Palliativity 143: The Socially Inclined

I think Snow Crash, Neuromancer and other cyberpunk pieces have touched on most of the socio-economic dangers and implications of social networking. I don’t’ mind that Google thinks it knows me better than my friends and family. I don’t care if Apple traces my every step.

Social networking simply reenforces the old concept: it’s who you know and trust that matters most in business. Friending and subscribing is the new handshake; the new meet-n-greet. Corporations are still running to catch-up to the little guys and the Federal Government is still grabbing at Anonymous straws.

I recently got a call from the Chicago Trib offering a free weekly delivery of just the coupon portion of the newspaper. As we’ve all known for a long time, news isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. Television isn’t worth the price of broadcasting. Movies are not worth the milk-duds, popcorn and large soda.

What this all comes down to is an expression of self. You are auditioning for the role of being the most awesome/ popular/ fashionable/ geeky/ artistic/ hipster individual, EVERY DAY. When you Tweet your breakfast cereal or Pinterest a new crochet pattern, you are telling the world that your 4G-LTE broadband connection makes you worth something.

I’m still waiting to see my stock options…

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