Social media is the new black y’know.
In my pathetic attempt to remain down with the kids I occasionally (and only very occasionally mind) do something other than play lexulous on Facebook and hit up my ‘Home’ page.
By the by, for my money the ‘home’ page should be called something like ‘timeline’ or possibly more accurately ‘place where you stalk peeps and get more annoyed than is strictly necessary at the farmville (or whatever the latest game is) updates polluting your feed’
But I guess they might struggle to fit that in the top navigation.
Anyways - today I saw this: (click to enlarge, innit?)
It says:
[My mate likes] 94% of people CAN’T READ this sentence without making a MISTAKE! Click to Try.
Well as someone who vacillates between being fairly certain she’s smarter than the average bear, to believing she’s several sandwiches short of a picnic I wanted to play too. Keen to find out just how good I was at reading and comprehension I did indeed click to try…
Dear reader, it occurred to me, whilst reading this back that I really didn’t need to complete the test… I am definitely several sandwiches short of a picnic… But I digress.
I clicked… and this is what I hit: (and again, click to enlarge - yes Mummy that is for your benefit)
Did you read it?
Woah there! What’s going on here?
“Step 1 - Click on the like button below”
But I don’t know if I ‘like’ it yet. I’ve not seen it. It might be totally crappy. Then all my friends will know I do totally crappy stuff on Facebook. I’ll be mocked and shunned… Or worse - befriended by Farmville players.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
So why would they do that? Huh? Huh?
Well, obviously they want their message to spread (virus-like) amongst people’s feeds - and this is one way to do it. Make peeps ‘like it’ even before they access it.
Or - and this is just an idea loves - you could make something so kick-ass awesome that people actually *want* to share it AFTER they’ve accessed it.
Because now I think you’re an asshat. And I don’t want to do your stupid test anymore. And I hate you. I’m thinking the planet might be a better place without you*.
And it could of been the start of something beautiful baby**.
on Jul 15th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
FIRST!
Oh wait, this is my blog… Bah.
Just thought I’d clarify some of the points above without cluttering the post itself:
*Yes, I’m aware I sound emotionally unstable… But …if you don’t know me by now; you will never, ever, ever know me… (imagine David Brent singing it… oh yeah)
**In a link lovey, social media engagement kind of way… Not the other kind. Get your mind out of the gutter.
on Jul 15th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
I wish I was a facebook App.
Then people would like me before they even met me.
Even if the see I’m shit afterwards.
on Jul 15th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
Ha! You are a genius - me too.
Truth is they like *you* even better after they meet you; with me?
Well if they happen to catch me on a good day… then maybe… just maybe :p
on Jul 15th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Haribo - was you drunk when you wrote this though?
100% agree. Also, with the stalking - glad it’s not just me.
Reckon Christine reads this…?
on Jul 15th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
What I don’t understand is they’re now going on to other websites in order to trawl through and find stuff to “like” which aren’t even facebook pages.
I’ve “liked” (or became a fan of, back in the day) pages I’m actually going to use, such as the Green or groups I’m actually a member of IRL. Jack likes “pooing” on facebook. Do people discuss this on the page? It even makes me feel old..
on Jul 16th, 2010 at 1:29 am
There was something on question time tonight.
Various pea brains were complaining about a face book page that basically said the guy they’ve just killed oop north somewhere (mullet, tattoo’s shotgun, you know the one) was a misunderstood hero.
Some skinny massive jawed labour activist said “i don’t know much about face book but i think it’s sick that they can find 30 000 people who like this page”.
I was sitting there thinking, darling, there’s a page with 1.5 million friends that is there who’s sole purpose is to prove that a sausage roll can be be more popular than Cheryl Cole.
Muppet.
on Jul 16th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
It’s all bollocks innit? Aren’t you too old for Facebook anyway?
I’m going to launch a virtual retirement home called ‘Twilight’ where you’re only allowed on if you’re over 50, the text is all massive and the only groups you can join are:
“Things are more expensive than they used to be”
“I can’t control when I wee”
Where am I? Where are my glasses? What time is it?”
and
“Why I pity the youth of today”
on Jul 16th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
@TheWineDrinker - believe it or not bird, not one drop of alcohol had passed my lips… I’m gonna blame it on the antihistamine tablets.
Oh & Christine? She’s what Facebook’s all about love
@Milo - it’s worrying that one so young as yourself also feels old on Facebook sometimes. You’re the yoof baby! As for Jack? Well I’ll deal with him when I see him
@Ben I heart you. That is all
@Stu - Yes, yes I am too old - thank you for pointing that out *shakes fist*. But dear heart, despite appearances to the contrary I’m 32 not 50.
Lower the age range for Twilight and I’m there.
You might need to change the name though… Or we’ll get tons of teenagers all up in our grill about vampires and werewolves. Of course if Taylor Lautner wants to join that’s just fine with me. #virtualcougar
on Jul 21st, 2010 at 3:39 pm
You’d think so, but someone actually said to me “What do you know? You’re old!” the other day when I asked what some new fangled youth of today thing was..
on Jul 29th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
http://www.straightfrommybrain.com/pages/right/pensionbook.html
Muhahahahahaha
on Jul 30th, 2010 at 11:35 am
@TheWineDrinker Ha! Where do I sign up?
on Jul 31st, 2010 at 6:18 am
You might also have noticed (or not) that the “Like” button you were asked to click on is NOT ON FACEBOOK. Clicking on the previous link took you to a phishing website that just looks kind of like Facebook. I’m glad that you weren’t dumb enough to follow through on it, or who knows what nasty viruses or ID theft you might have suffered.
on Aug 1st, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Hey Jeff - no I didn’t notice that, thanks for the heads up