There is no question, in a lot of ways technology has made our lives much easier…but believe me…there are definitely drawbacks. Let’s take today for instance…

I was having a conversation with my friend Mike (who also did the Audio/Visual for BarCampTexas)…we were talking about the Long Tail Tech Show (more later) that Kelsey and I are about to start. Then…the conversation turned “Off-Color”…and my phone accidently called the last person I would want to hear a conversation of this nature. Now, I don’t know what the result was…whether the conversation was recorded or not…but I do know that I owe that person a huge apology (You know who you are ;). I’ve already sent the person in question a lengthy e-mail apologizing for my spam voicemail…but I wanted to reflect for a minute on the way technology has made the world a smaller place…but at the same time has taken away a degree of privacy…and allowed us to seriously embarrass ourselves in ways we never imagined possible.

A perfect example of this is services like MySpace . I’ve had this same conversation with several people over the last few months, but it goes without saying that services like MySpace, Friendster, Tribe, and a million other “Social Networking Services” cause nothing but trouble. Here’s an excerpt from an e-mail I sent a friend about this a while back.

So, there’s this strange and oddly intoxicating revolution going on. I have been watching this hip new Social Site MySpace with interest for the last few weeks. At first mildly puzzled by it’s popularity…and later dumbfounded by it’s current effect on society. I mean, I have literally heard people say (at parties,clubs, and even in the line at grocery stores)…”So, are you on MySpace?”…And…once in the past month even uttered the phrase myself (albeit I wasn’t really the interested party…I was just fishing for information for a friend…but none the less).

But, what strikes me so deeply, is the way in which people are using MySpace to communicate. They aren’t just adding friends to their network, and commenting on each other pages…they aren’t just blogging, or sharing photos (although all of that does go on). They are communicating with lovers and ex-lovers via song.

For instance, my Friend Tiffany’s Girlfriend Chelsi just broke up with her. And, out of curiousity I went to Chelsi’s page…and she is playing a song by When In Rome called “The Promise”…I think this is a direct message for Tiff (in fact, I am sure of it). Likewise, Tiffany is playing “Dreams” by the Cranberries. Another direct message…

I have seen this happen with other people too…including people in our office…leaving messages for lovers, ex-lovers…and even the new girlfriend/boyfriend via songs on their MySpace pages. What’s more, is I have met up with old friends who I wouldn’t have dreamed of talking to a year ago. I mean…everyone…literally everyone I have ever known is on MySpace . My first boyfriend, the girl I sat next to on the bus in 6th grade…my 8th grade English Teacher…my Favorite Band…What is the attraction?

Some people have said that it’s because MySpace takes a hands off approach. People can do with their pages exactly what they want (no wonder they all look so terrible). But..at the same time…people are finding new ways to communicate thoughts and feelings via a song…or a quote in their headline…or with a picture or video. People are finding that the world really is a small place afterall.

Now, I hate to admit this…but the truth is…I like that I can go online and figure out exactly what my old crush from High School is up to by checking out his profile (and reading the comments that others have left…really very revealing). But, if I can do this, so can just about anyone else. Where are the privacy lines drawn? Will it become more and more difficult for this generation to keep secrets and have affairs because the women (and men) will find it so easy to “let the cat out of the bag”? No uncomfortable phone calls…no face to face conversations…just leave a comment on his page “Wow Joe…last night was amazing!!!”…and the whole world knows? I haven’t crossed over into actually having a MySpace page of my own that I actually use…(I even deleted Tom as a Friend…LOL) but part of me is beginning to see the attraction. I mean I can add a million friends and be like totally super cool…and have all my friends leave comments and tell me how much they love & adore me…and miss me. It’s like middle school all over again!

I even went on a rampage this very morning over some quote a girl left on someone’s page today…it’s like knowing TOO much information. Sometimes, I’d rather just be lied to…right? Well, not out right lied to…but at least have some of the truth withheld. What is even funnier…is when you know about their MySpace page…have read exactly what they have been up to…and then they proceed to lie to you on the phone. Can we say “Busted”?
I feel totally caught between wanting to love this awesome new technology that helps people to find new and different ways to communicate with one another…and wanting to hate the juvenile nature of the MySpace community at large (while participating in it at the same time…I know, I’m a hypocrite…).

Oh well, in short we are creating a world that is more and more connected…where people communicate feelings via song, keep vamps away from their boyfriend’s by posting possesive comments on his profile…and meet new love interests through friends with what can only be described as virtual blind dating (which is not so blind anymore)…??? What is the world coming to?

So tell me your thoughts?

NOTE: For anyone who has a Blackberry 8700c, if you SMS someone from your phone…and mistakenly leave that screen open…and put your Blackberry in your purse…it could very easily call that person…and you could leave a very embarrassing message on someone’s voicemail. Just a tip from one geek girl to another…lock your keys. LOL.

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