Paraphrase of Andie Wurster’s
“Wont You Be My Friendster?”
In Andie Wurster’s essay “Wont You Be My Friendster?” Wurster talks about how online social networks like Facebook and MySpace “…inevitably cropped up” (543).
A great number of her friends were actively involved in the networks’ activities like posting pictures and updating their profile status. Initially, she views these networks as irrelevant and unrealistic and had intentions to never have anything to do with them until her inquisitiveness finally paves way for her to join the cycle of online social networks.
After this leap from being detached to being caught up with these networks, Wurster finds out that though some of her criticisms about these networks are true, the networks are not as bad as she thought. She believes these sites are to make people look better than they really are and she establishes the fact that these networks accomplish their task in all ramifications as people are allured by the “look-at-me attitude” (543) they impose. However, they help provide a unique way for people who already know each other to develop a greater understanding of one another’s personality through responses to post and “byte-sized lists of likes and dislikes” (544).
In addition, Wurster informs her readers that these networks provide optimum means for people to communicate internationally. Instead of being open to some particular people from one locality, users can meet people from different places around the world with diverse cultures and backgrounds and develop good rapport with each other; which strongly helps people broaden their view of life.
The Essay on People Have Become Overly Dependent on Technology
The world today is more dependent on technology than ever. Over 90% of Americans today own a computerized gadget (Gahran, 2011). People receive email and text messages on cell phones, order fast food online, cars can park themselves, and even when we are driving, the traffic lights are controlled by a centralized computer system (Greenman, 1998). But what is all this access to technology doing to ...
Furthermore, she explains that these networks help break communication hurdle and boosts activities within our physical environment. People are invited for various events through these networks and use the opportunity to improve ordinary online friendships. She gives an example of a “…private listening party for a band’s soon-to-be-released album” (544) she attended. By the close of the occasion, she had met a lot of people who were likely to become her good friends and she had the privilege to offer to help less privileged children. Another thing she mentions is that online social networks help people develop a communication bridge for long-term relationships. It also helps people who share the same interest get acquainted with one another over time.
Irrespective of all these advantages of online social networks, Wurster makes it clear that these networks still have problems. One of the problems she mentions is the ready availability and isolation of these networks that makes it possible for users to upload almost nude pictures. An additional thing she talks about is that it gives some users the effrontery to make unruly remarks on other users. Apart from it being an avenue for people to abuse one another, she makes it clear that the networks are pointed out for permitting elaborate posting and advertisements on their sites. This puts users at a high risk of harassment and users face the tendency to receive more spam messages than usual. From this quote “…the networks’ efforts to protect the safety of the youngest users have not always been successful” (545), Wurster demonstrates that younger children are at a high risk of insecurities.
Overall, when weighed with their pros and cons, Wurster establishes the fact that these online social networks bring along with their disadvantages, a revolutionary means of connection that allows access between different users across the globe.
The Term Paper on Why Do People Make Mistakes?
People make errors all the time. Usually our errors are slight, like typos on the keyboard, and are easily correctable. Other times, our errors are a result of unwise practices, like tailgating on a slippery highway, and can be more consequential. Understanding why people make mistakes has been of scientific interest for many years and though scientists have been successful in developing theories ...
Work-Cited
Wurster, Andie. “Wont You Be My Friendster?” The Bedford Reader. Ed. Kennedy X.J, Dorothy M. Kennedy and Jane E. Aaron. Boston: 2009 543 – 545.
