I love Facebook. It is the new Christmas card. Tha Essays - Culture

I love Facebook. It is the new Christmas card. That's the way I perceive Facebook these days. Whatever else it may be to me on a daily basis, I consider it at the very least to be the way I will stay in touch with people whom I don't connect with very often. Instead of some ratty old scribbled-on, perpetually-incorrect and out-of-date address book like the one my mother has been dragging around for decades, Facebook lets me know where old neighbors, distant relatives, former colleagues, and middle-school girlfriends can be found if I need them, and often tells me what they are up to these days. Facebook gives me all of this without any effort at all. That's why Facebook is cool. But Facebook also gives me so much more. I can waste time during the day socializing with more current and geographically present friends, including those I do actually spend time with in person, when we are otherwise supposed to be working at our respective and supposed jobs. It reminds me of all the specials and events happening at my favorite local pubs. It updates my address book automatically with new profile photos of my friends, even the funny ones, so I see them on my phone when they call me. The other day I thought Duran Duran was trying to call me from the 80s, but it turns out my little sister just likes Duran Duran. Even if it means I sometimes have to be aware of how awesome Joe is at playing Mafia Wars, and how many barns Karen has on her virtual farm, it is totally worth it. I once thought that having an Excel file with all my friends' names, phone numbers, and email addresses in it was a big improvement over my mother's address book, because I didn't have to erase or scribble anything out to update it. I don't have to update Facebook at all. And even though this all happens more or less automatically, I still have options. I can choose whether to participate, and to what degree. I can post status updates, or just be nosey and read everyone else's updates, commenting only when I have something mean to say. I can post pictures of my kids and/or my ridiculous drunken escapades while the kids are away with their mother, or not. I can post current photos of myself if I feel like it, or only old and awesome ones. I can look at photos of other people's kids, and pretend I care by commenting about how cute they are, or I can make fun of them from a safe distance without hurting anyone's feelings. I can keep separate lists of people with whom I have different kinds of relationships, and control what each of those groups of people sees. I can make sure that no one from work sees photos of my kids or is ever otherwise aware that I sometimes participate in wholesome family activities. I can make sure that my family members neve r see anything that might even slightly resemble professional activity. I can make sure that everyone sees the photos from outside the strip club. I have a very poor reputation to maintain, and Facebook helps me reach my goals. I have some friends, henceforth referred to as "individuals formerly known as friends" because everyone knows that use of the term "friend" only applies to Facebook, who swear they will never use Facebook because of some deep-held philosophical, moral, or ethical convictions. I think that is a lot of bullshit. And I don't say this only because I have no philosophy, morals, or ethics of my own. I also really mean it. Some of these individuals formerly known as friends tell me that their disinterest in Facebook is a result of their preference to communicate "face-to-face" because it provides a richer and more meaningful interpersonal experience. Bullshit. If I avoided communicating with my friends and family except when there were time and opportunity to participate in a rich and meaningful interpersonal experience I wouldn't have any friends or family at all. I spend time with people "face-to-face" when I can, but that time has never, to my

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, â€Å"He then told her to cross her hands; he tied them with a strong rope, and led her to a stool under a large hook in the joist, put in for the purpose. He made her get upon the stool, and tied her hands to he hook.† He remembered the cries of his Aunt for mercy. â€Å"I remember the first time I ever witnessed this horrible exhibition. I was quite a child, but I well remember it. I never shall forget it whilst I remember anything.† Douglass’s long termed memory can be considered as both a gift and a curse; for to remember such acts must be disturbing and yet to remember also never lets one forget. Douglass had witnessed some unthinkable acts of cruelty, during his life span but managed to use these negativities in a positive way. He uses these memories of his past, of truth, as motivation to become a free man, to escape the making of future dehumanizing memories. He believes in truth, that the truth will set him free from this pain; it will speak for itself. It was a combination of his personal traits: observation, faith in truth, perseverance, self-education and brawn that brought him to seek, attempt, and eventually succeed in finding freedom. His momentum for freedom came from internal instinct. These traits and his exposure to both human and inhuman environments inspired him to resist the dehumanizing character of slavery. His self-sophistication and success as a pre-eminent crusader against slavery, as a speaker and a writer is amazing to me.... Free Essays on F.D. Free Essays on F.D. In Frederick Douglass’s words, â€Å"He then told her to cross her hands; he tied them with a strong rope, and led her to a stool under a large hook in the joist, put in for the purpose. He made her get upon the stool, and tied her hands to he hook.† He remembered the cries of his Aunt for mercy. â€Å"I remember the first time I ever witnessed this horrible exhibition. I was quite a child, but I well remember it. I never shall forget it whilst I remember anything.† Douglass’s long termed memory can be considered as both a gift and a curse; for to remember such acts must be disturbing and yet to remember also never lets one forget. Douglass had witnessed some unthinkable acts of cruelty, during his life span but managed to use these negativities in a positive way. He uses these memories of his past, of truth, as motivation to become a free man, to escape the making of future dehumanizing memories. He believes in truth, that the truth will set him free from this pain; it will speak for itself. It was a combination of his personal traits: observation, faith in truth, perseverance, self-education and brawn that brought him to seek, attempt, and eventually succeed in finding freedom. His momentum for freedom came from internal instinct. These traits and his exposure to both human and inhuman environments inspired him to resist the dehumanizing character of slavery. His self-sophistication and success as a pre-eminent crusader against slavery, as a speaker and a writer is amazing to me....

A Personal Matter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

A Personal Matter - Essay Example In spite of the fact that Bird is considered further on as an existential hero, his life wanderings and life searching for his self-identity can be referred to realists. The issue of existentialism in the Eastern culture is not properly studied. More often researchers and philosophers were focused on the issues of spirituality and religion in Japanese literature, but not on the existential issues. Oe confesses that he was greatly influenced by the works of French philosopher Sartre. Therefore, it is interesting to find out existential basis of the main character of the novel by Oe. At first Bird is represented as an escaper, the man who wants to escape from his family, his problems and his country and rush into African jungles. His existential wanderings in his inner world should be separated from his adventurous spirit. Still, it is interesting to trace existential and realistic aspects of Bird’s life. ... These â€Å"falls† into the past for Sartre coincide with â€Å"descend into the darkness† for Bird. Thus, one of the basic concepts for existentialists, such as death is interpreted by Bird in the best traditions of existentialism. Another concept â€Å"freedom† mean "openness, readiness to grow, flexibility, and changing in pursuit of greater human values" for existentialists (Yoshida, 1995). The ability to choose is the crucial issue of this concept. Freedom is accompanied by responsibility. This principle is reflected by Bird. At first he is tortured by his inability to make a right choice. Firstly, he prefers life of his child, then he escapes from this monstrous child-vegetable and finally he changes his mind claiming that a child has a right to live. Thus, in terms of existentialism, Bird goes through a thorny path from freedom of choice to his responsibility (Havel, 2002). The fundamental principle for existentialists is the absence of God. Bird does not believe in God himself as well. The existence in the absurd world is the largest existentialist problem. Bird is not referred by his name throughout the novel; he has only a nickname. It looks as if this man is thrown into an absurd world and is subjected to eternal sufferings. Throughout the novel Bird wants to escape from reality (Schneider and Gabriel, 1999). Moreover, it looks as if Bird goes around in circles: at first he wants to escape from his family and nation, but lastly he finally returns to these two basic pillars of his life (Schneider and Gabriel, 1999). Still, it may be argued that existential nature of Bird can be questioned. The readers are fascinated while observing a life struggle of Bird. Moreover, opponents