I’m beginning to feel like an old man. I get Twitter, I get Facebook and I understand most of the web, but I really, really don’t get Foursquare, Gowalla and now Facebook Places. I don’t understand people’s need to broadcast their whereabouts OUTSIDE of their particular app, and I very much disagree with Facebook’s take on the new Places functionality, in particular their mention of serendipity when it comes to Places notifying you when a friend is near.
Serendipity is good luck leading to a fortunate circumstance. Serendipity is not being able to check-in and track your friends across town and then be automatically notified when they’re a few blocks away. While I won’t argue the benefits that technology has brought our daily lives, it’s important to understand that being constantly connected completely robs of of the magic of truly chance encounters.
It’s false advertising. It’s another way for people to pollute our stream with constant check-in updates on what they’re doing, usually with little context (do you say you’re checking in from Places or are you checking in with Facebook?). It’s a way for those people who want to make sure they’re remembered to be able to prove that they go where all the cool people do.
Unless you’re me. Then it’s okay, because I totally want to know where I am.
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