It may sound strange, but I am vehemently opposed to well-wishing in an impersonal fashion. We've all done it. I used to do it, but I quit cold turkey one day when I was responding to a mass "Merry Christmas" text message. Amidst composing the message, it hit me like a ton of bricks: how much and whose time am I really wasting here? It got me thinking.
Holiday text messages, mass or personal, are entirely a waste of time. I find them interchangeable with Happy Birthday wall posts. The back-up shooting guard from modified basketball in 7th grade: Happy Birthday dude! That weird kid who moved 10 years ago and thinks the internet makes him friends with everyone and anyone: Happy Birthday man, what are you up to these days? I don't even know this guy: Happy birthday. A girl who I was never really friends with and haven't spoken to in 3 years: Happy Birthdayyyyyyyyyyy ! ! Do they all expect responses? I don't think so, how could they?
The message is in the medium, ask Marshall McLuhan. Is it really a nice thing to do? To make someones phone vibrate all day long on his or her birthday? Believe it or not, but I remember the birthdays that matter in my life. I do not need a link to your profile. I bought my girlfriend tickets to a show and took her to dinner, but I did not write on her wall. It's a waste of time and it says an infinite amount about you.
I'm with you on that. That's why whenever I get a mass "Merry Christmas!!" text I respond, "Merry Christmas LISA!" That way I really stick it to them that I'm taking the extra 2 seconds to make it somewhat personal.
ReplyDeleteI think that it's just fine to write happy birthday on someone's Facebook wall when it's their birthday. It's no different than sending a text message or email. Now with a close friend if all you do is write on their wall there might be a problem, but in most cases I don't see anything wrong with it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Conor- I enjoy birthday wall posts, even if they are superficial.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the posts might not have significant meaning, but they do take some effort (despite how little it may be) and show consideration from those writing to you. I do hate the constant updates and e-mails though. But if it's your best friend or someone of that nature, I would think that you should expect more than a Happy Birthday on your wall.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, love seeing the discussion here. Getting an automated reminder or just seeing that other people are posting birthday wishes may make people seem more thoughtful than they really are. But imagine what it would be like to be isolated and lonely, and at least get these messages.
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