9/29 by Jay

So this week, I've been thinking about how we portray ourselves to the world by using facebook. I mentioned in an older journal about how Stewie from Family Guy had it right on spot when he said that social networking sites give me a chance to list "movies and things that other people have created that I use to express my individualism." It's our public image and we have to make it appealing, disregarding our faults and shortcomings. It's just another part of the human psyche, it's just another part of the internet - you can be whoever you want to be because no one's going around checking that this is really you. For instance, maybe you really love musicals and showtunes but under "Favorite Music" you only list the latest Top 40 hits. Or maybe you only tag flattering pictures of yourself. Or put that you're in a relationship when you really aren't. There's this aspect of social networking that we haven't explored yet - ego.

In other news, another thing I think is really interesting is companies using facebook to "scope out" potential employees. With Illini 4000, I kind of feel like we could do the same thing (or any organization on campus that you have to apply to). As a prospective member, you could be added by an officer of the organization and they could see all these various aspects of your life that you might not have wanted to show just yet. Pretty interesting stuff, just saying.