So a few months ago, I put up one of those MySpace pages. I really ain’t into MySpace like most people. I have a page and that’s it. I’ll scroll through others from time to time, but I’m no vested in it like those people that add songs, create layouts, include every bit of personal information they can, and upload enough photos to get dates, modeling contracts, and show love to their children all at one time.
But since I have a page, folks hit me up from time to time. Since I’ve got my undergrad and high school stuff on there, folks from back in the day find me from time to time. It’s cool. Frequently, I’ll hear from people I’ve wanted to talk to for a while, and that’s all right. I’ve always said that the Internet has effectively limited the excuses people have for not staying in touch. For the most part, people will only lose touch with you if they want to. Damn near all of us are one Google search away. Lord knows I am.
But man, we got a problem–we’re getting to the point where I don’t remember half the jokers that hit me. Even crazier are the people that I haven’t talked to since I graduated high school in ’97–oh goodness, I have a reunion next year–who don’t have their names on their pages and still expect me to be able to identify them from a picture they took last week even though I haven’t seen them since I was 16.
Moral of the story–I’m getting old.
I mean, folks from college will swear to me that I should remember them. They’ll give me explicit details of how we met, places we’ve been, mutual friends we’ve got…all that stuff. And I swear to you I’ve never met them before in my life.
But I guess I must have. Ain’t like I was so popular as to be ubiquitous. People can’t just tell me things about myself without me having told them (or me having dated a close friend of theirs, which is its own discussion in itself). So maybe I do know them.
Riddle me this–am I the only person that used to have an incredible memory for names and faces that just can’t remember folks like that no more? Does MySpace do that to you, too?
Off to…*shudder* work. At…*shudder* Dook. What people do for money.
13 Comments
by Kirk
Stay away from the intramural lacrosse teams and you should be ok.
by Farmdog
try looking up your name on myspace (well i guess my name is a little more commonplace than Bomani) and finding an entire webpage devoted to yourself that you haven’t posted, including a listing of your friends, how much you make, etc…someone is out there pretending to be me…who’s got enough time for that??
by aquababie
myspace is weird to me. i haven’t (and refuse to) sign up for a page. i did find a couple of ex-boyfriends on there.
talking about old? this post makes me feel old. i graduated high school on ’93. i thought we we the same age.
by aquababie
myspace is weird to me. i haven’t (and refuse to) sign up for a page. i did find a couple of ex-boyfriends on there.
talking about old? this post makes me feel old. i graduated high school on ’93. i thought we were about the same age.
by jaedalaurez
Count me as an unabashed MySpace lover- I like it for the networking possibilities- I’ve met some great actors, writers, artists locally through MySpace and even gotten a couple of gigs out of the deal.
I love the fact that I can keep in touch with old friends (without having to REALLY keep in touch, just in case we don’t really click like that lol- Friends list, anybody?)
AND it keeps me up to date on all my fave lil rinky-dink indie bands without having to save a half dozen lame ass individual websites and getting bulletins from said websites clogging up my mailbox.
My page isn’t “Pimped”- mainly because I’m a bit lazy and I don’t need a Final Fantasy IV or Falling Hearts background to “express myself.”
As for remembering the names and faces thing, well- I get paid to do precisely that, so I can’t help ya lol…start taking Ginko now.
by **RPM**
MySpace is a cesspool. I have publicly shamed most of my friends and family for having a page on that absurd landing strip for knuckleheads. I would agree that it has had some interesting opportunity for people in the entertainment business. But beyond that, it’s BlackPlanet, Migente and the like, all over again.
I try to obliterate all memories of high school, and those connected to it with exception of two individuals. And to your point, you keep in touch with who you want to. Truly.
by Stephanie
My myspace page has absolutely nothing on it, not even a photo. I only joined so that I could read someone’s blog. However, I do know that for artists of various types, it’s an ideal means to connect with audiences that would be hard to reach through traditional channels. And, as I told a client of mine when convincing him to get a page, it’s FREE! (check him out at myspace.com/wardolphin)
On the memory thing, I never forget a face. If we’ve met just once, you can be assured that I will remember you even years later. It’s a gift and a curse.
by Shot Clock
I think it’s because I’m still in college but MySpace is addictive.
For a long time I refused to start a page, mainly because I used Facebook.com, which is exclusively for college students but more or less the same premise. The set-up is a lot better, no annoying music when you browse others’ pages, no head-splitting backgrounds . . . however, recently I was talked into getting on MySpace.
Since that time, my life hasn’t been the same. Okay, surely I’m exaggerating but it’s fun to exchange messages, talked to old friends and all that. It’s only going to be a matter of time before you start enjoying it. Eventually, the novelty will wear-off – but it’s nice to be able to stay in touch with the people you want to stay in touch with.
by Valencia
MySpace is cool to me….originally when I got on it I had people on my friends list from other sites I frequent…that’s how I learned about it….then I deleted everyone I really don’t talk to or know face to face…then it was just a new setting for my friends and I to communicate on and what not….now it’s become a personal and business thing….networking on a new project and such…it really is a help ’cause it’s free and you can reach out to lots of folks….
I do feel you on reaching out to folk I ain’t seen in years….and them doing the same…That’s what I love about it.
by Quibian 'Q' Salazar-Moreno
There used to be a site website called Firefly that was exactly like MySpace around 1996-1997, and I was totally into it… very addictive trying to get with feamles in Jamaica, Canada and Alaska… yeah, it was a real early 20’s type of mindstate…
I was talked into starting a MySpace page too… It’s okay. I don’t use it too much and some folks find me on there sometimes, but you’re right, if people want to find you, you can be googled and emailed… and keep in touch by email, what’s wrong with that? You get the email notification that someone has sent you a message anyway…
myspace.com/qsalazar in case anyone wants to have a look see…
by Rex
Jeeez… Am I the oldest one posting to your blog Bo? Class o’ ’83 for me!!!
Anyway, about myspace, I don’t get it. It is the FUGLIEST interface on the ‘net today. I have yet to see ONE myspace page that doesn’t give me a headache looking at it. I’m surprised another service hasn’t taken over with a nicer interface. Seriously, the pages there look as if they were created with HTML coding circa 1995.
But you are so right about the ability to be located. I’ve had elementary school chums from Louisiana, highschool buds from Oklahoma, and college friends alike Google me, and reconnect. It’s pretty cool.
by PWordsmith
c/o 88, another geezer in the house.
I refuse to do myspace. It just seems to be a hangout for teens and college kids. Reading the posts, however…im getting the impression i may need to gain at least a basic presence….
Just seems rather creepy though, with all the pedophilia busts lately seeming to have a myspace angle.
Rex…at least i was almost in HS when you were…more than i can say for these other youngins…i thought i was the old head in the
fold.
Fellas, there are more around than just you guys.
by Ron
I had a myspace page, but I deleted because it just felt a little odd. It was nice though to run into people (sometimes) from HS who found me or whatever.
But you make a good point that most of us are just a google search away from being found and yet people act all surprised they find you or are like “so what are you up to?” And I have a hard time mustering the energy to write them back because 1) they probably weren’t that nice to me back in the day and 2) if you searched me on google, it’s all there.
I’m pretty good with remembering names, so…I can usually identify people even after a long time. Doesn’t mean I want to rememeber them.
But its cool. Speaking of 10 year reunions, I’m not sure how I feel about going back next year for that, either. That’s going to be an interesting and surreal experience for me, lemme tell ya.