Facebook and online image

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>So facebook seems to be all the rage, yet it also exasperates me at times. </p>

<p>Have you noticed:
- random people adding you as a "friend", and you know it's just to accumulate "friends". Seriously, I get requests and am just like, "who the hell are you?"
- freshmen having over 100 "friends". Doesn't it look desperate? Isn't it strange that someone would have that many friends/acquaintances before ever setting foot on campus? I'll be a freshman and have like 8 friends from my school (my roommate, some nice, helpful upperclassmen, and people I just accepted as friends to be nice).
- people who update their profiles constantly, especially the picture. One of my friends has an on/off relationship, and the first thing she does after breaking up/making up is change her facebook relationship status.</p>

<p>When I first got it, I would for a time obsess over how to fill in those "favorite movie/book/quote" categories. I'd want to find a better profile picture. So is that why it's so addictive?</p>

<p>People are obsessed with their online image. That's what facebook is then, a way to present yourself in the best possible way, to make people think you're social, popular, and COOL basically. THAT's why it's so addictive. Image, image, image. First impressions.</p>

<p>I don't think it's necessary to tell the entire college world your relationship status, or WHO you're seeing. Keep it private! Or worry how to fill in those categories, or how many people have written on your wall.</p>

<p>I avoid myspace and online journals like livejournal and xanga because it's an addictive waste of time. I don't see the need to tell the world what you did every single day or rant about PERSONAL problems. The way I see it, it's for ENTERTAINMENT only. And facebook, I don't log on as much anymore. Who cares how many "friends" you have? I'd only be impressed if you had 100 really close friends in real life. </p>

<p>Through facebook, I've gotten in touch with friends I used to be superclose with but lost touch, and for that I'm immensely grateful. NOT having a billion friends or joining a billion groups to enhance my image.</p>

2

<p>Why would you worry about someone else's facebook profile? It seems to me that you're obsessing about OTHER people's online image.</p>

3

<p>It is just something fun to do when you have down time. Plus its totally free, which is something hard to find on the Internet these days.</p>

4

<p>maybe you, like add girl which is hot, and you see her in class. and you are like, ahh you are on my facebook.</p>

<p>or she recognizes you.</p>

<p>seems ok to me.</p>

<p>who cares?</p>

<p>its a measure of your e-popular</p>

5

<p>i don't add anyone that I don't know or aren't friends with. i've denied like two people. Most of my friends from school aren't even on the facebook. I think I have about 65 friends on there, and that's just a small fraction of my friends from school. most of them are really good friends too.</p>

<p>i check out my facebook every other day or so. not because i'm obsessed with it, but because i'm already graduated and i like to check and see what my friends are up to.. usually 2-3 update per day.</p>

6

<p>Do you guys think professors get on facebook?</p>

7

<p>I totally agree with you cluvrk. Facebook just seems so superficial. I think the whole point of it is to get in touch with ppl you've lost touch with... not to add these "friends" which is what a lot of ppl do. I mean come on some ppl add 300 ppl... are they really gonna recognize any of them once they get on campus? And those stupid photos with ppl drinking. If you drink, good for u, whatever no one cares, you dont have to show it off to the whole internet world in hopes that it makes you cool.</p>

8

<p>I agree with the fresmen getting 100 friends. They've added me and I just know they're looking to get as many people as possible.</p>

<p>THEY ARE RUINING THE SANCTITY OF FACEBOOK!</p>

<p>:P</p>

9

<p>they can't just add you.. you have to okay it. if you don't want them to do that, then just don't let them add you.. it's simple as that.</p>

10

<p>facebook is what it is; if you have a problem with it then just don't go on it. yes there are some obsessed people who have nothing better to do than add hundreds of friends but it doesn't determine or affect how cool you are in real life, most people really don't care about others' facebook images. facebook is useful for finding old friends, people in your classes, or people with common interests if you're looking for new friends. you can use it if you want to or avoid it if it bothers you.. but it sounds like you're obsessing over it just as much as the people you're complaining about.. its not worth getting upset about</p>

11

<p>Walden: some of the profs at my school and the university president are on facebook. I think they win the contest for having the most friends :)</p>

<p>I don't think I've looked at Facebook in over a month, and it's not bugging me. I do have some friends that are absolutely hooked on it though, and I agree that it's their way of making themselves feel popular. I do use facebook for informative purposes though...this year I looked up other people that will be in my dorm, the person that I was (mistakingly) assigned to room with (I actually have a single), and people that will be in classes with me. The groups are really helpful because people (for the most part) don't join groups that they don't agree with...hence you can learn whether someone you vaguely know is really into drinking or rock climbing or likes the same tv shows. Boycotting it altogether isn't a grand idea, but limiting time spent on it is worthwhile.</p>

12

<p>I never thought there was this much to Facebook. It's all about staying in touch with old friends. As to adding friends who will be freshman with you, I think it is a great idea. I have had IM conversations with some of my Facebook friends. It's a great way to "meet" people before going to campus. When you away from home, it's nice to know you have some friends.</p>

13

<p>I wouldn't waste my time or energy being exasperated about it. It's just a silly, pointless little diversion. If you allow your feathers to be ruffled any time you encounter one of those in college, you'll spend a lot of time being exasperated.</p>

14

<p>uc_benz, tinkerbell, and CarolinaBlueSkies: thanks for the friendly responses. I assure you I’m neither “obsessed” nor “upset”. Maybe “exasperated” was an overstatement. It’s just something I noticed (I have friends who talk about it a LOT) and something I would like to comment about. So opinions welcome, but no negativity or insults please, thank you :)</p>

15

<p>Some people are social and like meeting people...</p>

<p>I think it could be that since college requires living in a completely new place, people would like to meet people with common interests and know someone once they arive.</p>

<p>I don't have facebook..my college doesn't give us email address until we register (another week)</p>

16

<p>Facebook will be a more compelling 'application' once Wirehog is released.</p>

17

<p>I met my GF throgh facebook.</p>

18

<p>Since there are so many people on facebook all of the time, i can only log on around 3 at night.</p>

19

<p>I like facebook for four reasons</p>

<ol>
<li>It makes it easier to keep in touch with people not at my school, see what they're up to</li>
<li>It helps you identify things about people on campus that can be useful but are hard to ask/find out (i.e. if that person is gay or straight, if they are taken or avaliable- it's kinda nice to be able to look up that kind of stuff so you don't waste your time)</li>
</ol>

<p>as for people who add people they don't know as friends...eh, I don't really think it's a very good idea...I mean, do you really want to see someone, think for a minute about where you know them from, and then realize they added you as a friend in facebook? That's just alittle bit weird...and not a very good icebreaker</p>

20

<p>four meaning two</p>