interesting... but not convinced it is not just another forum for self-expression and experimentation, things that form normal part of teenage development. Too easy to draw conclusions that kids can't differentiate between on and offline, real and supposed friends... Not that I think this article concludes that. Find it pretty balanced. Also think the word 'friend' in this context needs to be, and probably generally is, understood as 'contact'. And, as in the offline world, some like to be surrounded by numerous loser aquantances and others by fewer closer mates... we are all different
SimSim, Nov 22, 2008 @ 14:20

erm, completely did not mean 'loser' aquantances (spelling!)!!!!!!

You know what I meant, right? familiar faces as opposed to close friends...

Man, I am having a useless day!
SimSim, Nov 22, 2008 @ 18:14

Thanks for sharing. I'm also not convinced by the article.

The gist of it is that younger people use social networks to create an 'ideal' virtual version of themselves, and then they can grow their 'real life' person into this 'ideal' person. Sounds a bit far fetched to me.

In my own simplistic view, I split most networks into 2 big camps:

1. Those that focus on allowing people to live a great 'virtual life'.  
This is mainly the Facebook type networks. FB does allow better real life contacts too, but most people I know use it mainly for the virtual side of things.

2. Those that focus on being just a tool for 'real life' stuff.
This is mainly the Meetup type networks, and I hope glocals.com also falls into this camp for most folks.

That's my research paper for today...(-;

Nir

 
Nir Ofek, Nov 22, 2008 @ 20:47

Interesting articles indeed (Tinkie: you may have already seen that the Hebdo’s article will be continued next Tuesday) - some thoughts (a bit beyond the scope of these two articles) which came to my mind while reading:

The web is a revolution since it allows us accessing information anytime, anywhere, about all kind of topics and from various sources. The access to the information requires a proactive behavior from internauts (as opposed to the passive television viewers). The other side of the coin is that, since all people (serious and less serious) can express themselves, it requires the reader to be able to show more criticism.

Specific websites, such as Facebook (at regional/worldwide level) and Glocals (at local Swiss level), go a step further since they allow people with similar interests/history/background to communicate and stay in touch. While Facebook mainly focuses on deepening the contact between friends (and friends from friends), former classmates/coworkers etc, Glocals rather creates a communication path for (mostly expat) people (who otherwise would have hardly met randomly) to organize events, meet between friends, share ideas and discover people from other cultures and background which is really great! :w00t:

Both combine virtual and real experiences :P. However, at the end of the day, what is the real value of the virtual experience if it never becomes reality? I am sure that, to a certain extent, a large number of people try to experience through the web what they cannot explore in their virtual life which might contribute to the development of their personality – but how many are really satisfied when this virtual life never becomes real?

In any event, at least for most of the Glocals users, the virtual experience experience/exchange is achieved via real social events during which virtual users meet each other. Even Facebook is a great way of obtaining information with respect to local events (less true for Geneva, but Paris was a great example of the use of Facebook to follow social events) and often gives users the possibility to meet in real. It is certainly mostly depending on the personal use we have of such type of network websites.

The idealized presentation (indeed commonly used) of users certainly eases the first contact. The exchange of ideas allows to start communicating in a different manner than in the reality. While the reality might be (in some instances) influenced and corrupted by the appearance (the outside), the virtual communication is rather focusing on the ideas we have (the inside). In some ways one could argue that the virtual meeting can be seen as a modern alternative route to introduce the real face-to-face.

Virtual and real life may therefore be considered as intimately connected to each other!

I am sure we could all discuss around this topic during hours – this might be an interesting Glocals live debate to be organized someday ;)
RaphS, Nov 23, 2008 @ 14:25