Social Media Rituals or “the timeless human desire for attention?”
I have deliberately avoided any mention of the political peccadilloes concerning the latest scandal that is Anthony Weiner, NY Democrat representative in the US Congress. There is enough information out there for anyone interested in the details.
However, in today’s New York Times, Ross Douthat, in writing about The Online Looking Glass states that
“The rituals of social media, it seems, make status-seekers and exhibitionists of us all.
Read it. You will not be wasting your time. Let me know what you think!
For what it is worth, narcissists will always find a way to expose themselves. And how do we know these details? Social networking in some shape or form. As simple as “Me Tarzan, you Jane!” Word always gets around. Eventually.
The National Enquirer did it for Sen John Edwards, winning a Pulitzer Prize in the process. Oprah Winfrey did it for James Frey. The Hitler Diaries were eventually outed as frauds and Richard Millhouse Nixon did it for himself. Not forgetting, Tiffany’s doing it for Newt! As we speak!
But my favourite has to go to Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll and the scandal of the Headless Men.
I read the “Headless Men” article and it’s such a shame that the woman is made to suffer in the irony that her only crime was in giving pleasure to two men. It’s no wonder that it’s a patriarchal society that judged her. Today, sex tapes of Paris Hilton and other reality star “bimbettes” garner them fame and fortune … back then a sex scandal meant obscurity for the woman and a peerage for the man. So unfair.
I have always thought of her as being a real trooper. She lived to a good age and the pearls, which were her identifying feature in the photos, stayed with her forever. Her social circle of the time would have been well aware of the details but protection, of sorts, noblesse oblige, kept it contained to within the ranks. Human behaviour does not seem to have changed all that much, however, the evolutionary and rapid development of social media exposes so much, so much more quickly. Paris Hilton et al might have the fame and the fortune but that is all they have!
BTW, how is work on the book faring? Love to know more!
Slow, but I got some revisions done this weekend. I think I need to unwind so I can get more work done on the book. Thanks for asking 🙂
And the beat goes on….
One thing has changed, though. The concept of discretion. Can you imagine anyone taking that secret to their grave now?
The Online Looking Glass was a fantastic article. The “look at me”/”it’s all about me” compulsion is frightening. I see it every day in my kids (where it’s at least age appropriate) and make it a point to explain how the feelings of others are at least as important as theirs and they should think about that before they speak and act. I get a lot of blank stares and heavy sighs, but I hope it’s sinking in.
There is so much I wanted to say on this topic (but I was in a rush) – you bring up the very interesting point about what you see everyday in the behaviour of your children. Where it is at least age appropriate! Somehow, the whole business of politics, fame etc seems to be the desperate plea from adults still screaming for childish attention. Politicians worry me the most. They enact crucial decisions. They go to war.
Another theory of mine, to be explored further at a later date, concerns the Power of Cake which is truly awesome. You keep cooking!