Defining FaceBook?'s context

asking what's significant, assume a balcony view to find, we decide what's significant

Andy's thoughts--Sunday evening

Specific Circumstances

Time

The time factor of these messages so far seems to be from the first semester of college, continuing through graduation, though this might be more of a question, since I don't have the evidence for this.

Messages seem to be immediate, but receiver can answer or not as they see fit. I'm not sure if urgency seems to be the right word or not, because the spirit of frivolity doesn't lend to the word urgent.

number of messages megabits of storage

Place

colleges high schools faculty students General ages of participants is 18-22 Seem to require/need/want/desire lots of "friends" What are their beliefs/expectations In some ways this is like a yearbook that students create without the strict adult censorship they had in high school. A freedom to do or say what they want seems to be too much for many commentors, since they focus on frivolity/fun(?)

Venue

home computer as opposed to public computer?

Norms

Values--music, alcohol, recreation (sports and drinking) beliefs expectations

Group's Values

The values seem to be--a good time, no matter if it's school studies or recreation or partying. As long as it's fun, it's worthwhile.

Marriage seems to be a value. So far, students who have become engaged are not ridiculed by others, they are congratulated. No one seems to try and talk them out of it, and it seems to be a matter of respect.

Students don't seem to make overt critical comments about professors at the school. In fact, teachers seem to be absent from their comments on the pages.

So far, none of the commentators have said anything about children, so perhaps, this group is mostly childless students who are learning to take care of themselves, but have no real adult responsabilities, though I'd have to define what a "real adult responseability" is.

They value the time to spend on facebook. So, they must have some amout of leisure time.

They value music, which has in many ways, defined various generations. My grandmothers were flappers in the 1920s. I was a child of the 1960s and 70s. They were fun times. I think that the commentators on facebook are making memories with a soundtrack, just as I, and many others have done.

The range of music of these students is limited to contemporary rock and country, from what I've seen, though I'm sure there are exceptions, I don't know how many.

Books don't seem to be particularly valued, though the students we looked at mentioned favorite authors or titles. There doesn't seem to be much 'classical' literature listed, as there is contemporary "chick" novels and nonfiction business or self improvement books.

Movies and Tv shows are mentioned, so students presumably value them, though they are mainstream choices and nothing really too radical or different.

Similar Circumstances and Messages

resemble emails borrows from other forums --playboy: centerfold turnons, turnoffs --yearbooks --talking/oral --graffitti --passing notes, but not like writing letters. These are more like comments, observations of life, attempts at being witty, trying to be clever, many of which don't quite make it

Rhetor and Audience

the rhetor and audience can the be same person. The audience can be hidden, unless they appear on the Wall. The audience is limited to college students and faculty. What is the relationship? superficial attempts at "friendship?" The states of mind seem to be frivolous.

There isn't a lot of anger directed at others on facebook. One contributor did rant a bit on the criminal justice system, but her anger wasn't directed towards anyone on facebook. I suppose it would be easy to stalk someone who made a lot of entries on Facebook. So, perhaps, contributors are aware of hidden dangers, so they don't want to make anyone angry.

They seem to want to all be on the same side. Where are the rivals and/or enemies? They're all "friends" or they don't go on the Wall. Of course, this is an advertisement for Self, so perhaps they don't want people to think bad of them, so they behave--they can be silly, frivolous, studious, but not angry, hateful, or mean. There isn't much namecalling or teasing. Perhaps because the rhetor and audience play interchanging/interchangeable roles. the rhetor can send messages to his or her own wall. Is there some sort of "golden rule" they follow?

In lots of ways Facebook seems like recess on a playground with students policing themselves. This seems to imply something, but I'm not sure what.

I think that people who encounter these messages are looking for/at "friends." There is a harmony of getting along. If you don't get along with someone, you leave them alone--don't go to their site.

So, do people get ignored? shunned? What's the misuse or the possiblities of misuse?