Comments on: I’m not a narcissist; I’m just a REALLY fascinating person

By: David

David — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 12:21:19 +0000

I just finished a Facebook IM chat with one of my favorite grade school friends whom I fell out of touch with 15 years ago. Facebook reunited us, and I’m not sure we could have done it any other way…maybe it isn’t as destructive as I thought?

David is reconsidering. (that’s a Facebook joke)

By: Sara T

Sara T — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:47:13 +0000

My only comment is that I thank you for this post b/c I feel like it gives me permission to not read those lists posted by both friends and mere acquaintances. While I certainly like filling them out once in awhile and reading other’s at times as well, I easily OD on them and need a significantly long break from them. However, sometimes I feel guilty when I hit my burn out point and don’t want to read lists that others have posted, particularly those who are my good friends, but now, after reading this – I feel liberated! THANK YOU! And, to satisfy Dave’s point, perhaps I will call my friends to chat and ask them random questions about themselves instead of reading a list. That would likely elicit a more honest, less “trying to give a cool answer” anyway.

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:43:34 +0000

I emailed you at catnamedpig@gmail.com.

And I totally agree with you – the whole 25 things list was cool.

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:29:04 +0000

No one has MySpace anymore.

By: sara

sara — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:13:43 +0000

Am I seriously the only person in the world that does not have a My Space or Facebook page??

By: Betsey

Betsey — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:47:14 +0000

First let me just start by admitting that I am in love with Facebook and, therefore, completely biased. But, my love affair started for a reason.

Having four young children, I have discovered that it is virtually impossible to:
1) leave the house
2) talk on the phone for more than 3 minutes
3) ever get out to socialize without my children
and
4) stay up long enough to “go out” with my young, hip, childless friends.

Because of these annoying side effects of having kids, I have found myself isolated much of the time, not having contact with adult humans for days on end.

Since I joined Facebook I can post my stupid comments on people’s walls that I would otherwise want to call them with, I can “chat” (a fact that I am extremely embarrassed about) with other friends who might happen to be on at the same time and I can keep up with what my husband is doing at work (he is required to social network with his job).

So, in short, I credit Facebook entirely for saving my sanity this long, drawn out winter.

Post on people! And, by the way, I too am completely fascinating at all times.

By: Logan

Logan — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:39:32 +0000

Just because you’re a narcissist doesn’t mean they don’t think you are awesome.

I wanted to comment on the original article/blog, but then in reading the comments I was sucked in and lost most of the train of my thoughts…I think it was a band of cowboys, I saw them unhitching the last three cars and couldn’t do anything but watch helplessly.

I don’t think social networking sites work against your friendship, unless you are silly enough to post something like “so and so is an idiot”. Mr. So-and-so might not like that much.

But I also think social networking doesn’t do alot for me to facilitate friendships. When I first got on MySpace I only approved “real” friends, and I would post events there…but eventually it fell off. It became too much effort to upkeep.

I think electronic “relationships” are similar to real world friendships in that you get out what you put in. I can show up at a random party chat up some folks and leave not to see them for years again, and it’s equivelant to shooting someone a friend request after years apart. Except for Laura…because she and I have always been two peas in a pod and haven’t left each others sight for more than 5 minutes ever…right?? ;p

By: David

David — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:29:35 +0000

As a quick note – Laura just commented to me on Facebook about our discussion which made me laugh out loud: the perfect retort!

Great discussion as always, Laura. Others?

By: Kathy Mulvihill

Kathy Mulvihill — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:25:42 +0000

This is great. You’re good at writing essays. Also,
even though I constantly talk about your “generation” being more advanced than mine I defenitely don’t think
of it as being narcissistic.

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:56:59 +0000

I did not mean to imply that I think there is no element of voyeurism in Facebook. I was trying to say that I am interested in commentary/analysis that goes beyond just categorizing any form of social media as a wretched hive of narcissists and voyeurs.

I think, depending on how you use it, Facebook can enhance relationships OR detract from them. In my life, I believe it works for good, not evil. I am in touch with more people more often than I ever could be via phone, with 2 little kids screaming in the background all day long. I see this as allowing me to maintain friendships, as well as casual connections with people I know less well. I don’t see anything destructive about it. If you don’t like the idea of knowing what someone is up to without really knowing them, I would suggest being selective in who you “friend” and then using Facebook actively to comment, email or otherwise connect with those people.

OK, so you know what I think. (Facebook = good, for me.) You also know what David thinks (Facebook destroys friendships). Now I want to know what other people think. I know some of you read this blog daily and have lots of opinions. Tell us, please!