Imperishable Inheritance

Article I submitted to The Guardian. Should've worked on it more.

I am consistently amazed at how my 'Lexus' generation continues to growth through technology (farewell Olive Tree). Certainly, the democratization of technology has affected our entire world in ways spanning from economic to political and more and more to the social realm. I have had spent a while watching the development of one great example that characterizes how my generation responds to technology.

More and more is being written about the FaceBook, and when one takes a look at the site it becomes apparent why. This is certainly a case study for sociologists. I remember hearing first about it, and when I responded that I didn't know what it was, nor was I a member, I was scoffed at. I then decided I was going to be 'that guy' who was 'too cool' for this FaceBook. Well, after hearing more and more my interest finally got me.

When I signed up and set up my profile I remember thinking, 'why would anyone spend hours on this thing?' Increasingly I found myself spending more and more time on this site. After a while, I realized that I had become quite attached to this site; and what is even more amazing is that there is really not much to the site. It is simply a community of college students (and now high school) students with profile listings. It still baffles me at the amount of time I can waste at that site. It has become my single greatest source of procrastination (the blog doesn't help either).

But then I started to realize something: Is FaceBook a dating site? I realized this when I decided to take a break from all the hard work at my government job (cough, cough), and I decided to look at the site. Well, upon my visit it was blocked by the firewall, and the reason in bold letters was that it was in the 'Dating' category. Dating? But FaceBook surely isn't a dating site is it?

I then proceeded upon my quest to figure out whether this was true (can you tell I am overly analytical?). I started to realize several things. First, you list not only your relationship status but also what you are looking for (dating, relationship, etc.). You list several of the basic qualities you would find on any other online dating site from age, location, and career (major) concentration to interests, favorite books/movies/music, and political views. All of the sudden, I know quite a bit about someone else I've possibly never met in person. Even the groups that you are in can reveal quite a bit about you.

You can even choose to add another e-mail address, your address, and even your cell number! The FaceBook then becomes a stalker's best utility. I can list courses and find out who that cute girl is in my class to the guy who always asks the stupid questions (every class has one). I can do weird things like 'poke' someone, send weird messages, and add friends that either I barely know or don't know.

So, we now have a socially acceptable dating service that you can actually get pressured into joining so your crazy friend can add you. I wonder who will be the first FaceBook 'success story.' I recoil to think about how many friend offers and messages I'll get over this article through FaceBook. Come on guys, if you've never met me, why are you adding me as a friend?

Whoops, back to that paper I've been putting off!