Social Networking

Ok, this is bugging me, badly. There's HOW many damn social networking sites? MySpace, Facebook, MyYearbook, Flickr, about a hundred others. Literally. I mean, just look at this list. Does anyone else find this ludicrous? Its just a bit out of hand.

Social networking isn't all evil, even I will admit that. Its all a part of telecommuting, getting jobs and organizations over the internet. It makes some jobs a hell of a lot easier, makes getting your band out there a lot easier, and just getting a lot of amateur entertainment out there. Doesn't mean said entertainment doesn't suck like a cheap whore, but it does mean they're trying, which is a good thing.

It seems every time I turn on shows like Dateline, 20/20, or 60 Minutes, someone is rambling about one of them, usually MySpace. Usually they're talking about pedophiles or phishing. Now, don't quote me, but I'm relatively sure pedophiles existed before the advent of MySpace. Sure, they may not have had as easy an outlet, and relied on tactics like panel vans with "Free Candy!" written on the side, but I suppose they're just keeping up with the times like the rest of us. Kudos to them, they're entering the demographic of those of us who can use a computer. My cousin may ask me for help logging into her e-mail, but a 50 year old guy has NO problem getting onto MySpace to find a 13 year old girl. Astounding.

Then there's the phishing. First off, these people are so bad at what they do, you don't need a damn PHD to realize "holy shit, its a scam!" 30 e-mails or messages that all say "Click this link to see my nude pics!" Now, it isn't exactly rocket science. Unless you're so naive to say "Wow, maybe this time there'll be nudes, and my credit rating won't fall any further!" And if you are, click the little X in the upper right corner of your screen, shut down your computer, and throw it and yourself out the nearest window.

Yet all these news shows point out the stupidity of the user on a weekly basis, and every time, my grandmother acts like its somehow new. "Oh, you hear about the new pedophile thing on MySpace?" "No, grandmother, have you heard about this neat thing called Fortran?" Old fucking news.

Then there's the people who use these sites. Now, before I get ranting there, let me say that I use one of them, myself. Just one. I don't need 30 profiles to attract people I'll never meet who just want to pad their own friends lists. Unless I talk to someone on a near-daily basis, I'm not about to consider them a friend. Less so when they live on the other coast of the country. Hell, whatever happened to getting your ass out of the computer chair, walking out the front door (yes, I know the sun hurts your eyes, buy some damn sunglasses or a hat) and meeting people face to face? Note to all 4chan users: wash your clothes and shower first, you smell like ass and ejaculate.

So while all you unwashed rabble sit and click "refresh" on your MySpace page, waiting for that 15 year old Taiwanese girl to reply to your proposition for cybersex, I'm going to put on a nice coat and go hit on the girls you're neglecting. Hell, if thats the case, why am I complaining about these sites? Shit, keep surfing them, and I'll be busy with all the girls you leave unattended to.