The Social Network I'm Not On.
Apr. 21st, 2010 03:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
plinkoI am on many, but by absolutely no means all, social networks. It's a hobby to me, I guess. I like to be interconnected and make new net-friends, and learn more about my old net-friends. I spend a lot of my time being fascinated about the way the internet brings people together, about how new internet communities arise with distinct cultures, about the social problems and social solutions brought about by these new technologies.
But, there is one social network which baffles me. It is Ihavegot.com.
The point of the site is to talk to other people about your possessions. Just, your stuff. Things you own. Apparently, this is big on youtube and other video sites now, too. These are people who ONLY blog/vlog about the things they have recently bought. They show you each item and tell you how much it costs, if it was on sale, and why they bought it. These people are called Haulers.
Now, I can understand social networks based around shopping (and there are a few), where you share with your close friends, "OMG guys, I'm at the mall and there's a huge sale on titanium noses!" But, this isn't that. This is just, "Check out my stuff." Isn't that something you grow out of around age 8 where you tell even the postman, "I HAS A CHRISTMAS BIKE!!!"?
It makes me feel sad for these people. I can understand being excited about getting something new, and posting a happy "yay" to LJ. But... To become so utterly invested in your STUFF that you post dozens of "haul videos" or join a social network just to brag that you have STUFF...is just...weird to me. Am I off-base here?
But, there is one social network which baffles me. It is Ihavegot.com.
The point of the site is to talk to other people about your possessions. Just, your stuff. Things you own. Apparently, this is big on youtube and other video sites now, too. These are people who ONLY blog/vlog about the things they have recently bought. They show you each item and tell you how much it costs, if it was on sale, and why they bought it. These people are called Haulers.
Now, I can understand social networks based around shopping (and there are a few), where you share with your close friends, "OMG guys, I'm at the mall and there's a huge sale on titanium noses!" But, this isn't that. This is just, "Check out my stuff." Isn't that something you grow out of around age 8 where you tell even the postman, "I HAS A CHRISTMAS BIKE!!!"?
It makes me feel sad for these people. I can understand being excited about getting something new, and posting a happy "yay" to LJ. But... To become so utterly invested in your STUFF that you post dozens of "haul videos" or join a social network just to brag that you have STUFF...is just...weird to me. Am I off-base here?
