8 Opinion November 2, 2004 THE RETRIEVER Point Counterpoint A new face on college social interaction Hiding your face: why is a failure

IAN BUKOWSKI friend phenomena puts the issue of creepiness BRIAN ARNOLD people were ‘friending’ me that I had never met. Retriever Editorial Staff or security into the context of a much small- Retreiver Editorial Staff I didn’t really have a problem with that, as the er social network. facebook was being touted as a way to meet new It’s no secret that UMBC students like to Facebook encompasses more than simply I was sitting at my computer, staring at my people, but these people wouldn’t so much as complain about the lack of social life on our making friends or meeting people. Missed a screen through a haze of intense laziness and try- speak to me over AIM. They were just trying to 500 acres. Freshmen observing the barren class last week and want to find out what the ing to think of something to do to avoid writing get as many friends as possible on their lists. campus over the weekend (cue tumbleweed) assignment was? Facebook lets you list your a paper, when I finally gave in and joined theface- Moreover, I was beginning to hear people saying oftentimes find it hard to meet people and courses and search for people in the same book.com. I had been listening to people talk things like “I’m just trying to keep up with (insert find places to go on the weekends. For some, class. Want to find out what’s going on with about how wonderful it was for a week or two, name of actual friend here). She has five more however, thefacebook.com has provided an a campus organization? Most of them have and it sounded like something that could keep me friends than me right now, but I’m catching up!” opportunity to at least expand social net- established facebook groups that you can join occupied for an hour or two. I spent the next 3 I had had the audacity to believe that popu- works and meet people. and read their message board. Interested in hours clicking about the site aimlessly, stumbling larity contests of this sort had largely been left If nothing else, Facebook manages to finding out about things going on around across random people that I knew, and came out behind in high school, but clearly, I was incorrect. break down social boundaries, making it eas- campus or Baltimore? There are groups for of the experience with some degree of satisfaction. The facebook seems like it was conceived to facil- ier to meet people that you may have seen almost every conceivable interest, and if not, Over the next few days, my friend list grew, itate meeting new people, but has ended up being around campus or have noticed in class. And you can simply start one. I joined groups, I browsed the profiles of people used as a gauge of popularity. And speaking of simply leaving a message in a person’s face- On top of current social interaction and in my classes, and I generally enjoyed myself. But socializing, the facebook is largely a failure in that book is a lot less committal than having to events, Facebook has put students in touch somewhere in my mind I had begun to feel that sense as well. The facebook certainly gives the approach someone in person; for those who with people from high school. If you’ve lost something was wrong. Unable to put my finger impression that one is socializing by “meeting” all find introducing themselves to people to be touch with friends or acquaintances from on it, I gave up on my facebooking for the day of these new people – but you’re still sitting at daunting, it’s a lot less awkward. high school, Facebook has an opportunity to and went to my friend’s room, where I found him your computer, in your room, by yourself. That While some find meeting people on the tap into that network as well. There are lim- browsing facebook. Shortly afterward, another isn’t social. internet to be sketchy at best (I am certainly its on viewing profiles of people from other friend came over, and immediately asked if he Furthermore, in this era of internet dating, of a like mind), Facebook provides certain schools, but you can still search by the school could use someone’s computer to check his face- identity theft, and psychotic web stalkers, the limitations that tone down the creepiness fac- you graduated from and add friends. book messages. facebook seems like it could have some generally tor. The network of people who can access While Facebook is far from a revolution- I had also begun to realize an odd trend; detrimental effects. That creepy guy who’s always your profile is limited to your own school, ary new method of college age making eyes at you in English class has your and you can also turn on settings to provide social interaction, it seems to phone number, screen name, and address even more security. When you’re chatting at least have created small rip- now. Does that make you feel social? Or with someone from a class of yours that has ples. It’s a matter of how you does it make you want to hide behind a fifteen mutual friends with you, you can be utilize it, as it comes down to locked door? relatively certain that you’re not talking to a the fact that you are still put- The solution to all this, of course, is 55 year old man pretending to be an 18 year ting your information out incredibly simple: just talk to people. If the old girl. By listing mutual friends and iden- there. There is still the risk of intended aim of the facebook is to facilitate tifying people within your social network, it’s stalkers; there are still creepy meeting new people, then maybe the rea- incredibly easy to not only find people that people out there. Students son we need it is because we’re all just a have common interests and common friends, should watch out what infor- touch too unfriendly. So the next time you and equally easy to get a heads up from the mation they put out there and find yourself staring at your monitor, alone common friend. who they talk to. So if you in your room, take a walk instead, and talk I’ve been astounded at the number of haven’t met anyone through to the people that you see. Unless you’re people I’ve spoken to who have actually gone Facebook, don’t rule it out. writing a paper, in which case the facebook on dates or at least made friends with people Just be careful. is just fine. on the basis of facebook messaging. In such situations, it’s typically not a complete Ian Bukowski is the Opinion Brian Arnold is the assistant opinion stranger, but someone that you might have Editor for the Retriever. He can editor for the Retriever. He can be reached for Courtesy of umbc.thefacebook.com likely met elsewhere, whether it be at a party be reached for comment at UMBC gets faced: A shortcut for internet stalkers or a useful forum for comment or random conversation at or through mutual friends. The friend-of-a- [email protected]. social interaction? You decide. [email protected]. Looking back on the circus: It’s finally over

JEFF HARTLINE it would most certainly be the cartoon from political purpose and is supposed to be be between George W. Bush and someone not Retriever Staff Writer jibjab.com. Originally envisioned as a small estranged from political parties and candida- even on the ballot. satire of the presidential campaign, it quickly cies. The reality is a bit different. Although Who could possibly end this recap of the The 2004 election has seen two of the gained enormous popularity. Featuring the these groups are ostensibly separate from the election without mentioning the massive anti- strangest and most interesting campaigns in heads of George W. Bush and Bush and Kerry campaigns, they operate on Bush campaign launched by Hollywood and American history. Who among us will ever singing a of the old their behalf. While such groups as Moveon.org the entertainment industry? Despite the lack forget Howard Dean, jib-jab, Fahrenheit 9/11, song, “This Land,” the cartoon and song lam- and the groups associated with George Soros of intellectual qualifications, these people the 527 groups (such as the Swift Boat pooned Bush as a “right wing nut job,” and work to unseat Bush, other groups such as the have deemed it necessary to inform us of the Veterans for Truth) or groups like Moveon.org, Kerry as a “liberal wiener.” The cartoon tran- Swift Boat Veterans for Truth work tirelessly threat posed by a second term for President or the phrase “anybody but Bush”? I will cer- scended political parties and ideology and to keep Kerry from the Oval Office. Bush. Political expert Cameron Diaz declared tainly remember this election with amuse- produced what was most needed in this elec- Throughout the political circles and the that by not voting for Kerry, the voter would ment. By the time this article is printed, it will tion: a good laugh. debate shows on cable news, these 527 groups be essentially condoning rape. MTV’s be Election Day, and I thought that the best Some people (such as John Kerry) believe provoke spirited debate. However, the rest of “Choose or Lose” campaign has been omi- way to celebrate would be to briefly recap that President Bush is the most polarizing per- America collectively shrugs its shoulders and nously warning that if college students don’t some of the key moments, phrases and figures. son in America today. I disagree. The most wishes that it would all be over. vote (for Kerry), there could possibly be a Howard Dean will be forever immortal- polarizing person in America today is a man In past elections, the election would draft. Finally, to top off the celebrity circus, ized in political history by that scream. Yes, by the name of Michael Moore. Moore, a doc- come down to two candidates vying for Bruce Springstein has launched a series of you know—that scream. That was when the umentary filmmaker, has been a harsh critic of power. In this election, something strange has concerts called “Rock the Vote” which seek to former Vermont Governor was considered the the Bush administration. In order to sway the happened. From the end of the primary influence voters to vote for, you guessed it, frontrunner during the Democratic primaries. election in the favor of Democrats, he wrote process to today, the election has been Kerry. His strong anti-war views accompanied by his and directed a movie called Fahrenheit 9/11. between George W. Bush and an unknown After this long election process, one socialist leanings became so popular among The movie basically claimed, among other character known as “Anybody But Bush.” might be tempted to say something meaning- the liberal base that it scared the already liber- things, that Bush was connected to the Bin This character probably has his origins in the ful or profound. So here goes: get out and vote al Democratic contenders (especially John Laden family and the War was waged 2000 election, but he became most promi- today—unless you are an uninformed, intel- Kerry) further to the left. It wasn’t until Dean over oil. Although his claims were dubious at nently featured during the . During lectually lazy voter. In other words, if you are made that blood-curdling scream that he truly best, he was widely lauded by many of those the war, many liberals and leftists claimed that someone who bases their political leanings off gained immortality. Following his defeat in on the left. On the right, he was loathed. His almost anyone was better than President of MTV’s “Choose or Lose” campaign or the Iowa primary, Dean spoke to a group of documentaries spawned several counter-docu- Bush. They would vote for anyone who did Bruce Springstein’s “Rock the Vote” cam- his supporters. As he grew more and more agi- mentaries such as Fahrenhype 9/11 and not bear the name “Bush.” The Democratic paign, then you are woefully uninformed on tated, his voice became hoarser and hoarser. Michael Moore Hates America. Michael Moore candidate, Senator John Kerry, has either ben- the issues. In that case, stay home, prop up Finally, Dean let out a terrifying banshee-like will best be remembered for making wild efited or suffered because of it. On one hand, your feet, have a cool beverage and smile shriek that sent him and his candidacy down claims that were passionately defended by he needs votes; on the other hand, the loyalty knowing that you have contributed immense- the drain. So I can look back, tip my glass and many liberals and hotly disputed by conserva- of those voters is questionable. I would wager ly to society by not voting. thank Dean for the scream heard ‘round the tives. that most people voting for Kerry are not world. Another odd feature of the 2004 election doing it because they are fond of him but only Jeff Hartline is a staff writer for the “This land will surely vote for me!” If I was the advent of the 527 groups. A 527 because they have an intense dislike for Retriever. He can be reached for comment at had to pick a favorite political advertisement, group is a group that works for a particular President Bush. So, in effect, this election will [email protected].