Actually, I treat social networking sites just like almost everyone I met in college-indifferently

So it's sorta social, demented and sad, but social. Right?

Neither funny nor insightful.

de_Selby: Neither funny nor insightful.

....but yet so true.

*sigh*

This is my Saturday Night I guess...

Farked the site. Didn't really want to read it anyway.

You know I see Fark as the Goth kid with a bad attitude. Telling people just how freakin stupid they are while inside wishing they could just be friends. In ten years Fark wears khaki pants while being everybody's friend, but inside still feels like calling you "Farking retarded."

I logged into my Facebook account for the first time in months (wanted to see some chick's page that was in the news-- yeah, I'm all stalky). I was presented with new security options which basically said everything is public unless you opt out. Big turnoff. I wondered what all they are tracking without my knowledge. I'm never going back there. VE?

de_Selby: Neither funny nor insightful.

It's not even amusing.

bheid: You know I see Fark as the Goth kid with a bad attitude.

Fark: "MEEP"

/but only they know what it really means.

God-is-a-Taco: Is it Farked already or is my connection being dumb again?

Your ISP sucks and I am not voting for you.


If social networking sites were college students

by aaronhoos

in Business Insight, Content & Content Strategy

This was my most popular article on a previous incarnation of this blog. I've updated it and reposted it by request.

Imagine that every social networking site were a college student. Here's who they'd be:

In the general arts degree program:

aaronhoos_blog_socialmediaclassmatesClassmates.com: The self-absorbed senior who's been attending college for 8 years to get a 4 year degree. He thinks he's all that because of his long mullet and mustache. He has no idea that everyone laughs at him behind his back. Drives a Chrysler LeBaron (which he's very proud of) with a surprisingly small amount of rust.

Where he'll be in 10 years: Just graduating... but then lost in a world that has long since passed him by. Driving the same LeBaron, just a little more rust.

aaronhoos_blog_socialmediamyspaceMyspace.com: This was once the most popular student in school. Started out as a freshman and all the girls liked him. But he put on some weight and sold out to "the man". Now, other more interesting social networks have come along but he thinks he still has a shot with the ladies... but mostly just the freshman music students. Drives a Pontiac Sunbird.

Where he'll be in 10 years: Vastly overweight. Still in school. Wondering what he's going to do with his general arts degree... but still picking up freshman music students. Driving a Pontiac Sunfire.

aaronhoos_blog_socialmediafacebookFacebook: A sophomore, the great looking guy that has it all: Looks, athletic ability, a nice car, and he's on the dean's list. All the girls adore him. He doesn't need to try out for the football team - it's just assumed that he'll be the quarterback. His popularity is on the rise. Drives a Corvette.

Where he'll be in ten years: Trophy wife. Model kids. Owns a medical AND legal practice. $1 million in the bank. A yacht at the club. But feels empty inside. Driving a Mercedes (but has a BMW for the weekends).

aaronhoos_blog_socialmediaorkutOrkut: Orkut wants so badly to hang out with Facebook and MySpace. Unfortunately, he doesn't speak English at all but he's not good looking enough to play the exotic angle to get dates. He's got a few friends among the international students but just keeps a low profile and hopes to graduate soon so he can return to his village to own a coffee plantation so his father doesn't have to herd burros forever. Doesn't drive anything right now, but aspires to drive an All-American car.

Where he'll be in 10 years: Will own a taco restaurant in a strip mall in Ohio. Father will still herd burros. Driving a used Ford Escort (but he keeps it nice and shiny).

aaronhoos_blog_socialmediabeboBebo: Bebo is the off-campus student no one has heard of (even though he shows up now and then and wishes desperately that people would remember who he is). He asks girls out on dates but he tries way too hard. Drives a 4 door Chevy Cavalier that he's modified a little with new rims, tinted windows, and a stereo.

Where he'll be in 10 years: If he doesn't tragically take his own life, he'll find a low-paying job selling used cars. Driving whatever's on the lot at the end of the day.

In the business degree program:

aaronhoos_socialmedia_linkedinLinkedin: A junior. He's got his own group of friends in the business department and puts on a brave face about not being like those in the general arts program (although he secretly wishes he were like Facebook). He's mostly talk and optimistic dreams but he has to work twice as hard to get the same marks as everyone else. Drives a Honda Accord - the perfect mix of business and fun.

Where he'll be in 10 years: Upper management at a midsize company in the US. Thinking that he's achieved the American dream (but still suffering from road rage during every commute). Will have 2 kids from his first marriage. Driving a small SUV but contemplating the purchase of a motorcycle to satisfy his midlife crisis.

aaronhoos_blog_socialmediaxingXing: A sophomore in the business degree program, aspires to be like LinkedIn but just lacks the panache. The only thing going for him is that he's popular among some of the international students. He's a little awkward around the girls and he sometimes forgets to wear matching socks. Drives a Honda Civic ("because it's just like LinkedIn's Honda!").

Where he'll be in 10 years: Lower-to-mid management at LinkedIn's company with the sad realization that he'll never achieve much more than that. Driving a Honda SUV with squeaky brakes and a crack in the windshield.

aaronhoos_blog_socialmediaplaxoPlaxo: A freshman in the business degree program. This guy shows up to school in a nice car (but it's his parents'). He tried out for the football team (in borrowed gear). He spends a long time on his hair (but it's thinning prematurely). He's not on the dean's list (but blames it on an administrative oversight). He talks a big, big game and he may have been a big fish in a little pond in highschool but now he's a freshman in a long list of business students. Drives his parent's Toyota Supra (but there's a dent in the back and the alignment is off).

Where he'll be in 10 years: Working for Xing (who works for LinkedIn). Paying for everything with his credit cards. Driving a Hyundai Sonata.

UPDATE


aaronhoos_blog_socialmediatwitter

Twitter: Twitter is like the second semester student who shows up from out of town. He doesn't declare a major and thus is able to win over everyone. He's a simple guy and drives a simple Volkswagen and doesn't seem like much. But can he dance! He teaches the girls how to dance and upsets the local minister. At first, people are wary of him but once they see his moves and unique style, he frees them from their misconceptions and bias and everyone loves him and they can't stop talking about him. (Click here if this paragraph doesn't make any sense to you).

Where he'll be in ten years: At first people will think he'll go far, and he will indeed go on to a higher education. But he'll move back home and open a local hardware store. Some people will see him every day and find him helpful. Others will forget that he's there when the next dancer comes to town.

Fark is that kind of cool kid you sat beside and made friends with during that PoliSci elective. You thought you found a kindred spirit in his ascerbic wit and general disdain for everything you also hate. As you and Fark hang out you realize that he also has the same disdain for everything you like. Your beer sucks, your music sucks, that girl you like is a 5.5 at best, your political opinions are shallow and pedantic, and he attempts to infer damning character flaws from your choice of footwear.

In time you realize he has never mentioned his own interests and preferences, or at least not without hedging to the point of meaninglessness. "Yeah I guess we could order a meatlovers pizza, not that I really like this place... or pizza in general... but at least this will piss off the veg-heads." And realizing that the sardonic wit was all along just the defence mechanism of a lonely, terrified, and spiteful little man, you strike out into the world to make your way.

At this point you come to the grim understanding that you are now incapable of seeing the worth in anything or anybody, and the cycle of snark continues.

Tirgoviste: At this point you come to the grim understanding that you are now incapable of seeing the worth in anything or anybody

People have worth?!

This looks like something that a thousand monkeys and their typewriters threw together.

BackAssward: social networking sites basically suck and just want to punch them in the face, including their users.

FTFY

Except for FARK, of course ( not sure if that counts)

/ doesn't use social networking sites
// lots of former classmates and extended family members that I'd rather not be in contact with...

Tirgoviste: Fark is that kind of cool kid you sat beside and made friends with during that PoliSci elective. You thought you found a kindred spirit in his ascerbic wit and general disdain for everything you also hate. As you and Fark hang out you realize that he also has the same disdain for everything you like. Your beer sucks, your music sucks, that girl you like is a 5.5 at best, your political opinions are shallow and pedantic, and he attempts to infer damning character flaws from your choice of footwear.

In time you realize he has never mentioned his own interests and preferences, or at least not without hedging to the point of meaninglessness. "Yeah I guess we could order a meatlovers pizza, not that I really like this place... or pizza in general... but at least this will piss off the veg-heads." And realizing that the sardonic wit was all along just the defence mechanism of a lonely, terrified, and spiteful little man, you strike out into the world to make your way.

At this point you come to the grim understanding that you are now incapable of seeing the worth in anything or anybody, and the cycle of snark continues.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

They forgot one.
Slashdot:
Slashdot is the dorm geek. He's always there to fix your computer when it gets a virus, and he'll never pass up an opportunity to criticize your choice of operating system. He leads the local LUG, and campus maintenance had to add three electrical circuits to his room to support all of this computer hardware.

The campus IT department humors him when he encourages them to dump Exchange and Windows for a Linux-based alternative.

Where he'll be in 10 years: Working in LinkedIn's IT Department and trying to update his MCSE.

fark trolls me for clicks with misleading or inflammatory headlines and i like to be trolled so, win/win

BackAssward: social networking sites basically suck and just want to punch them in the face, including their users.

FTFY

Man. You just put the TF stake in what could have been a liter only discussion. Way to bring the house down.

Damn, that is one depressing article.

RatOmeter: BackAssward: social networking sites basically suck and just want to punch them in the face, including their users.

FTFY

Man. You just put the TF stake in what could have been a liter only discussion. Way to bring the house down.

And the worst part of it? He ruined our streak to post THAT comment.

Also:

So this person went to a college that was like high school, then?

Panty Sniffer: I logged into my Facebook account for the first time in months (wanted to see some chick's page that was in the news-- yeah, I'm all stalky). I was presented with new security options which basically said everything is public unless you opt out. Big turnoff. I wondered what all they are tracking without my knowledge. I'm never going back there. VE?

If your Facebook site has anything on it that would cause you concern if anyone else saw it, you've essentially failed at life.

#1 rule of the internet: assume that whatever you post that's associated with your real name will be seen by all of your potential employers

If you don't understand this, you deserve to flip burgers for the rest of your life

Lame.

dead_dangler: Panty Sniffer: I logged into my Facebook account for the first time in months (wanted to see some chick's page that was in the news-- yeah, I'm all stalky). I was presented with new security options which basically said everything is public unless you opt out. Big turnoff. I wondered what all they are tracking without my knowledge. I'm never going back there. VE?

If your Facebook site has anything on it that would cause you concern if anyone else saw it, you've essentially failed at life.

#1 rule of the internet: assume that whatever you post that's associated with your real name will be seen by all of your potential employers

If you don't understand this, you deserve to flip burgers for the rest of your life

It does not. I don't even have a picture of me on it or my name (used initials). I am not that stupid, but still kind of stupid.

dbirchall: Slash

Yeah, but can it run linux?

dbirchall: Fark and Slashdot are not social networking sites.

Thank god.

Yeah, but can it run linux?

/trying this again... one to many beers.

Tirgoviste:


Nicely said....

Hmmmmm...
No mention of Friendster.
I wonder what it would be driving....

So, uhh... anybody else bothered by the fact that your car apparently defines who you are?

This, uh, this doesn't really work. I'm not sure why anyone thought it would.