Comments on: Virtual In-Vanity

By: Face to Face(book) « Bricolage

Face to Face(book) « Bricolage — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:10:36 +0000

[...] brought up some of these ideas in my post, “Virtual In-Vanity” some time ago about the boy who committed suicide on his webcam before a live internet [...]

By: I Could Be Your Hero, Baby « Bricolage

I Could Be Your Hero, Baby « Bricolage — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:10:43 +0000

[...] Interestingly, I now find myself back to that idea of the media and modern narcissism I was talking about the other day. In fact, I think Montana Miller’s words are completely apropos in this context [...]

By: Quick Follow Up « Bricolage

Quick Follow Up « Bricolage — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:37:46 +0000

[...] Bricolage My Haphazard Journey Through The Mediascape « Virtual In-Vanity [...]

By: Katie Heimer

Katie Heimer — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:20:07 +0000

Hey Becky–thanks for the comment! Feedback is always nice…it makes me feel a little less like I’m talking to myself! Anyway, yeah, I think a lot of the phenomena that come with the internet, especially the social networking sites, are really interesting, especially because, as I was saying in my post, it seems like the bar of what’s “normal” and acceptable keeps getting lowered. When I first got on facebook, if I’d seen someone post an entire album of photos of themself simpering in front of the mirror I would have been kind of shocked and now I see that all the time. I’m like you though with facebook–there are people I never would have gotten back in touch with again that I have because of facebook and that is pretty cool. But it always weirds me out when random people I don’t know will add me (mostly guys who are wearing muscle tees in their profile photos…haha). And as for the personal blog thing, yeah, it’s interesting because it basically is a “journal” that is public. And on one level I can understand the appeal, but on the other I think about kids that are preteens and teens now who have so much less in their lives that’s private and I’m really glad I was part of the last generation that didn’t have an internet childhood. Ack, I sound so old! Anyway, thanks again for the comment!

By: Beka

Beka — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:05:09 +0000

That is a sad story indeed. I’m telling you – Florida isn’t *normal*! It was quite a culture shock when I moved here from Maryland, and I continue to come across differences all the time.

As for the Facebook/Myspace topic, I quite agree – my first reaction to all these new features is that it’s an vain attempt at reeling in friends or a rather lame excuse for people not to find out the “real” you. I mainly use Myspace, and now Facebook, as an effort to reconnect or keep in touch with friends. However, when I do come across new friends [as in old... people that already kind of know who I am], I am always a little embarrassed to actually “Add” them, and even more embarrassed at what details about me they will see on my profile. The last thing I want to be, is one of those people who is truly vain via Myspace or what have you… the people who take DOZENS of photos of themselves in classic Myspace-pose, upload them, and demand people leave comments about them… I mean – what am I supposed to say?! “Oh yes, this angle really suits you”… “The tenth one is my favourite!”…. or “Hey! Nice shower curtain behind you!” Haha. Admittedly, I used to blog the typical, boring, vain “Here’s what I did in detail today” blogs on Livejournal a few years ago, but like I said, I got self-conscience when new people that I knew read them, and even got tired of “hearing” myself… myself.

Anyway, bravo, as usual! Hope you don’t mind the comment