Thing #7 - Thoughts on Technology

I'm at NYPL Mid-Manhattan Library at 42nd and 5th Avenue trying to use their Internet. At least it is free - just had to show ID and wait for about 40 minutes. Just like home, they've got all the features shut down, so can't have more than one tab open at once.

For this exercise I'd like to comment on how much people are willing to share and reveal about themselves and their friends on their "social networking" sites. I haven't explored a lot of them, mainly Flickr and Face Book, but I'm sure it happens in the other sites as well. In exploring, I've determined that I want to try to be cautious about how much information I put out there for all to see. When I rant about a social issue or cause or air my political views in person, I am usually doing it in front of people I know and trust. I don't feel like it is in my best interest to do this in a forum without any boundaries. It is great the technology can unite people of like mind and view point - and maybe in the long run, will change the world for the better. But I have an uneasy feeling about being "tagged" or "stereotyped" by others.

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