Ivor Tossel on social networking!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/v5/content/audio/ivorcast0109.mp3

Zach R

Today at 12:51am

From Ivor Tossell's webcast on G&M,

there are things you can't say on facebook, like you are feeling sad, facebook and sad doesn't mix. facebook and twitter is like the bird section at the pet store, lots of incessant chirping of comments, witticism, which is mildly intriguing, but always happy.

but what happens when someone is sad and enters the birdhouse saying 'moo', things get awkward, the golden rule of social networking sites is: if you don't have anything fun to say, dont say it at all. Its like a party, keep it fun, but its going on 24/7, you fall asleep on the couch and wake up the next morning to continue chirping.

like all public spaces everyone has to perform to what is acceptable, its a straight jacket of what you can, and can't say.

you have some choices on your status updates and comments, you can be droll, ironic, drolly ironic, detached, or pretending to be frustrated with something in such a way that indicates that you are really fine with it and underneath it all you're viewing the situation with a sense of droll irony.

at the end of the day, or year, its all very pleasant but what you have left is just chirping.

the things that matter in life, great conflicts and considerations simply cant fit into social networking sites... everyone puts on a happy mask, and for some the most exciting part of it all is the happy masquerade

http://www.whiteelephant.ca/ if you want to check out his web commentaries