Monday, September 25, 2006

Introspective view of MySpace and "About Me"

I just updated the "About Me" section on my own MySpace profile with the following:

While it seems most “My Space” profiles are all the same, I decided to write something a little different for the “About Me” section of my own profile. I always feel awkward when you see the open ended prompt on a computer that says, “Please tell us about yourself”. I’m not sure how this really works. I mean, is it really possible that a person can accurately describe themselves in words? Can you really accurately judge me by the music I listen to, eye color, birthday, photo albums of me and my friends, etc?
Honestly, the truth is that people write their profiles based on how they want to be represented, not who they truly are. Think about it. We do it all the time. Take for example the last time you were at a job interview, or someone introduced yourself to their friends. Are you acting like yourself? No way. You’re acting like the person you want to be ‘perceived as’ on the first impression. There’s no way you’d let them know things about you right as soon as they meet you. IE: is that your real hair color? are those your real eyes- or do you have contacts in? you’re secretly insecure with yourself. you’re not that tall- those shoes are making you seem taller. you get moody when your stressed. the fact you wait until you run out of clothes to do laundry. you only listen to Dave Matthews Band because everyone else did in college. the fact you secretly watch awful MTV programs and really like them. The REAL truth about yourself would be a long list that goes on and on… but that’s not what is listed in your profile.

While my intentions is not to come off bitter, I guess what I’m trying to say is, while I enjoy online social networking as much as the next person, my own personal “My Space” page is merely representation of who I want to be perceived as. Call it shallow if you will, but you’re just as guilty as I am. Consider my rant an introspective 'food for thought' while your browsing this wonderful world we call “My Space”. [see my profile here]

2 Comments:

At 9/25/2006 12:15 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

interesting way to look at things - kind a refreshing to read :)

 
At 9/25/2006 12:16 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

nice post! couldn't agree more! guilty as charged :)

 

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