Myspace VS. Facebook VS. Neither

Destinie Schroff, Staff Reporter

Destinie_Schroff@csumb.edu

When I sit down to write my piles of essays I always

find myself looking at my top friends bulletins and new

pictures from last weekend’s parties on their uniquely

designed pages. Unlike homework, Myspace can hold

my attention and entertainment for hours. Few things

on the internet can give the instant gratification of “new

messages,” “new comments,” “new friend requests,”

and the ever glorious, “new picture comments.” Let’s

be honest with ourselves, who doesn’t love that “you’re

hott” comment on your latest Myspace-posed headshot?

And how did our parents ever let anyone know what

was going on with their lives without bulletins? Not to

mention surveys, which are a cult culture of their own.

Facebook is annoying and a major invasion of

privacy. I don’t care if Corey added three friends today

and “is no longer listed as single.” It is aggravating

to be overloaded with random friends telling me to

complete a survey asking what Power Ranger, flower,

or kiss I am only to be told “To see your results, send

to 20 friends!”

And Myspace has one thing Facebook will always

be lacking- Tom. No one cares who invented Facebook.

Tom is the original Myspace celebrity and has shown

how Myspace can lead to real careers. Facebook could

never launch Tila Tequilla into a bi-sexual love show

on MTV.

Now I think I’ll go post a bulletin…

Jessica Diers, Staff Reporter

 HYPERLINK "mailto:Jesica_Diers@csumb.edu" Jesica_Diers@csumb.edu

Facebook is the gateway into a new life for college

students. For me, Facebook is like walking on the

beach without shoes on and actually being able to feel

the sand between my toes. It could also be compared to

waking up in the morning to the overwhelming smell of

pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Facebook is our generation’s

new essence of life. It offers such things as online flirting

called poking, lovability quizzes, event invitations, top

ten friends lists, private messaging, and an “about me”

column. Perks such as these make Facebook a great

escape from reality for busy college students. We have

begun to thrive off of Facebook and it continues to

play an imperative part of our young and careless lives.

However, a similar but less important web site called

MySpace.com is lurking cautiously. It is prowling our

beloved Facebook in hopes of someday taking its place.

MySpace does not facilitate a trace of a flirtatious or fun

experience, basically its lame. MySpace is like waking

up in the morning with the flu and having to stay in bed

all day, not because it is fun or exciting, but because

you have to. Therefore, I encourage you to erase your

MySpace account, realize it is petty and jump on the

bandwagon. Find your crush on Facebook and give him

or her a little poke!

Blake Northey, Staff Reporter

 HYPERLINK "mailto:blake_northey@csumb.edu" blake_northey@csumb.edu

In this day and age, MySpace and Facebook are a lot like opinions, everyone has one.

They are easy to join, all it takes are some borderline provocative photos, a hit song to

play whenever your page is opened, and you are on the way to joining the flock.

Everyone has their reasons for contributing to this epidemic. Keeping up with

old friends is the number one excuse for having a MySpace or Facebook, but that

is massively misleading. “MySpying on my ex” seems much more accurate. I

cannot decide if MySpace and Facebook are a fantastic way to advertise products

and businesses; or a wonderful way to degrade oneself, but either way, MySpace and

Facebook rank right down there with the rest of the filth you can find on the internet.

I know I don’t want to be part of such a huge cyber predator attraction. It is scary

how much personal information is posted on MySpace and Facebook, and what

is even more terrifying is who’s reading it. Also, MySpace and Facebook are a

terrible way for social interaction, but a great way to leave your ex-boyfriend (b/f)

or girlfriend (g/f) a nasty message because he/she wants to “MySpace” other people.

These social networks take away from real interaction with real people; and they

give off a false sense of community and friendship. There isn’t any way you can

choose friends from pictures and a background song. Friendship is not a click away.

People who use MySpace and Facebook falsify who they really are on their pages.

In reality, these social networks are people’s alternate personas, based on how they

want to be perceived by other users. If you are looking for romance sign up for E

Harmony, but remember, relationships are only as good as what you put into them.

Social networks are more drama than they are worth, but some people do have a good

time scanning MySpace and Facebook just to look up who’s been messaging their

significant other. Obviously; these networks are a great resource to find out if you

are being cheated on.

Who needs trust when you can track everyone and everything your b/f or g/f has

been doing. Furthermore, the photos that are posted go from personal to incriminating

because everyone can see them, which means teachers, bosses, parents, and peers.

It seems like everyone has become a virtual sheep, mindlessly following the flock

without looking out for themselves. People have been fired over MySpace and

Facebook pictures, and relationships, friendships, and lives have been ruined. In

spite of the massive damage these networks have done, people still post pictures and

messages like it is nobody’s business. But then, this opinion would not be possible

without you, the loyal MySpace and Facebook sheep.