It is unrealistic to think that you could connect with people on facebook.
Okay, perhaps not entirely unrealistic, but I couldn't go wrong with "too optimistic". You think people could know you on facebook? No, they can't! They have absolutely no idea of who you are! Well yeah, it's been silly of me for years to think they can, but they just can't. Perhaps you'd wonder why billions of people would use it if it couldn't do what it's supposed to do.
I didn't accuse it because I didn't enjoy my facebook experience. Most of the time I did (I'd admit sometimes things went shitty). There're some pretty amazing moments such as when you suddenly built/rebuilt a special connection with your acquaintances or old friends when they liked and replied your post with interest and passion. Or the moments when you feel weak, lonely and miserable, you saw dozens of notifications (except games invitations) popped up. Or when you and your friends have constantly exchanged fun and crazy messages on your wall, showing off in front of all your other friends and acquaintances how fun, loving and charming you were.
Don't we all like to think that we are special and great to be around with, if not conventionally popluar? In this hectic, information-overloading world, it is so hard to get one's attention, not to say to actually exchange messages (however meaningful or mindless they are don't seem to matter) continuously with you. It's like you two had such an amazing moment of true connection that you're gonna remember for the rest of your life. Amazing moments that so happened on your desktop computer or whatever digital device you used at that time.
By now, my rant seems to extend to other social media platforms as well and not just facebook. Whatsapp, twitter, weibo, LINE, tumblr..., you name it.
Do we write or post anything we want anymore? Or do we need to think deeply what we write could cause uneasiness on someone or consequences that we do not hope for? Have you spent hours to write a "perfect status" just to delete it when you finally pressed submit? Have you been posting statuses or photos that others wanted to hear from you but not yourself? Have you tried to attend more parties or edgy events just to show how popular or artisitc you are, or constantly travel to have more chances to check-in at some exotic places or overseas airports?
I'm not against facebook or other social media platforms. I use them and yes I use them well. I use them to build an image of mine (sometimes it's not deliberate) just like I dress and talk and behave to build one in real life. But since I've become more aware of it, I'd also use it to deconstruct this "image" I've built. Whether it works up to my expectations or not, this deconstruction in the end is still just another way of constructing something else. I guess this process would just go on and on.
At the end of the day, I want just to be me, fearless of what the others think of me. But with these social media platforms, I think it's hard to ignore the self-awareness that we all possess. I hope many could wake up, realise people are not what they really are like on facebook, and spend less time typing perfect facebook statuses or checking up other people's statuses (easier say than do though). If those people really care about you, they'll call you or text you (okay, "text" is considered fine in this day and age) to catch up with you. Stop wasting time on those so-called stalker friends!!!
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