Please observe the screen-shot below.
No face, no link... No point? (Well, at least we know where she works now.)
Among other things, you may notice that my sister, Monica, is a total
fucking beak-munchin' hillbilly. You may also notice several comments,
one from a certain Michaela Shellie Shively Walden. While it is not
uncommon to see 'not pictured' Facebook pages (particularly with brand
new users), it can also be observed that Michaela's name appears in all
black lettering. What does this mean? It means that it is not an active
link (i.e. it is impossible to initiate any contact with her; she must
initiate it.)
I believe that what we are observing is a new security setting which
allows Facebook users to opt out of all of those up-until-now standard
social networking site realities: being 'added', receiving messages,
etc. (Please correct me if I am wrong.)
OK, I'd like for us to take a look at a certain English word called 'Participation'.
Participation
n.
The act of taking part or sharing in something.
Call me old fashioned, but hasn't participating in something always
carried the implication that while one is privy to the same benefits as
are the rest of the participants, one is also subject to the same
vulnerabilities and liabilities as are the rest of the participants?
For example, Charles Bukowski once wrote of an orgy encounter at a
drugged-out, bisexual brothel-house. In 'Notes of a Dirty Old Man',
Bukowski stumbles upon woman sitting spread-eagle. Some dialog ensues, but he basically just starts fucking her. He then writes:
'I was just going good when something RAMMED into the cheeks of my ass. I saw flashes before my eyes.
"hey, what the HELL!" I reached and pulled the thing out. I was
standing there with this guy..s thing in my hand. "what do you think
you..re doing, buddy?" I asked him.
"listen, friend",he said, "this whole game is just one big deck of
cards. if you want to get into the game you have to take whatever comes
up in the shuffle."'
Metaphorically speaking, sufferers of (what I call) privacy neurosis
seem to think that they are entitled to strut around the orgiastic
brothels of social networking websites and fuck whoever they please,
but never give up any action on the flip-side!
I condemn this behavior because it is simply unfair. Facebook ought
to allow people access to only as much information about others as they
are willing to offer of themselves.
Picture yourself walking down the sidewalk at night, and you see a person wearing a MASK.
A masked person in a public place -- unless it is a festive occasion --
will generally induce a great deal of fear and suspicion in the minds
of fellow societal participants. The masked person is able to recognize
the identities of others, but is not
participating
in society on the same level as everyone else. Because the masked
person's identity is concealed, he or she has no personal liability for
his or her actions, and hence bears the burden of suspicion. Granted,
at least
most Facebook users have the decency to use their real (or
publicly used) names, even if their pages are locked down.
But, for the love of God, why in the hell would you want to block
EVERYONE from contacting you unless you have initiated contact with
them first?
Oh, because you're an internet sociopath -- My bad!
So what is your defense, Michaela? Spammers are out to get you? Psycho ex-lover stalking you? Boss/co-workers might
find you out?
Don't want your kids to 'add' you? Can I ask what in the hell makes you
think you're so special, or that anyone gives a shit about you?
You privacy neurotics just need to grow some virtual balls and ante up
with the common courtesy of showing your own damn face and making it
possible for a
distant friend,
or stranger, to contact you. Do you glare at well-meaning people who
try to strike up a conversation with you in a buffet line, or a train
station? Yes? Well, then congratulations; you are officially an asshole!
It's time to wake up and realize that the world does not revolve around
you, and that all you are doing with your privacy neurosis is
perpetuating an atmosphere of social malign and distrust. Let's be good
neighbors and spread those social networking butt cheeks nice and wide
because this whole game is just one big deck of cards; if you want to
get into the game, you have to take whatever comes up in the shuffle.
- Evan Exempt
P.S. This article is NOT personally directed at Michaela Shellie Shively Walden for the simple reason that we do not and
cannot have any idea who she is... Oh, whatever! Yes, it IS personally directed at her!