How many times have you logged on to Facebook and seen a row of status that say “can’t do this right now” or “not sure if I can handle this”? Oh, it happens everyday? Yeah, me too.
This is the problem with Facebook. It’s a cypher for not only the worst parts of the Internet, but also the worst parts of human nature as well. What is to be gained from posting whiney, vague statuses on the Internet? Even more so, what can you gain from replying to people asking you about said vague and whiney status with “I don’t want to talk about it”? Then don’t! I was giving you the attention you were looking for, why have you spurned me, vague and whiney friend?
But, perhaps the worst thing about Facebook is the ‘share’ function, allowing for the invasion of click-bait articles and Buzzfeed quizzes from the darkest, most inane parts of the Internet.
As somebody who intends to make a living off his writing, seeing every baity, over-shared article from Thought Catalogue or ClickHole makes me want vomit harder than the little girl in The Exorcist. Yes, they have sucked me in too. It’s those titles, man. “This clergyman married a dolphin. The reason why will bring you to tears!” Who isn’t going to click on that?
We’ve been fools, my friends; we’ve let Facebook have too much power. The only thing to do is have a mass exodus from Facebook. It was fun while it lasted guys, let’s all go back to Friendster.
But in all seriousness, the message here is watch what you post. In the same way your teachers will advise you from posting anything offensive or image damaging, I’m urging you not to post anything brain-rotting.
I probably shouldn’t care as much as I should about articles posted on Facebook, but I really can’t help myself. It’s not pathetic on the part of the people sharing, it’s pathetic on the part of the websites publishing half this crap. Where did these sites even come from? Is there really that much revenue in running a click-bait site and articles about “twenty dogs who can unicycle?” And if there is…then why am I working for a college newspaper?
stop writing please • Oct 29, 2014 at 10:57 pm
I feel like you should stop writing opinion articles. First your coffee one was ridiculous. That was the one that made me hate your writing, and it just pissed me off because I am a Barista. This one on you bitching about facebook is your own fault. If you don’t want those things on your facebook feed, unfriend the person, or better yet, don’t even have a facebook to begin with. It’s as simple as that. I feel like you just aren’t the right person to write opinion articles, not because your opinion is wrong (although it was wrong on the so called “Cup of Destruction” article) but I feel like you push your opinion on to others, basically saying that we don’t have a choice. It’s your opinion or the highway. Why can’t you post an opinion article about something that is relevant to the University seeing that this is the University Newspaper???? Just a thought, or should I say opinion?
stop writing please • Oct 29, 2014 at 10:57 pm
I feel like you should stop writing opinion articles. First your coffee one was ridiculous. That was the one that made me hate your writing, and it just pissed me off because I am a Barista. This one on you bitching about facebook is your own fault. If you don’t want those things on your facebook feed, unfriend the person, or better yet, don’t even have a facebook to begin with. It’s as simple as that. I feel like you just aren’t the right person to write opinion articles, not because your opinion is wrong (although it was wrong on the so called “Cup of Destruction” article) but I feel like you push your opinion on to others, basically saying that we don’t have a choice. It’s your opinion or the highway. Why can’t you post an opinion article about something that is relevant to the University seeing that this is the University Newspaper???? Just a thought, or should I say opinion?
Disappointed • Oct 29, 2014 at 3:21 pm
I’m very open minded to all different types of writing, but frankly, Ben, I believe it’s time you stop doing opinion pieces.
It seems as if your main focus is on petty topics in which you degrade people doing things that don’t affect you at all. I have read some good opinion articles from you (like the one last week about how some people won’t be your friend anymore because you’re gay), but lately your quality articles have become few and far between.
This is just like the coffee article except it’s about Facebook. So you don’t like all the Thought Catalog (yes, you spelled it wrong in your article) articles people share? Then unfriend those people and don’t read them. Problem solved. Thought Catalog and BuzzFeed are popular for a reason–people can relate to their articles and they provide some sort of positive feeling or entertainment value, which your articles greatly lack.
I love the Torch. I think it’s awesome that it’s student run and I know the staff puts a lot of work into what they do. But their opinion section might as well be labeled “Ben’s Bitching Section” because that’s basically what it’s evolved into.
Disappointed • Oct 29, 2014 at 3:21 pm
I’m very open minded to all different types of writing, but frankly, Ben, I believe it’s time you stop doing opinion pieces.
It seems as if your main focus is on petty topics in which you degrade people doing things that don’t affect you at all. I have read some good opinion articles from you (like the one last week about how some people won’t be your friend anymore because you’re gay), but lately your quality articles have become few and far between.
This is just like the coffee article except it’s about Facebook. So you don’t like all the Thought Catalog (yes, you spelled it wrong in your article) articles people share? Then unfriend those people and don’t read them. Problem solved. Thought Catalog and BuzzFeed are popular for a reason–people can relate to their articles and they provide some sort of positive feeling or entertainment value, which your articles greatly lack.
I love the Torch. I think it’s awesome that it’s student run and I know the staff puts a lot of work into what they do. But their opinion section might as well be labeled “Ben’s Bitching Section” because that’s basically what it’s evolved into.