MySpace…My What a Waste of Time

Last week I closed my MySpace account for the 3rd time. I don’t know why it’s taken a combined year or so to realize that MySpace is a complete waste of time, but the thought of MySpace pretty much makes me sick to my stomach.  Let’s take a look at what MySpace has done for our society:

-It has reconnected people who barely knew each other 10 years ago.
-It draws people into wasting 10-15 minutes a day in reading about the lives of people who they don’t even care about.
-It’s as close to feeling you’re in high school again as you are ever going to get.
-MySpace is a place that has ruined many marriages due to the ease of creating secret profiles and meeting people through it’s service.
-It leaves you vulnerable to being stalked.
-It has made it easier for child predators to contact boys and girls.

There is nothing MySpace can do that a phone and email can’t. MySpace has also become an alibi for those who cheat in relationships. Time and time again we hear about an old boyfriend/girlfriend contacting somebody in a relationship. That person will explain to his or her significant other that they didn’t do anything, because they received the message so there isn’t any reason to be irked. Well, the truth is, you are doing something because you have an account and by having a MySpace account you are just increasing the risk of coming across somebody you used to know and screwing up everything you and your husband/wife have worked for.

Look, we all know who are friends are nowadays, and we certainly don’t need a “Top 8″ to express it to the world. Reflect back on the last year of your MySpace use. How much time have you wasted? Of all the “friends” that you have, how many do you really talk to and hang out with? How many do you really care about? And how much of this whole MySpace phase is about people trying to hang onto the past?

When I set up a MySpace account about a year ago, it was to stay in touch with my teenage sisters. They didn’t have a cell phone and were always online. Well, when I look back on the whole experience I didn’t really talk to them much at all. You get caught up in browsing photos, profiles, bands you don’t care about, and start questioning why people have the default profile pic that they have. And god forbid somebody removes you as a friend or kicks you off their top friends list.

MySpace does have a demographic and it was intended as a place for “friends”. A meeting place of high school aged people. When you go outside of that demographic you start to see all the problems I’ve listed above (child predators, failed marriages, etc). MySpace is also a great place to promote things. If you’re in a band, or something like that then great. Put up your tracks, show your gigs and use it as a way to spread the word. The interface of MySpace is perfect for something like that.

If you are somebody who does nothing but waste time on MySpace then perhaps it’s time for you to jump ship like I did. Think of the time you’ve wasted over the past year. At 10 minutes a day, you’ve wasted about 61 hours browsing useless information on people you don’t really care about, or publishing pictures that deserve to seen by your close friends and family. Just because you took a great picture doesn’t mean it has to be shared with a bunch of people you’ll never see again. Some moments deserve to be private. What ever happened to earning a friendship so that they could be a part of your life?

My MySpace page is gone, and it’s never coming back. I may not have 137 “friends” as portrayed on there, but the 10 really close friends that I have in addition to the life I lead with my wife and daughter is the true meaning of my MySpace.

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a safe and happy new year’s celebration. We rang in the new year with family and even Bella stayed up past the stroke of midnight to welcome 2008.

There’s no doubt about it, 2007 was not an easy year.We faced a lot of adversities but we’ve made it through. I really believe 2008 is going to be a year of prosperity and growth, and I wish nothing but the best for you and your family.

I came across this in today’s paper and really took it to heart. I hope you enjoy it:

Just for today I will live through the next 12 hours and not tackle my whole life’s problems at once.

Just for today I will improve my mind. I will learn something useful. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

Just for today I will be agreeable, I will look my best, speak in a well-modulated voice, be courteous and considerate.

Just for today I will not find fault with friend, relative or colleague. I will not try to change or improve anyone but myself.

Just for today I will have a program. I might not follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two enemies — hurry and indecision.

Just for today I will exercise my character in three ways. I will do a good turn and keep it a secret. If anyone finds out, it won’t count.

Just for today I will do two things I don’t want to do, just for exercise.

Just for today I will be unafraid. Especially will I be unafraid to enjoy what is beautiful and believe that as I give to the world, the world will give to me.

Let’s make it a great year!