On a normal day in my life I’ll wake up, usually get dressed, turn my computer on, wash my face, and then log onto Facebook. Facebook has become something that is now integrated into my life, like texting and talking on the phone. It is a medium where I can communicate with people, who I’m not necessarily good enough friends with that I have their phone number. Or simple it’s somewhere I can send a message to an old friend that’s not urgent enough to get answered right away via text message but still has some value. On Saturday the 5th of February I began tracking my use of this new and ever addictive portal. This is a brief break down of my day. At 11 I got up and went to breakfast, then headed off to the library. For about 4 hours, I sat there in B1 committed to doing various assignments that had piled up through out the week. As I leafed through Neuromancer, I casually checked Facebook. I had a strict system, read 10 pages and then take a short break. This short break usually if not always consisted of me going on Facebook. It’s clearly amazing how much can change in ten pages. After leaving the library Facebook which iis always opened on a tab on my computer, is constantly refreshed as I go about various chores I need to do and don’t worry because if I’m not in my room chances are my friends are down the hall on their Facebook too. Before I go out and leave for the night I spend about 40 minutes actually sitting down and responding to comments and messages left to me through out the day or the previous day I haven’t gotten around to. When I come back for the night I check Facebook really quick, just before I go to bed.
As you can see this Facebook habit of mine has gotten a little out of control. However I do think there are some major pluses. With Facebook you get to correspond with people you wouldn’t normally talk to. You also get to share your experiences via pictures and status updates to keep others apprised of your life. I feel that Facebook gives us everything we need in terms of communication and media at this moment in time. We haven’t created a “consensual hallucination” as seen in Neuromancer, because at this point in our lives and in society it isn’t necessary and if anything it’s a little unnecessary. One of the main points of Facebook is that it helps you connect with people you wouldn’t normally call on the phone or text. You have hundreds of “friends” but more than likely not all of those people are actually your close personal friends you would chat with for hours. The “Consensual hallucination” seems so much personally than even a phone call, that you would only want to go through that experience with someone you were very close with. Society at this point has created the devices already where if you want to be in close contact you can be, but if you want to talk to 50 of your closest acquaintances that’s a possibility as well.
Claire - I definitely am on the same level as you with your Facebook addiction. During finals last semester, a friend and I actually had to switch passwords on Facebook so that we wouldn't be tempted to check our Facebooks and could concentrate on studying. It actually helped a lot and helped to tame the compulsion to see what was going on on Facebook. I think that you're correct in saying that a "consensual hallucination" would be too personal of a way to communicate with people that you don't really know. With that said, you share the same amount of information with people that you don't know so well that you do with your close personal friends via Facebook. Don't you think that that is almost as personal as the consensual hallucination that Gibson writes about? Great post though, I liked the images!
ReplyDeleteMost of you have Facebook addictions. But what is an "addiction"? In addition to any work done reading student posts, I spend an hour daily, in about 10 minute intervals, reading and responding to blogs. Am I addicted?
ReplyDeleteI can tell myself that I do get paid to blog, as a tech hobbyist, by a couple of my editors, but does that justify 365 hours per year (15+ days). That is a two-week vacation, NOT taken.
And we all say "we have no time." I am beginning to wonder. Interesting post, Claire. The cartoons are sad; we laugh at them but don't look closely enough at our own habits.
Note a couple of gaffs near the end mar a potentially excellent post. You'll want to avoid with future posts:
"Society at this point has created": Essid "Pet Peeve" to avoid. What does "society...created" mean? It's too vague. Do you mean the tech industry? Young consumers like yourself?
Be wary of "suitcase words" because they lead you to generalizations that are hard to support.
Here is a sentence I could not follow: "The “Consensual hallucination” seems so much personally than even a phone call. . . " Read that aloud to see why a word appears to be missing.
By the way, Suleyman was Joe Essid's granddad. I use that blog-handle for my Modern Turkey class.
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