Facebook

Okay. I still don't have a camera to take pictures with so once again I have no pictures to show you. On the flip side, I know that help is on the way as I will receive a new camera within two to three weeks. Thank goodness for that. I am stuck in the middle of this summer break- this means that I am not looking back to my past times at OWU (even though I admit that some of the pictures I have are pretty hilarious); however, I am not trying to look into the near future since I am not ready to deal with the harrowing challenges of being a Senior Orientation Leader or helping out with the Minority Orientation that is a week before the actual Orientation. Rather, I will focus on off-topics to help me take my mind off the past and the future.
My topic today is none other than Facebook. Facebook has become the bane of my and many other OWU students' existence. The very presence of Facebook is a must among OWU students. The use of Facebook varies among the students from checking important or trivial messages, interacting with your teachers and/or administration, or posting every photo, whether it is from their phone or a camera. The use of Facebook has been used to procrastinate whenever the workload has become too much or if the workload is too little. Facebook is also utilized by people who wants to know confidential information. I will admit that I have used Facebook for every and all purposes. I like Facebook; it is not the greatest means of interaction but in college, it will become essential to your daily living. You never know- Facebook can save your life or it can ruin it. Of course, it is all up to you to use it correctly.
For me, Facebook can help me in various ways. For instance, I am a Blogger. If I post a picture via a cell phone with a camera installed in it, I can transfer those pictures to a folder and copy them in this blog. Sometimes, it doesn't work out (like in my case, otherwise you would definitely more photos and possibly lost entries ready to be typed into my blog- look out for this at a later date). Anyway, Facebook's usefulness would increase tenfold for someone like myself. Another way Facebook has helped me is that some of the information I want to send out needs to be kept confidential so that people outside of who I want to send the information will not find out. With the use of Facebook, you can send messages out to the recipient without outside sources reading your information. I like this because confidential information STAYS confidential. The biggest factor that Facebook has helped me out with is interacting with people. Normally, I am a work first, meet second kind of guy. With Facebook, I can easily do my work without having to have it interrupted by some random "I want you to meet [insert random person's name]", then chat with someone in that network (which is normally OWU or Cleveland). Work is very important to me especially since I need to keep my scholarships so conversation can wait until a more convenient time and place. You dig?
Some of the negatives about Facebook are easily identifiable. Since Facebook has become so popular, virtually anyone can get a account. Even your RA, RLC, or campus administrator may have an account. Don't believe me- type in OWU staff and find out for yourself. This is lightweight a scary thought. Facebook is like an open book into a person's life. You could be a good person in general but if they found out you have posted a picture of yourself being at a place with alcohol or doing something "out of the norm" from what they expect, then their views of you WILL change. No matter how many good things you may do from the next day to your graduation, you will not be seen in the same light as you were before that incident. I know from experience even though it wasn't from posting a less-than-worthy picture on Facebook. This is why I caution incoming OWU freshman and students anywhere to be careful of what you and my friends post or do in their time at college. In addition to this, you may have students or alumni you are recruiters for big name employers (Fortune 500 ring a bell, anyone?) In this case, having a picture of you and some half-naked women in provocative positions may not give the potential employer the right impression of you. You may be blowing away thousands of dollars and a job offer right after college. Your pictures are a reflection of you as a whole even if you were completely oblivious to that the night before. I had to realize this as well.
Truthfully, I believe Facebook has an equal combination of good and bad for the college student. However, Facebook is the truth. Facebook shows all sides of people's character and people are constantly judging you even though they should not do so. In a way, Facebook is the new version of Big Brother from '1984'. Watching me, watching you watching me, over and over and over again. I know this example is a little extreme but I really think that Facebook is taking over college. Facebook is good now but if abused has the potential to manipulate a person's sanity and destroy their reputation. I say to all Facebook users particularly college students, monitor your use of Facebook at all times. Take a vacation from it, if necessary. I know I do when the time for work overrides everything else. I feel like I have to vent my concern about Facebook since I do use it usually once a week. I can go over on another three thousands about the pros and the cons of Facebook but I know there are other pertinent issues that I need to attend to. There you have it... my testimony on the use of Facebook for college students.

Trying to take precautionary measures,
Hasani Wheat
Class of '10