Internet

I’m not going to lie, I have at times felt slightly left out from the rest of the world because of my definitive position on social networking. Call it what you will, non-conforming or simply trying to keep some dignity, but I have never been one to have a Myspace or Facebook or anything of that sort. It seems like a lost cause to me. What is the point in spending hours of ones day trying to connect with people through the computer when it could just as easily be done face to face. I have heard that it is an amazing way to meet new people, but why would one want electronic friends in the first place? I have heard also that it is a great tool for communicating en masse, but those which would be interacted with solely through the use of this tool would be second-class friends regardless and therefore need not be talked to at all.
Blogging, on the other hand, seems to be useful. Though the name may be less than something one would call adequate, it is a way for individuals to transfer ideas and thoughts to any other person in the world with the slightest of ease. Unlike social networking, the premise behind blogging has little or nothing to do with the aspect of the individual, but his or her beliefs. In this aspect, the uselessness of knowing some far off strangers entire life story and gaining nothing from it is gone, and what remains is concepts that may spark the thought of the reader and be of some value. Blogging is essentially what the Internet was created for: the transference of ideas.
Take for example the given blog, David Friedman’s “IDEAS.” First off, and most importantly for his goal, the only information given about himself is his name and a brief background on credentials. He writes in the style of some informal essay. Knowing he is not attempting to impress, he simply uses the vocabulary he is used to, while still keeping it at a level of professionalism. He refrains from using slang, because instead of basic communication he is basically trying to sell his argument. He wants to come off as a credible individual with a valid point that people should hear. Of course, as with any persons ideas, it is the opinion of the individual, but that that shouldn’t make it any less worthwhile to read.
At the other end of the spectrum is a Facebook from a Mandy Nivens. The very first noticeable thing is explosion of different sections she has on her page. Personal information, a detailed chronological list of everything she has done on Facebook, all her friends, a message board, and at least twelve other individual applications that do things from showing her “purity rating” to telling what level pirate she is. It is simply astonishing that anyone could find any use out of it. What the point of it seems to be is to define her as an individual. Aside from all of her personal information, it shows the vast array of “networks” she is involved in and many different definitions of her as specified by different programs. The only potential use from this page is the only place where writing actually takes place. The message board is full of slang and broken sentences because the people communicating simply don’t care. The author is some high school girl. The only thoughts on this page are strictly and directly personal and of no use to the outside reader.
Plain and simple: Ideas can be transferred through the internet, not people.