NotMySpace

I wrote this rant earlier this week, but I didn't like it enough to post it. Now it seems MySpace is infuriating many others too, I'll throw it out there.

I've gotta say I don't like MySpace. I thought everyone on the Internet was over the concept of logging in their details, listing their likes and dislikes and appealing to strangers to talk to them. I don't like having to join friends lists - it's simply not conversation. Must you classify yourself as an approved friend of mine to have a conversation with me in person? Of course not. I politely move away from strangers trying to talk to me on the Internet the same way I do with strangers trying to talk to me in real life.

I know for some people, they love to wear everything that they are well and truly on their sleeve. They have x amount of friends or are ranked xth at something. You can list everything about yourself so anyone can smalltalk with you quickly...but then where's the mystery? Where's the development of character? Sometimes I wish the world was more subtle about these things.

Once again, it's all about image and not enough about substance. People are ranked on face value alone in a matter of seconds. You are not always just your picture, your listed attributes, your rank or your standing in little online communities...well I hope I'm not.

If MySpace thinks they're enabling people to maintain healthy relationships by ensuring they're all on each other's friends lists, they're wrong. If anything, the inconvenience of signing up and maintaining these lists results in severe testing of my patience. How fortunate it is that I like my friends, so I'm willing enough to do it.