What's the Matrix? Here's a short answer (from Wikipedia):
The Matrix is a 1999 American-Australian science fiction action film written and directed by The Wachowskis, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantoliano. It depicts a dystopian future in which reality as perceived by most humans is actually a simulated reality called "the Matrix", created by sentient machines to subdue the human population, while their bodies' heat and electrical activity are used as an energy source. Computer programmer "Neo" learns this truth and is drawn into a rebellion against the machines, which involves other people who have been freed from the "dream world".
Facebook strikes me as a pretty good analogy. I've given up trying to inject "reality" into my occasional posts. People just don't seem to want to hear bad news. So while World War III is taking place in the real world, the good people in Facebook Land talk about sunrises, baby goats, puppies and kittens, grandkids, anniversaries, restaurants, etc. All fine, all fun, but try to interject something having to do with the real world and you run the risk of being "blocked or unfriended. Who likes a spoilsport?
A few exceptions. One person in my "friend" list (she's not even a friend, just someone I know from the Writers Guild) is a rabble-rouser, unabashedly, unrelentingly political, can't stand Obama and isn't afraid to let people know. She's actually funny, snarky and sarcastic, constantly posting articles, etc. that I find interesting and actually read. One of the few Facebook denizens not plugged into the Matrix.
Other exceptions: Democrats reviving old grievances (against George W. Bush, the Iraq war), environmentalists or animal rights activists. Conservatives like me tend to tiptoe into Facebook Land, "like" something they agree with and even occasionally join the conversation. But we seldom step into left-leaning discussions (why isn't there a dislike button?).
My involvement on Facebook lately is mostly passive, with the occasional random posting (some arcane bit of information like Botox being botulinum toxin would probably make the cut) or birthday greeting even though I'm still old school and love actual notes and cards (hand-written preferably).
Occasionally I feel the old stirring of wanting to just SCREAM at stupid people who don't seem to care about what's happening outside the Matrix...but I get over it pretty quickly. I'm not sure that's a good thing, but it is what it is.
No comments:
Post a Comment