourselves, and people get a chance to say profound things like "cool!" and "aww, that's nice." If I would have the audacity to take all this space in a response, well, it just isn't done, is it?
Xanga doesn't ask me to post great profound thoughts, but it does free me to write great long things of no consequence if I feel like it. And I kinda like that.
Excellent post!