On Facebook: Its Effect on Our Culture

Weelllll, I haven't posted since December. It's a poor excuse, but I've nearly converted to tumblr. I do post my own thoughts there (not everyone does what with all the reblogging), but not as in-depth as here, which I should be doing, as I've been slacking on my writing lately.

Anyhow, based on something I posted to my friend Matt's latest blog post, I'm going to talk about internet and its essence in our culture.

I plan for this to be a long exploration, and would love for it to be as interactive as possible.

So sit back, because I have quite a bit to say on this topic.

First off, I'd like to bring up Facebook. Matt mentioned that "one of the most interesting aspects of culture today (or, at least, teen culture) is the expectation to be on Facebook." I can't say that I entirely agree with that. It's true that there is an expectation to have a Facebook, but people still ask if you do. It isn't (yet?) an assumption. I do know people who either do not have Facebooks or deleted theirs. For whatever reason (usually a parent not allowing it or an issue with Facebook's notorious information-leaking), these people have removed themselves from this part of culture.

And it is a part of culture. Whether you like it or not, Mark Zuckerberg and co. have created a social network that crushes all other social networks. Sure, twitter is big for celebrities, and Myspace was the original, but Facebook offers a simpler design than the latter, and is more friendship-friendly than the former. Over 250 million people use Facebook. To give you an idea of how much that is, it was the US population in 1990 (it's over 300 now), and is the amount of people that currently use the internet in China.

Being on Facebook does offer advantages, though. It's a good way to connect with old friends, stay in touch with new ones, and get homework updates for school, believe it or not. I do have a Facebook account, and though Facebook's policies are sometimes questionable, I do not regret my decision to use this website. It's very convenient for a multitude of reasons, and can be fun. I can post a status concerning computer problems and have five answers within a few hours (and a few in minutes). It also somewhat censors my big mouth, since I am "friends" with my parents.

I hope that was an adequate introduction. I was a little all over the place, and my dad is bugging me to get off the computer, so maybe I'll edit this later.

Until next time,

Kara

Bitter, Resentful, and Utterly Self-Indulgent

I've been taking piano lessons for perhaps a year now. Frankly, I'm frustrated with my progress (or in my opinion, lack thereof). I can't play songs I'd like to (Amanda Palmer and the Dresden Dolls), and I have no knowledge of music theory to be able to write songs. I feel like I'm slightly better at the trumpet, but hell, I should be! I've been playing since fourth grade. That's six years. And I'm still not up-to-speed with some people. I can't sing very well, and even if I could, I'd feel stupid singing without knowing an instrument. Maybe I'll learn guitar?

Art I'm fairly good at, or at least I could be if I practiced. If I'm 60% of what I want to be in music, I'm 80% in art. But there's still the irritation of having things not match their reference, as with a chalk pastel drawing I did for my friend for Christmas.

Writing seems to be the only thing I feel confident in: perhaps 95%. I could obviously improve some, but I don't feel destined to be a dilettante with writing.

In school I feel like an idiot. English is easy. Art is easy. Math is fairly okay. Science and history drag me underwater... I'm not perfect at them, or anywhere close. I'm certainly not up to my high standards. It's a lot of memorizing and paying attention, two things that I'm great at... when I care. I know all of Avril Lavigne's lyrics (they stick in my brain more than others...), and I can stare at a computer screen for hours, or read a book for hours, but I can't seem to concentrate in science or history.


I'm sorry.
Today I'm supposed to be grateful but all I feel is empty and insufficient.

Editing Myself/Not Being a HUGE JERK!

Recently I attended a play put on by my high school.
I was not impressed.
In fact, I was so unimpressed that I wrote the optional extra-credit review for my English class. And when I say review, I mostly mean that I completely trashed the play.
Giving it to my English teacher, I warned him that it was harsh but didn't think much else of it.
My parents went to parent-teacher conferences. My English teacher mentioned that he had been bothered by my review.
Fresh out of talking about my review with him, I feel ashamed. That's not me; I'm not a bitch. Being a teenager, this nearly takes me into an existential crisis... am I a bitch? I certainly can be sometimes, but I'd prefer not to be known as that.
I'm ashamed that I let my omnipresent editing fall to the side in that review. Obviously I need an outlet for negative emotion, but bashing someone's play isn't a productive way for me to convey that. I'm typically a good critic, and I resolve not to let this happen again.

...I could go for a comfort hot chocolate.

In other news, I'm very sorry I haven't posted for a month! I would say I've been busy, but that's only partly true. The truth is that my brain has been thrown into overdrive... or underdrive, to be more specific. I'm not going to post every detail of my anxiety here, as good as it'd feel, but in general, I've been a wreck. I think that somewhat showed in my review.

I quit NaNoWriMo.
I am so very ashamed...
And so very isolated.

A Quick, Extremely Overdue Post

I feel guilty writing this for several reasons; I haven't posted in about three weeks, I should be writing for NaNoWriMo or school, and I have so many blogs!

So let me begin with the two most exciting things to have happened recently! I went to a Dresden Dolls concert Tuesday, and OHMYGOODGODITWASAMAZING. I would pay so much to see them again. More than worth the combined $55 I spent between concert tix and a seriously overpriced, undersized tee shirt. Anyhow, they're full of amazing music, and I highly recommend their self-titled album. Amanda Palmer, the singer and keyboard/pianist is simply amazing, and her solo album, Who Killed Amanda Palmer, is great. If you want to listen to them, I recommend "Girl Anachronism", "Night Reconnaissance", "Gravity", "Bad Habit", and for Amanda, "Astronaut", "Have to Drive", and her cover of Death Cab For Cutie's "I Will Follow You into the Dark".

Anyway, they told some great stories about their band, and Brian Viglione, the normally mute drummer, had a lot to say. He's also crazy! He drums the life out of the drums, and though he's only the percussionist/occasional guitarist, he is definitely half of the band (there's only the two of them). Amanda told some interesting stories as well, mostly about writing the songs. She wrote "Slide" at fifteen, which really interested me since I'm fifteen. Though I haven't written a song in a very long time, it's encouraging to know that people can write beautiful songs that early. She wrote "Bad Habit" in college, and that's got to be one of my absolute favorites.

Anyway, they're a phenomenal band, and all of the fatigue from being out so late on a school night was more than worth it, and I seriously am thankful to my mom for bringing Tim and I.


Onto the next matter of business: NaNoWriMo.
I think I may have mentioned that I'm doing National Novel Writing Month, but anyway, it's here, and it's crazy. I'm on 2,336 words, and very far behind. My goal is 15,000 by the end of the weekend. Phew! My story isn't really available to anyone but myself yet, but if you'd like to read it, I'll email it to you or something.
Anyway, I must get back to Savvy and Rev's story! Bye bye!

Wishing I Had Something to Say

I haven't posted since October first, really. That's two weeks and I apologize profusely. I hope you enjoyed my little glimpse into a train station and its hilarious ads though.

Currently I'm in Poetry of Song, and since the assignment we are supposed to be working on was completed by me two days ago, I feel like I should blog.

There isn't much to say, really. I'm keeping busy and staying afloat grade-wise so I can go to that Dresden Dolls concert with Tim (of Tri-Blog infamy) November second. I'm pretty freaking excited, since it'll be my first real concert. I went to this free Boys Like Girls concert at Patriot's Place last year, but that was free, and I don't even really like Boys Like Girls.

Next month is going to be my big writing month, and hopefully I can get back into art before second semester, when I have the class. I also am way behind with reading, having to finish Anne Frank for fun before I start Water For Elephants for book club. BLAH. I don't know why I haven't been reading. The PSATs yesterday definitely proved that I have the skill. Oh well.

End of venting post! Sorry about that!
I'm really only posting for the sake of posting.

Sign in a train station:
"It's not my thingy, it's your thingy."
Neil
"No, it's your thingy."
Karen
1/8 couples have difficulty conceiving.

October

I'm stunned that October, and the weekend are already here. It's a bit shocking, and I feel like my life is speeding by.

I've been trying to write, gathering my inspiration from songs. Loosely, of course. I'd never write a song-fic. I promise.

Now that it's October, I feel like the world has permission to turn to November, December... 2011... so quickly. My sophomore year will go by in flashes of love, hate, good, and bad. Then I'll be a junior. That'll speed by and then I'll be a senior. Graduating.

Then college. Then real life. I feel like it's going to be faster and faster until I have vertigo from the racing events. It's a little scary.

I used to never want to grow up. Now I think I've come to terms with getting older (well, for now. Maybe not once I'm actually getting old). Still, as much as I want to drive, vote, go to college, and have complete freedom over my life, it's a bit frightening.

My cousin just started college and it's just so strange to me. She is three years my senior, but her not being in school in her hometown anymore? That blows my mind. I hope she has fun and picks up lots of tips for when I go.

Do you ever feel like life is going too fast for you to keep up?

I do. Right now I'm running alongside it, but sooner or later it'll accelerate and leave me far behind, won't it?