At my study place, I have no friends. I identify myself with no particular hobbies or interests, and my birthday never comes. Quite simply, I do not exist. While these statements are thankfully untrue, they might easily be inferred from my one great social failing: I remain absent from Facebook.1
Facebook has become as essential as cell phones and e-mail for interaction between high school students. Think of Facebook as a sort of governing body among youth of a certain age; the information is considered definitive. Thus, to accept a friend request through Facebook is to validate a real-life friendship, while a Facebook “poke” or “hug” is akin to the physical action. Indeed, to sign up for Facebook is to register one’s existence.2
As I know firsthand, unofficial existence as a university student can be a trying endeavor. Finding out a classmate’s birthday might require an actual conversation, and planning an event entails individual e-mails or (God forbid) phone calls to invitees. And in the brief few years since “Facebook” joined the ranks of “TiVo” and “Google” as a grammatically confused verb, each meeting with an amiable new acquaintance has inevitably concluded with, “Hey, I’ll Facebook you.” Forced to explain that I am unFacebookable, I usually justify my abstinence by saying, “I like my freedom.”3
To my naive eyes, it looks as though Facebook can be as much of a burden as a savior. Imagine the consequences of leaving one’s Facebook unattended for a week: You could miss a friend’s birthday. You could brutally (though inadvertently) ignore a friend request from a new real-life friend. You could miss out on the inside joke of the century. “Sometimes people might have a party or an event and alert people through Facebook invitations,” says a Facebook enthusiast friend, “and then people don’t hear about it until much later, if they don’t check.” Tending to a Facebook profile has become a daily responsibility in the life of a typical teen – one I have, thus far, refused to accept.4
Like the cell phone and computer, Facebook may soon be too commonplace to live without. Then stubborn holdouts like me will have no choice but to put aside their grudges and take a place on digital society’s bandwagon. If I do choose to pull myself out of the Dark Ages and join the legions of teen Facebook dwellers, my decision will be influenced by one indelible memory. On the last day of my tour with friends this summer, I watched two of my friends say their farewells. Caught in a teary embrace, one whispered to the other, “Get a Facebook.”
A contest entry
- You want opinions with that? Why, yes I do. =] by Naive..
270 points, ended August 9, 2008, 19 entries
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
Do You Exist???
Comments
1 - 22 of 22
-
Hmm...I have a Facebook, but only after my brother told me about playing SuperMario on it. I must admit I am now addicted to it. It is a good site, in my opinion better than sites like MySpace and Hi5 for people cannot see your page unless they are your friends. I also agree with you that it may eventually take over, but right now, I plan on enjoying the life I have on it.
Good job on this, nonetheless. I could learn a few things from you
. Rewarded 8
-
-
It's funny how maximum people - or if i may say so .. all the people - commenting on this piece are having facebook accounts (including me), which just proves how essential it is for everyone to have one! regardless of them believing it a nuisance or not.
I agree with the fact that the privacy settings observed there are better than all. I specially hated ORKUT!! Thank you for commenting. Kepp enjoying life and playing mario!
~Arooj~
-
-
"Indeed, to sign up for Facebook is to register one’s existence."
So pathetic yet true. I have facebook but rarely use it because very few of my friends have it and unless I need to contract them specifically, I really see no point most of the time. I gleefully ignore friend invite from people I'm not actual friends with, like all the people who proudly claim to have 657 'friends'.
. Rewarded 6
-
-
Yay!! One more person, who i can proudly announce as non-existant!
I'm happy you could relate to the work!
~Arooj~
-
-
I totally respect that. I know it's kinda weird since I have a Facebook and all but I think it's kinda eating up our lives now. We're all becoming virtual all thanks to Facebook. I appreciate your rant on it and I enjoyed reading it. Keep it up!
. Rewarded 4
-
-
I'm gald you enjoyed reading..
~Arooj~
-
-
Oh my goodness, I totally agree.
I admit, I do have a facebook, and I hate the procrastination that follows it. I blame facebook for me going to school the next day, handing in a project, whilst stifling a yawn.
Thank God I've stopped using facebook *as often*. Instead, StoryWrite fills that space, and that's why I have an assignment due tomorrow, open on Microsoft Word that I've barely started
Anywho, this was awesome!
-
-
Somehow, we always find something to get addicted to... facebook or SW..
Wishing you best of luck with the assignment.. =)
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
~Arooj ~ -
-
Hah, thanks :]
(I ended up finishing it early since I got told off by my parents x_x)
You're welcome
-
-
-
That was quite good I had an account there, but I forgot the username and password after a few days Though I have an account in 2 other networking sites. Networking sites are the best way to keep contact, at least for me. My school and college friends are scattered around the globe.
Good essay
-
-
I agree they are good if they dont have like a million applications and if people don't start judging you on how good profile you've made.
thanx for commenting!
~Arooj~
-
-
Confusing!
Other people have commented here expressing there disgust for such a website. Clearly, its there perspective which still does not cater the extensiveness a Social Network such as Facebook offers. I happen to be a web programmer and I actually am pretty familiar with the types of coding programmers use to construct websites as beautiful as Facebook. For those who do not understand what that means you never will. Facebook is a fantastic website which offers people scattered around the world to keep in contact with there loved ones or friends. I say what I am because I was once one of 'You'. I did not like facebook and deactivated my account for over a year. But, after I moved abroad I started to realize what a convenience Facebook actually is. It eliminates the use of a cellphone for unimportant messages, thus making life a bit more easier. However, stuff like this is all up to personal preference. As far as Arooj's essay is concerned I find it rather amusing how she describes a life relating to the use of facebook and how it affects the lives its users or followers.
Impressive works.
-
-
Hamza, I'm really glad you commented and it comes as a shock to me that you actually took the pain of reading it till the end
, your comments and what you think as always are really appreciated. I'm happy that you shared the knowledge with us here and also because your the first person who objeccts to the idea 
Wishing you all the best and hoping to see your stories soon!!
Thanx for commenting~~ *huggles you*
~Arooj~
-
-
This is wonderful. I hate these websites and I am great without them. Everywhere I go, people ask me whether I'm on these stupid websites. and when I say no, they give me such a wierd look. Somebody forced me to join friendster. I hated it.
-
-
you should've deleted your account there! I heard its worse than facebook!!
-
-
I don't log on anymore. So id doesn't matter.
-
-
-
ohh.. yesss .. you are so right, i dont have on eof those either :] i really see no point. and im great without it thanks for sharing..
-
-
I see i have a lot of people who agree with me! I am sane after all!! Thanks for commenting
-
-
Yes! According to this I don't exist either. It's great not having a Facebook isn't it? HAHA I personally hate the website and think that it's a waste of time. I actually had one for like maybe a month then deleted it because I never got on AND it was a confusing website. There's too many "Accept invitations" and stupid pokes and crap. Thanks for writing this! I can relate. Well written. You wrote out your thoughts nicely.
-
-
I do have a facebook account actually but i'm still in the dark ages,you know... Don't know how to use it.. Can't be bothered to actually learn how to.
Its toooo complicated.. And i never know what to do with all the invites
Thanx for commenting!
~Arooj~
-
-
I myself don't have a facebook but I do have a myspace for the simple fact that its the only way to keep in contact with a friend/cousin who lives half way across the contry and a semi-friend who refuses to use the phone and e-mail. However being an almost nonexistant person at school for the full twelve-years of my education I felt no need to create one. I love how you wrote this it made it seem very prefesonal and very well developed. I think even my english comp teacher would like this. A good point though, I have received facebook requests from people I only vaguely remember.
-
-
Thankyou so much for commenting on this piece its always good to know that what your writing about can be realted to others.
As always your the first to comment! Love you for that!! *hugs*
~Arooj~
-
Adding your comment:
1 - 22 of 22
