Calaidescope World

Keeping Up with the World

Friendster. Hi 5. MySpace. Multiply. How many sets of networks does one really need to keep track of family and friends? Just to access my friends' play lists, blogs and phlogs, I need to register in each "friend group". What a hassle. New log in name, password, profile, pictures. Haaay. Only people who know my aliases will find me on MySpace and Multiply. I'm there for them, not for the world to see (that's what Friendster and Blogger are for). I have nothing to post on Hi 5, MySpace and Multiply because everything anyone really needs to know about me is here or on Friendster. Or they can just ask! Even international phone calls are cheap now. Or free! Plus, there's no one in the other networks who I *really* need to keep in touch with who is not on my mobile phone/email contact list/Friendster or is someone I won't bump into in Makati, the Town Centre or the Cuenca Bazaars. Sure, JM is in Bangkok, but we SMS and email each other regularly, and chat on Yahoo! Messenger and Skype. Celso's in Seatlle, but I can just call him (which I do at least once a year). Gars hasn't left; I can just drive over to his house.

How about sharing the photos that I've taken? It's a skill that I've been trying to build and I like sharing what I've seen, where I've been. I could start a phlog. But where? I stopped posting my pictures on pBase three years ago because they started charging for space. I'm cheap. I want to post for free! Blogger and Friendster have file size limits. My pBase account still exists and you can still visit my site (point your browsers to www.pbase.com/raven. Feel free to post comments and suggestions. I haven't improved!), but I have another set of pictures up on Shutterfly (I can't even remember my account details, but there's a link in one my blog posts from September 2005). Benjor and Macky find it easier to upload photos on Multiply. Should I go there? But that means I have to maintain 2 networks and 2 blog formats. I don't even have time to walk my dog!

It's funny, though, that I know what some of my friends are up to simply by reading their blogs or logging onto Friendster. Someone like Roman can probably say the same thing (and we keep in touch by commenting on each other's blogs). I haven't spoken to Lilit in about a year, but I know how he is thanks to Friendster. I haven't been in touch with Jemen since she was expatriated to Hong Kong, but her blog says it all. I haven't sat down with Jay I. to talk about his Evenstar Project, but I like what I've heard on MySpace. I didn't know Zachy was doing so well in school until I read it on Gabby's blog. I was waiting for blog updates on Benjor's LiveJournal only to find out he's moved to Multiply. Stupid me, I could've just called to ask how he's been, right? Know what I mean?

They say the world is getting smaller because it's supposedly easier to stay updated on people you know and to get to know people from different backgrounds or cultures. Online networks make it easier to share. However, the world is also becoming more anti-social. I don't like the idea of my closest friends being just "online friends" (or worse, simply my "friendsters"!). What ever happened to hanging out in the House of Sin or Miggy's bangketa, chatting over a cold bottle of San Mig Light on a lazy afternoon, partying in a bar, making fun of passers by in the mall? Whatever happened to "keeping in touch"?

Sigh. What's an exhibitionist to do?

posted by Calai @ 11:39 AM