Everyone has heard me vehemently vow to never cross the thresholds of MySpace or Facebook. I just think they're shallow, egotistic wastes of time. Ok, maybe so is having your own blog, but at least I'm not subjecting everyone to animated cursors and gifs jumping to the tune of "umbrella-la-la-eh-eh-eh-ah-ah-oh-oh".
I'm actually part of a quasi-social networking site called Ravelry that I am severely addicted to. Ravelry is a site for knitters and it's not just about social networking. It's pretty much the best resource for projects, project management, learning, as well as meeting other people who are into "the fiber arts" (gawd, I just really outgeeked myself there). And that's why I can be behind something like Ravelry and not MySpace. Because it has a point. Plus the UI is just gorgeous and slick.
However.
Something has happened so that despite months, no, years of stubborn-ness I just may break down and dive into the dregs.
My cousin sent me an invite.
My wee cousin, who is 6 years younger than me, the one I babysat almost every weekend during my own childhood and adolescence, the one I have a soft affection for because she reminds me of me sometimes, my cousin with the wee dimples and unruly hair.
My baby cousin is on MySpace and she is writing things like: "Don't worry I don't bite, I just nibble" on her profile!!!
Ok, so she's 22 now and should be able to take care of herself and it's not my place to be all protective of her and besides she invited me so she's well aware of what she is sharing with me so I should be able to still happily decline her invite and be blissfully ignorant of whatever she is portraying on her page, be it innocent or mildly inappropriate or girls gone wild. So really, should just sit back and stick to emailing her.
Oh who am I kidding? Hells no I'm not sitting back! So today folks, I'm on MySpace. I'm not sharing my profile with anyone, I'm not friending or testifying for people, or listening to your favorite band (besides, they suck).
But if you see the profile of a wee girl with dimples and unruly hair suddenly become super boring you know you are witnessing the force of a Cousin who Cares*.
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UPDATE: So I joined and just checked out her page. Jesus Mary and Joseph, my corneas are burning and I'm now blind. Not because it's got inappropriate pictures but it's got to be one of the worst abuses of page layout customization.
A fine example of irony: I rant and rant about why I hate My Space, I join it because of my cousin, and then her page turns out to be exactly THE REASON WHY I HATE MY SPACE!
She's safe from me ever prying into her life again, even upon invitation.