"Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them. " - Francesco Guicciardini
As Internet community and networking sites continue to spring up and prosper in cyberspace, we are reminded that popularity is still a factor in determining one's self-confidence.
And you thought high school was over!
Sites like Friendster and, more recently, The Facebook, have enabled students across the country to "network" together to make new aquaintances and reestablish communication with old friends. This, of course, is in addition to connecting to the current friends an individual has.
All the while, the "friend" tally marks keep adding up. And perhaps this is where these sites go wrong: their uses.
The Facebook has received more attention and certainly more users than Friendster and its forerunners ever did. The site is currently active at well over 100 schools and the Facebook's features are being awaited at many more. With that in mind, the demand for students to be "connected," "associated," "poked" and "Facebooked" with each other has gone from a small Internet trend to university-aged jargon.
But why?
Sure, it may be great to be virtually connected to a group of people, let alone friends, but sites like Friendster and the Facebook begin to push quantity over quality. Without a doubt, this was not the sites' original intention, but it slowly has evolved into a major underlying theme of its use. Some users of these sites have found themselves in pathetic, yet understandable attempts to feed their egos, their self-confidence levels and their desire to feel loved.
Certainly the harsh stereotype does not describe all users. If one is truly "loved," though, they do not need an online service to tell them so; and the same goes for friendships.
As many elders would tell us, were we to try to count on our hands the number of truly close, loyal and dedicated friendships we have, we may be very surprised at the amount of fingers we still have down. However, if we still have at least a few fingers up, we should consider ourselves quite lucky.
Simply put, friends are invaluable.
And by the way, if you were wondering: aside from being quotable, Guicciardini was also a politician.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
