Page 21 - PINE CREST 2005

I l! V i1 OUR MAI

More addictive than illegal narcotics, Yes, it is true, I usually lack plans for week-
more supportive than your best friend, more end evenings, (call me). But is livejournal such a
entertaining than a three ring circus, and more bad alternative to the usual destinations? Via a
shameful than still being obsessed with single website, I have formed friendships with
Hanson...livejournals! people I wouldn’t ordinarily communicate with.
Yes, those internet daily logs, to-do lists, With double periods, challenging curriculums, and
rants, and confessions have plagued my usually college visits consuming all of our time, livejournal
sound work-ethic for the past two years. And is my opportunity to find out what is happening in
as evidenced by the trail of PC LJ-ers that I’ve the exciting lives of Matt Epstein, Brendon Boutin,
discovered by following the links on “friends Bliss Piverger, and others. Whether ranting about
pages,” livejournal is as fast spreading as a a failed test, listing your homework assignments in
morsel of gossip about Joanne Vasilica and difficulty order, posting your latest literary feat,
train tracks. raving about the latest concert (holla, Urka), or
But although I was able to write down just giving the play by play of your day at school,
the usernames of 27 livejournalers from school, livejournals reveal little known facts and inner
not one would agree to write an article to grace personalities that can only be released through the
this page. But why are people so embarrassed tapping noise of the keyboard,
to share their obsession with internet journals? As of publication date (October 26, 2004),
I admit, I have one. It’s under the Erica Dobin’s favorite color is pink and she is
privacy option of “friends only” so that only seeking a job at the Gap, Mallory McQueen is
the people I list are able to read it (so don’t go leaving scathing comments promoting the Red Sox
snooping), yet there are others who requested on every sad Yankee fan’s posts, Alex Murata has
that I not even mention them. They wear normal just crashed her hot new Mercedes convertible,
clothes to try and fit in. They laugh Courtney White is showing us the reality and impact
uncomfortably when people mention the pathetic of our votes in the upcoming election, Brittany
nature of internet bloggers. They consider Wittenberns is asking for yearbook pictures (snaps),
people “friends” once a box is checked off on Shannon Kelley is ranting about the dangers of
their user info. They check for comments on Buffo Toads, and I, as always, am obsessing about
posts between periods behind the cases of books Hanson (yes, the Hanson brothers are still alive),
in the library. We acknowledge each other’s But although our topics and tones vary with
presence, but we never reveal identity. mood and day, our circle of friends is varied and
Perhaps it’s because livejournal has a diverse, and though our rate of updates vary from
connotation of being for “weird emo kids who once per period to once a month, when I see a
cry stars.” Per chance it is because you don’t member of our underground society of LJers, I
want people reading your private, yet publicly can’t help but smirk and pass with a wink or an
posted, thoughts. Conceivably, it is because you ambiguous comment about a homework
are embarrassed of the people on your friends assignment.
list (shame on you). But I’ve been told by one These are the people who know my every
such anonymous livejournaler that it is because thought, my every obsession, my every concern,
livejournal has a reputation for “being a magnet (Well, almost every)
for weird kids with nothing better to do on But I still don’t wave or address them by name.
THATS TREASON
Saturday night.”

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