I think I finally understand what it's all about now. This is another web 2.0 tangent post like yesterdays, so feel free to stop reading now if that stuff bores the heck out of you. But everything makes so much sense now.

Previously, I couldn't see the significance of everything that is going on in the internets right now, because I was stuck on the content aspect of it. Facebook sucks because there is no content, Twitter sucks because there is no content, Livejournal is good because there is some content somewhere.

But I can see now that content is irrelevant! Not completely irrelevant, mind you. Mostly though, the content makes no difference. And I will tell you why.

It's not what you are saying that will revolutionize the world we live in, it is how you are saying it. 

It's about making connections with people and ideas that are authentic, and that are you. It doesn't matter what they are, just the fact that it is happening. I know this doesn't make very much sense probably. But let me try to explain why I see this as being so important.

I would guess that most people spend more time online than they do watching TV. I know I certainly do. And now, whenever I do watch TV, I get so frustrated that it is still filled with conventional advertising, mattresses in space, type marketing. And thanks to the social networking revolution, advertising like that will die out altogether very soon. Marketers will have to advertise on an individual basis, by making connections to people over the internet in order to survive. Mass marketing will be a thing of the past. Isn't that exciting?

I suppose in the end, it is sort of like Freedom of Speech. What you are saying with it doesn't really matter. You shouldn't only use it when you have something "meaningful" to say, because it would defeat the whole purpose of it. But it's the idea that you can say whatever the hell you want, that creates this new flow of ideas and information. I attribute most of the western societies successes to the fact that free speech exsists.

It's not what you say that will make the difference, it is how you are saying it that will change everything.

And I love it. I'm so excited I could literally squee. Actually I think I already did.

So last night I was listening to this podcast. Yes, I know, generally podcasts are pretty lame. But this guy was talking about blogging, and how to make content that matters. Basically, what he was saying was that a good internet presence in todays society is about giving people content that they actually care about, and at the same time, making it authentic.  I think he's right, but I could see a pattern unfolding.

Have you ever noticed how people on the internet are (generally) alot, well, meaner than they are in real life? Now I'm not just talking about those really annoying people in the forums, or in the eljay communities. But, really, everyone. Haven't you ever said something to someone on msn, or through the internet that was just plain mean? Or gotten into a huge fight on msn? If for no other reason that you could say it without having to look the other person in the eye. 

Since the internet is the perfect place to be someone your not, often what people become are assholes. They can be who they want, and they can say what they want. The anonymity is perfect for this. There are endless ways to connect to people, and it is virtually impossible to track it back to you, if you wish to be truly anonymous. It is as easy as setting up a bogus email account. 

So I guess what I'm saying is this:

increased ego as a result of anonymity, equals the internet being an altogether bitchy place where people can say/do as they please, equals decreased overall authenticity, which in turn equals decreased quality of content!

And that's the problem! I know I'm not the first person to think of this concept, but for the first time I think I really get it. That is why the internet seems to be filled with nothing but junk these days. Where's the content? Hiding amongst the random twitter entries, somewhere I'm sure.

On that note, I decided to reactivate my facebook account. I decided that maybe facebook is useless to me. But at least it represents a more authentic way of connecting (by use of real names, etc) then some of the other sites out there, and in some ways, more then LJ. Argh, that sentence hurt to type.

On the other hand, I think I may have found out HBG's real name through facebook.  Possibly Matt Hogan? It looks like him but the picture was too small to be sure, lol. So I guess facebook was useful for something.

Okay so that was my epiphany for today. Well, technically yesterday.

ETA: Holy Moses it's going to be 30 degrees today!! Thirty!! How can it be freezing on thursday, and thirty today?? That's just rediculous. (speaking of content that matters....) 

I know I'm a bit late on this one, but in any case I was quite happy when word finally reached me. Apparently, a new social networking project (based upon eljay code) is in the works called dreamwidth. The point of it being that social networking should be about community and truly interacting, rather than a money grab. This is something that I feel quite strongly about, and the reason I continue to shy away from facebook and all the rest. The mission statement sounds great, but let's hope it lives up to expectations.

Phew! only one more exam to go. My french one today was fairly easy. Except we had to right a paragraph on "You participated in a TV show. What happened during filming?" What kind of question was that? I found it really difficult.

The people at my supposed new job just went on strike. It's kind of inconvenient. I'm not sure if I should start looking for something else, or just wait it out. In the meantime, I volunteered to be an usher at the queer film festival. I don't think I'm going to get to do it though, seeing as how they don't need that many ushers, and some of the films you have to be over 18 to see.

Ummm.... I really like my new hair colour. When I first saw it, I wasn't too sure. But it has grown on me alot, and I think I will be sad when it starts growing out.

I want to see the sunshine more often. It is such a beautiful day today. Why can't everyday be like this?

Lots to post about today. But i will try to make it short. by the way my shift key if being funny, so this post will be sans caps. how sad is that?

hmm, had my graduation party on saturday. it was a good time. actually it kind of felt like an excuse for my mother to invite all of her friends over. but i got presents, so it was okay. oh, and my aunt sandra bought soo many cupcakes from the cupcake store. they were so delicious, in fact, i just ate one now. :D

ew, work on saturday was really horrible. the kitchen was like 40 degrees, and they were several flames bursting up. not cool.

yeah, and then i had my first day of working at save-on. it was okay, i didn't think they trained us very good. but we do get our own pocket knives. how cool is that?

omg i  forgot that i just watched last weeks doctor who! it was very good. i strongly dislike rose though. i am not happy that she is back. :(

haha and i just dyed my hair. it is kind of orangy-brown now. it's not super obvious, my mother didn't even notice. 

oh! and i finally got a picture of hot bon's guy to show you. i met katie after my exam at bons and he was there, and i was happy. yeah, so i stealthily had to take a picture of him. <3

ETA: It seems my friends are really lazy, so I don't think you guys are going to bother, but if you want you should fill out this:

I am unable to check my friends page for some reason, so I think now would be a good time to post.

Let's see... The dinner/dance at the four seasons was okay. The food was mediocre, Atherton's speech was really sad, I was only in one picture in the grad slideshow, and I didn't know any of the songs that they played at the dance part. When we got there Arnie's band was playing. I was really impressed, wouldn't be surprised if they got famous one day. Yeah, and then I was coming home and I had to put bandaids on my feet so I could actually walk, and everyone was looking at me funny. So annoying.

Yeah, and then the grad ceremony was okay. Really looong. Three and a half hours I think. They shouldn't have let Shane Simpson speak. That guy has the most dull and boring voice I've ever heard in my life. Felt really nervous walking across the stage, but it was okay. Now I'm graduated and have a diploma to prove it. :)

Then Katie and I saw "friday the 13th/the re-animator" at the rio at midnight. It was alot of fun actually. Really enjoyed it. Didn't get out of it till 3:30 though, so I was pretty tired afterwards. Suffice to say I didn't wake up till noon the next morning.

Then we went to the end cafe to hang out with the crew from the doctor who meetup. Evidently they ditched us, because we waited there for an hour. So then we went back to caro's to watch "The five doctors" and the new episode. Tfd was kind of lame though, because four wasn't even in it. What's up with that?

Yesterday I decided that I want to go Thailand next November/December 09. Alphanumeric, yes?

Anyways,  now I have to get dressed and make my way to the school to do a bio mock. How lame is that?

The old spaghetti factory is gross. I don't know why anyone would want to go there.