neeiaaaaAHhh....
The bold overhead summarizes the thoughts in front of me.
I find that with each log-in to this website, I always click 'Post' with every intention of writing something profound or revealing. 4 out of 10 times, I'll actually write something I like. The other times I simply scrap everything or reflexively check myspace, the way a scrawny dog at the pound watches the front door.
Everyone that I've talked to knows this feeling- or rather, everyone who holds an account with Facebook, Myspace, Livejournal or any of the communities based on user-specific design. It is the overwhelming feeling of curiosity, wondering who gives a shit about you, how people interpret your ideas or thoughts, who agrees with you, etc. Call it a combination of self-consciousness and introspection, but with these websites, one has a chance to see "themselves" in the third person, in whatever form they feel best represents "them."
I place "them" in quotes because it is never really you that you are seeing. It is who you want to be, shown how you want to be seen.
But this is not really news to anyone, especially to those have actually seen the real-life counterparts to all the gorgeous supermodels running amok on Myspace.
So what am I getting at?
Anyone who watches the news, reads tabloids, or has checked a recent issue of Rolling Stone can confirm that Myspace is now actually host to celebrities. We're not talking "DANE COOK OFFICIAL PROFILE!!" or "x_THOM YORKE_x", either. A select body of users have actually risen to such online popularity, be it through well-written blog entries, physical features, or artistic talent, that they are considered celebrities. One such example would be Tila Nguyen, better known as "Tila Tequila," a girl from California who found success for herself in modeling, then became ridiculously popular upon joining Myspace. Since then, she has been referred to sincerely as The Queen Of Myspace.
This is the very point I am hoping to make clear: the fact that she is "queen" of the network implies that the position can actually be attained. Of course, you can see that this presents a somewhat dangerous motivation towards anyone who wants it bad enough. It destroys whatever innocent beginnings Facebook, Friendster, Livejournal or anything else might have been initiated with. A place where superficiality is accepted as the norm can never be trusted one hundred percent.
The internet is now seen as electronic alternative to the real world. Shopping, communication, reference, news, music, movies, public discourse, and even vices can all be taken care of digitally. Unfortunately, we are all filled with some vision of fame, notoriety-- at least, simple recognition. Like doey-eyed newcomers on the hollywood strip, we're all gonna make it.
I find that with each log-in to this website, I always click 'Post' with every intention of writing something profound or revealing. 4 out of 10 times, I'll actually write something I like. The other times I simply scrap everything or reflexively check myspace, the way a scrawny dog at the pound watches the front door.
Everyone that I've talked to knows this feeling- or rather, everyone who holds an account with Facebook, Myspace, Livejournal or any of the communities based on user-specific design. It is the overwhelming feeling of curiosity, wondering who gives a shit about you, how people interpret your ideas or thoughts, who agrees with you, etc. Call it a combination of self-consciousness and introspection, but with these websites, one has a chance to see "themselves" in the third person, in whatever form they feel best represents "them."
I place "them" in quotes because it is never really you that you are seeing. It is who you want to be, shown how you want to be seen.
But this is not really news to anyone, especially to those have actually seen the real-life counterparts to all the gorgeous supermodels running amok on Myspace.
So what am I getting at?
Anyone who watches the news, reads tabloids, or has checked a recent issue of Rolling Stone can confirm that Myspace is now actually host to celebrities. We're not talking "DANE COOK OFFICIAL PROFILE!!" or "x_THOM YORKE_x", either. A select body of users have actually risen to such online popularity, be it through well-written blog entries, physical features, or artistic talent, that they are considered celebrities. One such example would be Tila Nguyen, better known as "Tila Tequila," a girl from California who found success for herself in modeling, then became ridiculously popular upon joining Myspace. Since then, she has been referred to sincerely as The Queen Of Myspace.
This is the very point I am hoping to make clear: the fact that she is "queen" of the network implies that the position can actually be attained. Of course, you can see that this presents a somewhat dangerous motivation towards anyone who wants it bad enough. It destroys whatever innocent beginnings Facebook, Friendster, Livejournal or anything else might have been initiated with. A place where superficiality is accepted as the norm can never be trusted one hundred percent.
The internet is now seen as electronic alternative to the real world. Shopping, communication, reference, news, music, movies, public discourse, and even vices can all be taken care of digitally. Unfortunately, we are all filled with some vision of fame, notoriety-- at least, simple recognition. Like doey-eyed newcomers on the hollywood strip, we're all gonna make it.