I think that this video is extremely funny. The characters were hilarious and really stereotypical. The pizza delivery man was classic. He would be what some would call a “loser” and tried to live the “good” life online. He made himself up to be something that he thought was what he wanted to be, saying that he was tall, dark and handsome. AS funny as the video is, I find it sad that some people actually do that. Not because they aren’t the most attractive, or the richest or tallest, but because their self esteem is so low that they feel the need to lie and try to find another life online. The guy in the video wanted so much more to his life yet, lacked the confidence to go after it.
I think that people look down on finding love online, and think that people must t be desperate to do such things. However, I know 6 married couples that met somehow online, either it be blackplanet, facebook or MySpace. I think that finding love online the equivalent on going on a blind date. In some cases I believe that it’s the same as meeting someone in public, exchanging numbers, and then setting up a date. Even though in public you were able to see the person once, but you still know nothing about that person.
I believe that talking to a person online may even be more productive that dating in person. If you only talk to a person online verses face to face, and the two people happen to fall in love. It sort of rules out the factor of only being physically attractive, but knowing that there could be a deeper connection.
Just like any type of network, you must be careful online about exposing too much information about yourself, because there are people that use this technology without the best intentions. As the music video showed, not everyone can be trusted.
January 20, 2009 at 8:52 pm
I watched “You’ve Got Mail” this week and your comment about a “deeper connection” was pretty much the moral of the story. I don’t know if you have seen that movie, but Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan withhold all personal information, making their identities neutral concerning race, religion, age, height, weight, etc- allowing the relationship to be based solely on the “deeper connection,” as you stated.
It was kind of funny because they were using dial-up and their chat-room seemed so primitive compared to dating/networking sites today that allow pictures, videos, songs, etc. Anyways, it is obvious that there really is something to online match-making, you are right about that
January 21, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I guess with online dating etc, if makes the whole process much more efficient—as with the intention of most new technologies. I mean you can search through a number of profiles on those dating website in a matter of seconds, whereas going on dates requires much more time. Haha I know what I just said sounded pathetic and lazy but it seems like the truth in my eyes. I think you would have to agree that online dating is increasing at an enormous rate given all the advertising I see in all forms of media (i.e. newspapers, magazines, TV, internet, radio).
January 22, 2009 at 8:15 pm
To show how you cannot trust who you meet online I created a MySpace account. In it I was a 16 year old male from Omaha, Nebraska. My likes were something that would attract other 16 year olds. I then had one class of my students find this person and add “him” as a contact. After “talking” with this person for days I finally revealed to them that they had been talking to me. They were floored. I used their lingo, talked about their music, sports et cetera. I told them that I now knew a lot about each of them. I pointed out all the things they revealed to me thinking I was a “friend” from far away, not a teacher from the same room. Also I pointed out that if I was a predator, it was very easy for me to find them.
It was an eye opener for them – and me. Wow, the things I learned.
Just as an aside, I deleted the profile and all their messages. I also told them that what they revealed to me was held in strict confidence and has since been forgotten. And MySpace is now blocked by the administration.
They asked me how I was able to fool them – I said I used the internet. Duh.
January 23, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I thought it was funny when you talked about the person making himself to be someone he was not just because it was online and no one would know the difference. I think that is a scary part about being deeply involved with online interactions. I find that it would be really hard to get a grasp on what a person is truly like if you only interact online.