I Have Issues

Well if that didn’t scare you off then perhaps this blog thing may actually work out. First off, I profess to know very little about start-ups, or the latest app, or even the basics behind blogging. I still don’t understand how I am legitimate enough to air my own views through blogging. But I digress. I do understand that tech knowledge will come with time, but I am anxious and excited to get the ball rolling. Whereas I used to gorge myself on gossipy, girly pop culture sites, trust that Sarah now has me on a streamlined diet of tech blogs. In the interim, however, I’ll remain that weird kid at the table typing away at her five-year-old Dell PC and answering her flip phone that beeps like a Tamagotchi. And yes, I can feel your judgment. ;-)

 Being the great reporter that she is, Sarah has it pretty down pat: analyzing the business merit and the industry appeal behind these new ideas while also revealing the humanity in the people that strive to achieve the next big thing. I just observe people and read vibes. Perhaps I’m leery of the tech overhaul- where a person becomes little more than a Twitter handle, and can hide behind a blog instead of speaking and voicing their opinions. I can already see the change in little tweaks and twinges- an example being Facebook’s new UI. I know, I know, groans all around- why are we talking about this again? Well, Facebook is priming itself to be the ultimate social media site, if it isn’t already. And I hate the new version. (This coming from a self-declared Facebook stalker.)

 Sure it may be more efficient, and the design layout is clean and direct, but the new version also represents a fundamental truth- there’s no mystery left, nothing to discover about someone. In the older version, a person’s profile view centered around who they are: likes, interests, movies, music. Now, the first thing I learn when I click on a profile is who a person knows and what he or she does: who writes on their wall, what updates Friendfeed lists, etc. It’s a disconnect, a person’s individuality replaced with their network and a hungry sense of self-promotion. The Wall abides.

I know this doesn’t pervade all aspects of life, since I have met so many interesting and creative people in person. Yes, the control does still lie with the user and promotion is commonplace in our culture. In fact, I just added Friendfeed- although not because I feel I have enough legitimacy to throw my updates out there in bold script, but because I would be out of the loop if I didn't. I’m still not entirely comfortable with that level of promotion. But I will be. I guess I’m just old-school across the board, not only in my outdated gadgets.

 Perhaps, this is why I’m so tickled over Sarah’s posts about Mad Men this week. I’m new to the show this season, right now as it inches towards its apex of exposure. Sounds like a familiar scenario. Nevertheless, I like the show. My nostalgic memaw side is pretty keen on the idea of business conducted through handshakes and handwritten notes. And three-martini lunches. So if Mad Men can get down with Twitter, then I suppose I can embrace my new techie side and get down with Facebook. Eventually.