Social Streaking, or Exposing My Fabulosity in 800 Words or Less
by Sam Sanders on February 26, 2009 in Opinion
Carlyn: Hey boo - if you’re up for it, will you write me something for next week?? First draft of 800ish words by Monday? You can write it during PAC Sem this week… 
Wuv you,
Car*
Me: Ok. Give me a topic to write about.
Carlyn: Your fabulosity.
Me: Ha. I’m on it.
That’s a true, verbatim, copy of the e-mail chain between Carlyn Reichel, Citizen opinions editor, and myself, about this very op-ed. And yes, it’s mandated by HKS administration that all second years call each other “boo.”
To the point: I’m here to talk about my “fabulosity.” (Insert snide joke here.) At first this idea gave me pause. It seems self-centered, vain, petty even. I’ve prided myself on being the guy at the Kennedy School who spends all of his time trying to make life fun for everyone else, spending your hard-earned student activities fees on ferry cruises and such. How dare I spend 800 words on myself?
But I realized that I am pretty self-centered, as we all are, and I deserve 800 words. To discuss my importance.
It’s not a preening, cocky arrogance, though. It’s more of a passive-aggressive, quirky, smug conceit. The one that makes me think I’m really worthy of all those Twitter updates every few minutes of every single day.
But Twitter is only one symptom of many. Blogging, Facebook, LinkedIn, and even the chlamydia of all social networking, MySpace - all are tools for people with either too much time on their hands, or concentration problems, to let you know how important they are.
Social networking is the newest way to showcase one’s ego, and it’s really in right now.
Facebook status updates are more than just tech-savvy pleas for attention. They’re evidence that your 1,345 Facebook friends think the FB “newsfeed” is more relevant than CNN’s. And all those LinkedIn invitations! It’s like one big HBS speed-networking event, only without the overabundance of brass-buttoned navy blazers and free alcohol.
Let’s face it. We’re a generation stuck on ourselves. We take pictures of everything we do, throw them online, and wait for others to comment. We write our opinions on blogs as if we’re experts and expect everyone to read it. We post our inside jokes between friends for the world to see and expect everyone will marvel at our quick wit. No one’s marveling, yet we persist.
I’m saying “we” right now, but I pretty much am just talking about myself.
I’m approaching 1,500 Facebook friends. I have a blog that I really hope the Citizen hyperlinks to HERE, though I guess that only works in the online version. And I Twitter like a madman. My favorite self-aggrandizing tool of the moment is the Google chat status update. (I love using it to link to obscure, insightful op-ed writing to show everyone how smart and cultured I am.)
I think I’m a big deal, really. I’m so important, I plug into my iPhone just for a walk from Town Hall to Dunkin Donuts. Because, yes, my life needs a soundtrack.
Maybe I’m being too hard on myself. I know I’m not alone. I’d like to think you all are just like me. Trapped in your own social bubble by the very technology that was meant to unite us with the entire world.
It’s a little sad, isn’t it? The internet was supposed to open the universe to us. And while it has, a lot of what we’ve been doing is socially streaking in front of the e-world - baring our proud wit, insights, pictures and more to anyone who clicks on our profile pages, blog links, or little green dots next to our G-chat icons.
It might be immodest, but it’s fun. And it makes us experts, because no one can tell you just how crazy I am but me. The same goes for you.
So keep it up. Know that someone’s reading whatever you write, even if it’s only that random sitting right next to you in the library. Milk the technology for all it’s worth. Your time is now. Really, right now. You should go update your status with something witty and self-referential RIGHT NOW!
Be proud of it. Give in to this new media. Let it take you under. And then blog your experience. Because I know you think we’re all dying to hear about it.
*Editor’s Note: In the spirit of social streaking, I have kept the verbatim nature of the online exchange between me and Sam in tact - despite an embarrassing use of the word “wuv” and the open encouragement of academic delinquency. Thanks, Sam.
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One Response to “Social Streaking, or Exposing My Fabulosity in 800 Words or Less”
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Twitter too long
Nex Fhase
Twit
Harv…no MIT yes
“Yes we….”
Sam, you had me from the title.
N. Wylie Jones
p.s. The sheeple should Face a Book, open it, and read.
p.p.s. “What is the easiest job in the world? Fact checker for Fox News.”
N. W. Jones
P.P.P.S. “The juvenile sea squirt wanders through the ocean searching for a suitable rock or hunk of coral to cling to and make its home for life. When it finds its spot and takes root, it doesn’t need its brain anymore, so it eats it. It’s rather like getting tenure.” Michael Scriven