You're invited...
I can’t believe how fast technology has developed since we were growing up. I think that the 80’s generation probably grew up in the best times. We grew up just when the internet and household computers were fast gaining popularity... we were the generation of mIRC and ICQ... we were the generation of Nintendo and Sega... the generation of Super Mario Brothers, Captain Planet and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Heck I didn’t even get my first mobile phone till I was 17! I could say we grew up at a time where times weren’t so “stuffed up” if you can put it that way – where technology wasn’t so fast moving but still in the early stages for us to adapt. So I’m glad I’m born in the 80’s. Pity the kids born in the 90’s ... they’re totally bombarded by everything technological.
Although technology has allowed communication to be so much more efficient and convenient for everyone these days, I still think that normal social etiquettes should apply. The point I’m trying to make is, recently I had an invitation to an event through facebook. Now to let you in on a secret... I’m kinda over the facebook phase of adding applications and poking people. I reject all incoming requests to add new applications - I don’t even take a second glance, so stop sending me requests to add the Texam poker application or the lil green patch application – it’s driving me up the wall OK!?!! Same goes for invitations to events – as I assume they’re mass invitations to everyone I don’t really take an interest in them unless I’m the one involved in the making of the event of course! (That’s another story)...So anyway I got this invitation via facebook from a friend and I rejected it as per usual and thought nothing of it. A week later, a friend asks me if I’m attending this event, I said, “No I didn’t get invited.” Then another friend asks me the same thing whether or not I’m going... and I said, “No I didn’t get invited.” *sad face* because I didn't think that a facebook invite was a proper invite. I was expecting a call or sms but I didn’t even get a message or call to be invited to this event. =( No longer are the times where we actually get a piece of paper to say we've been invited to an event. I used to do that in primary school for birthday parties - I guess times have changed. Am I that old fashioned?
Fine, no biggie. Later I only realised that the official invitation was through facebook – not even a call, sms let alone an email at least, but a facebook invitation! Has it really come to this that communication goes through facebook alone? I mean the least you could do is email your close friends about the event. In fact, I felt kind of hurt when I didn't get an invite via sms or email at the very least... I'm not the type of person that would just rock up somewhere uninvited.It just gets me thinking where our communication is headed. I mean... a call – at least you hear the person’s voice, an sms – fine at least the person will receive it on their personal hand phone, an email – fine at least the person will receive it in their personal inbox... but on facebook as a mass invite where you’re not even addressed personally but more like an "it" out of 500 people?! Is that really appropriate? Has it really come to this that we’re going to be contacting people via this medium?
I just couldn’t accept that the official invite was through facebook and this friend expected me to attend where 500 other people were also invited. How can I expect that this was a personal invitation when 500 other people I possibly didn't know may be attending. I mean it’s not like I’m bagging my friend ok... it’s just that, I would never use facebook as a medium to invite close friends to an event. If I did, it would only be to boost the awareness of the event. Besides, I’m not really up for these 500 people social gatherings. I would much rather have a small gathering of close friends. I mean, the least I would do is email the details of the event and follow up by emailing (if they’re regular email checkers) or sms or call. The absolute least! Mr Pang said "we're the ipod generation," am I too old for that or too un-tech-saavy?
It just really got me perplexed and thinking... is this where our communication is heading?
today...
@7:25 pm