DISQUS

Taylor · 1 year ago

So I think I agree with you, for the most part.

Part of why I think PostSecret is such a great thing is that it allows people to share secrets they feel unable to share without the protection of anonymity. This helps people discover that they're not the only one to think or feel or do X, Y, or Z. I think that's generally healthy and can be a very powerful emotional experience.

I think what troubles me about the Facebook version, removing that protection of anonymity, is that I worry for those who are sharing too much without thinking through the implications. Sure, most Facebook users are adults and can make up their own minds about how much they'll share...but if we're talking about emotionally turbulent issues, wouldn't the worst case scenario be a person sharing a "secret" in hopes of achieving some sort of catharsis...when actually that secret will be forever linked with their identity in the vast, search-able archives of the web.

I very much agree with your philosophy of directness in person, but I think you're wise not to "throw it all out there." My concern is that some folks on the Facebook page are "throw[ing] it all out there" and they'll never be able to take it back.

Sierra Alpha Mike · 1 year ago

People I know worry that if their thoughts were ever aired publicly, they would become instant outcasts. Not just their deepest, darkest thoughts but also their everyday thoughts. But perhaps the Internet is the beginning of a global consciousness without barriers.

It's intereting how long artists and scientists have speculated about how we all become one. As early as 1956, Issac Asimov pondered how technology could donnect us in unexpected, elemental ways. It's not a new concept; Peter Gabriel wrote a song about it.

One of my favorite television shows as a middle school student explored this concept, mixing Freudian psychology and Christian motifs. This anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion, seemed to portray most of us as selfish, tortured, horrible people ... and it found its cathartic answer in abandoning the barriers and secrecy around us.

Maybe privacy is a bad thing. When the first Kinsey report came out, Americans found out they weren't alone when it came to certain sexual practices. Then again, they gave away their secrets (mostly) anonymously. Personally, I've developed a personal policy of answering every question I'm asked honestly (save a few), as long as it's privately and directly. I'm not quite ready to throw it all out there.

arbaiten · 1 year ago

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PHWalsh · 1 month ago

Fantastic article, and I really agree with all the comments also.

I recently wrote a book entitled 'is: The Phenomenon of the Facebook Status' where I collated 1,000's of statuses in order to give the world an insight into life in the 21st century via the medium of Facebook statuses!

I noticed that as people hide behind their computer screens they are more likely to tell the world what they are really thinking and voice their opinions about the hot topic of the day or their mind set. Each status individually can give the world an insight into that persons soul, and how they are feeling at that time. But when you have a look at their status updates over a period of time, you can start to get a feel for the type of person that they are, and the life that they are living!

When you take this information and multiple it by individuals from all over the world, then that allows us to glance into the soul of life in today's world! Something that we have never been able to do before!

The ironic part is that people do this because they believe that they have a certain degree of anonymity as they sit on their computer chairs like its a throne and they are the king of their computer, and the primary reason why they act like this is because they do not receive any immediate social feedback, they don't have to fit into a social hierarchy or submit to peer pressures, there is no danger of them being cast out of the group!

But the paradox is that they have never been less anonymous! These People have posted every detail they could possible think of about themselves up on Facebook and MySpace, from their favourite food to their phone number, with the pictures to back everything up, so the whole world can see what they are all about!

I really had the most fasinating time writing this book, as it opened my window to the world like nothing before had, and I am delighted with the feedback that it has received both from readers and the reviewing media alike, and if you are interested in this read go to my website www.theisbook.com for more information.

Keep up the good work Taylor, I look forward to reading more of your stuff mate.

Patrick