I think what you'd not get is that instant gratification of little accolades rolling in for very little effort.
It took me a long time to get why people were so into Facebook. It just didn't do a thing for me, except make me feel bad. A lot. Then I actually started posting regularly--which I do in bursts, then I ditch it for a while, then come back--and it started to make sense. You write a line of text, a half dozen people chime in, it's a little lift for 30 seconds effort. It takes longer to compose a thoughtful comment on LJ. Ahem.
I was thinking today about how dead Livejournal is, and how sad that makes me, and that was the conclusion I came to. That it takes much longer to write something here. And it takes longer--especially now--for the feedback from people. So it's a slower arc of approbation and approval. It's a slower feedback loop, and you have to work harder for the payoff. Which makes it less compelling and less likely to encourage compulsive behaviour. But also, in my opinion, the inevitable shallowness of the quick hit is ultimately what makes Facebook less satisfying. It's like junk food. Or one night stands. Exciting! But it might wear you out after a while. Or something.
I also think of something Ryan said a while back about how everybody loves you on Facebook, you get a thousand Happy Birthdays, then everyone clicks "Maybe" when invited to your party.
I would answer the phone if you called! Maybe. I'd screen first, probably, but if I heard your voice, it's better than 50-50 that I'd pick up. Ha.
Edited because I left out key words that made what I wrote say the exact opposite of what I meant!
I agree with this wholefartedly, except I think you can also take the word "Facebook" and replace it with "Twitter" and the whole thing still works. I like Livejournal because it is actually a way to spread entire thoughts and ideas and argue and rebut and make people THINK HARDER because it is hard to do all of that in 100 characters or less, even if u tlk lk thz. I am genuinely sad that Livejournal - a quick, easy, cheap way of talking to people you know and keeping up on their biz - is dying because of quicker, easier, cheaper ways of talking to people you know and keeping up on their biz, unless you're Russian.
I still compulsively check livejournal, and although the returns are diminishing on that front (quantity-wise, not quality, natch), that doesn't seem to make a difference to my patterns and habits. I think I fill in the time that I'm not spending updating it by checking it more frequently.
I wonder if I could trade Facebook in for junk food and one-night stands. Whoahhhh I just realized that's the actual advertising model that Facebook employs.... I am such a sucker!
That thing that Ryan says is brilliant.
I like that you are someone from whom being given even odds of having one's call answered, after determining the caller's identity, is a glowing compliment. You have successfully instilled in me a sense of exclusivity!
It took me a long time to get why people were so into Facebook. It just didn't do a thing for me, except make me feel bad. A lot. Then I actually started posting regularly--which I do in bursts, then I ditch it for a while, then come back--and it started to make sense. You write a line of text, a half dozen people chime in, it's a little lift for 30 seconds effort. It takes longer to compose a thoughtful comment on LJ. Ahem.
I was thinking today about how dead Livejournal is, and how sad that makes me, and that was the conclusion I came to. That it takes much longer to write something here. And it takes longer--especially now--for the feedback from people. So it's a slower arc of approbation and approval. It's a slower feedback loop, and you have to work harder for the payoff. Which makes it less compelling and less likely to encourage compulsive behaviour. But also, in my opinion, the inevitable shallowness of the quick hit is ultimately what makes Facebook less satisfying. It's like junk food. Or one night stands. Exciting! But it might wear you out after a while. Or something.
I also think of something Ryan said a while back about how everybody loves you on Facebook, you get a thousand Happy Birthdays, then everyone clicks "Maybe" when invited to your party.
I would answer the phone if you called! Maybe. I'd screen first, probably, but if I heard your voice, it's better than 50-50 that I'd pick up. Ha.
Edited because I left out key words that made what I wrote say the exact opposite of what I meant!
Reply
Reply
Reply
I wonder if I could trade Facebook in for junk food and one-night stands. Whoahhhh I just realized that's the actual advertising model that Facebook employs.... I am such a sucker!
That thing that Ryan says is brilliant.
I like that you are someone from whom being given even odds of having one's call answered, after determining the caller's identity, is a glowing compliment. You have successfully instilled in me a sense of exclusivity!
Reply
Leave a comment