So, apparently, the word is that I’m a stalker. Yeah. And may be after reading this, you might realize you’re one too.
How did this title landed itself on me? That’s what I’m trying to figure out.
It all started with myspace, where most things begin these days. A few months ago, I was out of a job and sitting bored at my computer everyday. Of course, I was on myspace constantly. First, I was just minding my own business, checking comments, writing myspace blogs, posting pics, pimping my profile, etc…But that got old fast, especially with too much time on my hands. I then ventured to check out other myspace folks out there in myspaceland. So I browsed my friends’ friends. I came across this chic: “http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=2665436″ and after thoroughly perusing her page, I found out her name is Kim and she’s a fashion designer, living in LA. I was totally intrigued by her. Then I found myself returning to her page everyday, checking on what new pics she post, what new blog she wrote, what cool new friends she has, what new Hollywood party she was at, what new clothing designs she made, and so on and so forth. I don’t know why, but I couldn’t help myself coming back to check on her site. I kept wanting to know more about her! (And no I’m not a les).
Here’s where I’d love someone to interject, “Oh yeah I do that too” (please).
Apparently, this isn’t normal…or well, at least not to my friends’ ideas of normal. When they heard my confession of my new past time, they laughed and said, “You’re a stalker.”
But I object!
Firstly, blogging is like the new cool thing to do these days and if you blog, it means you probably also have a bookmark (or many bookmarks) of a blog you return to frequently. Right? You read about this person’s life that they’ve chosen to share publicly (and Kim was definitely public about her life because there’s the option to make her myspace private if she wanted and she didn’t). In fact, returning to the site is encouraged because people want you to leave comments (of course it’s sorta different on myspace b/c you have to be friends first). Point being, how is my returning to Kim’s page any different than say, bookmarking and returning to a blog?
In fact, I find the idea of sharing our lives more publicly pretty intriguing. The internet really has transformed our social habits and even our traditional ideas of socializing. Before the internet, your chance of meeting a stranger and getting a glimpse of their life is pretty slim. The most you get to know about a passerby, without meeting them, is their fashion sense. Even that is dubious as we all wear different clothings on different occasions, and style doesn’t always say much about a person. With the internet, we get a much closer look. We have a range of ways in which to express ourselves: writing, pictures, pictures of friends, friends’ comments, favorite music, favorite books, favorite TV shows, and the list goes on. And it seems a lot of people have openly embrace this new exhibitionism. I don’t find it at all surprising. If anything it shows a pretty strong (borderlining desperate) desire to connect and relate with others.
So, now that I’ve posited my views, do you think I’m stalker?
P.S. I forgot to add: I saw her in person on the Metro! I was heading home and at one of the stops, she strolled in and sat like 2 chairs away from me! Soooo weird. She was nowhere as glamorous as her pics and she looked a little uncomfortable (was I staring too much? Ahh I’m such a stalker).
you’re not a stalker, I seriously do it too, except I get really intrigued when I see a hot looking couple. This actually only happend once, but I did go back to this one girl’s page quite a few times because she and her bf were really good looking, I mean really good looking!!! They take like model quality pictures!! I think she was a vietnamese model and her bf is studying to become a dentist. They had a long distance relationship, she lives in sf and he lives in texas…haha (i bet this makes you feel a litte better about that girl you like) I haven’t been back to her page for a while now, I guess cuz I forgot how to get there, I think she was on my friend’s friend’s page…. Anyway, I just wrote something somewhat related to this topic on my xanga. There was a girl in my class doing her myspace stalking and it was really obvious, I think everyone around her could see her screen. I don’t know about you, but I keep my stalking activities private and in the comfort of my bedroom. It’s not something I’m too proud of hehehe, but it’s nice to know I’m not alone.
I feel a million times better!
Signing up to myspace – $0
Inviting all your friends to myspace – $0
Discovering that you have a stalker – Priceless
No but seriously, i totally agree, the internet is changing the way we communicate everyday. What we consider our bubble or personal space changes. Today it’s normal to have online stalkers, like you said you are the one that puts that information public in the first place, otherwise, that’s why myspace has the private option right? But then if you made your profile private how would you market yourself through the myspace channels?
Btw, forgot to answer your question. No you’re not a true stalker until you start stalking that person in real life, and trying to make “chance” encounters with your stalkee happen!
btw, the first comment is from me
Nice
interesting