Best Friends...on Facebook?

I don't consider myself an awkward person, and generally deal very well with "awkward" situations. However, one thing that I just can't get over is the transition from a fully fledged cyber friend, such as one only known through Facebook, to a real friend that you know in Real Life.

Our culture is changing, and it is now fully acceptable to never have met someone face to face and yet still forge a legitimate friendship (online). But...where this seems to end is when one must move from the internet aspect of a friendship to one that involves, I'll say it, normal interaction. For some reason it is seemingly impossible to form an ordinary amount of closeness once the door to the real world has been opened. There is just something different with a relationship not developed first in person to one solely started online.

This brings me to an event that occurred a few weeks ago. Though I must first qualify the interaction.

In the age of networks indicating common interest it is pretty run of the mill to be "friended" by someone in the same network regardless of previous interaction. In this instance, with going into college, it seems evident that some people would like to get acquainted prior to arriving to school. So, I became "friends" with a girl who was going to attend the same university. Standard. And on multiple occasions we "chatted", left posts, and had an amicable cyber friendship. Also Standard.

However, upon arrival to school, and seeing each other at multiple times she nor I attempted to say hello, or even acknowledge each others existence. There was just something that had been established. As if this something was a wall that made it impossible for us to be friends.

Now comes the fun part... Very often I would see this girl at the gym and many times she would avoid ever having to come near me, in case we might have to actually talk, which would be out of the question of course. Despite that, one day, while leaving the gym and walking blindly down the street (not aware of the social danger I was in) I came upon said girl waiting to cross the street. Since I hadn't been seen I was presented with two options. I could either pretend not to see her and stay back or say Hi...God Forbid. I chose the former, yet in a stroke of courage I attempted to follow a gutsy person across the street; but, was cut off by a car and was now stuck right in front of the girl.

Needless to say, I said Hello. And experienced one of the most awkward moments of my life, including the walk back to our dorms which happen to be next to each other...fate?

Since that day, we have yet to say any more to each other or create a true friendship. Moral of the story being... Next time you want to say hello to someone you see, don't go friend them later at home, just DO IT, and you might actually make another friend.

Image Source: Facebook.com

Formal Wear: A polo and shorts

Today while coming from class an acquaintance stopped me for a brief conversation. But before many pleasantries were exchanged he commented on how dressed up I was that day... This came as a shock to me, who wearing a plain black polo and shorts thought of myself as anything but dressy. However, according to this college kid, I had apparently gone above and beyond the norm.

And this leads me to my main point, what has happened to our culture when it is acceptable for people to look like bums, and when casual clothing has become the new "Dressy"?

I don't consider myself anything of a fashion aficionado, but I do consider myself someone who cares what I look like. Some may say that such thoughts are shallow and self-involved; however appearances are important in any society. The way one represents them-self is key to others impression of them. Your appearance demonstrates your self worth and pride, or lack there of.

I am not advocating the reemergence of suits everyday for college kids, all I am saying is that there needs to be a culture revolution where being well dressed and having pride in ones appearance is commonplace. I can even offer multiple sides to the concept. When girls walk around in sweatpants, an overall pet peeve, all attraction disappears. I can understand coming/going to the gym, or doing something athletic, but because you are lazy...really? On the same token, if I expect girls to take some pride in their appearance (sans sweatpants and uggs), I can only think that guys could try a bit harder too. For those guys who can't be found not wearing gym shorts and a teeshirt, how do women view you?

Maybe the answer to the question comes from gender roles. As men stopped caring about their looks, aka common american macho-ness, then over time women took the same queue. So invariably a solution could be found that if expectations for looks went both ways, then possibly both men and women would increase the amount of care that went into their appearance. And we could all look better together.

I don't want to rant and rave on this forever, I can only say that a day when sweatpants are for sleeping and shorts are for the gym will be a better looking day for us all.

The Need for Self Expression

Recently, I have heard more and more of people creating their own blogs and using them as an outlet for their thoughts and opinions.

Originally, I thought that a personal blog was just a self-aggrandizing way to "be known". But on further thought, and some friends very original blogs, I decided to create a blog and enjoy my own little bit of self aggrandizement.

In the future, I hope to discuss current affairs, what I see wrong with our world, what I see that is right, my views on fashion for guys, and anything that I feel the urge to talk about.

I will do my best to actual create something worth reading and meaningful.

Happy Readings...