5 Reasons to Actually Like Myspace

Reasons to Like Myspace…Yet Myspace Seems Like a Two-edged Sword...

Some people are frustrated about Myspace, because they think it brings out the worst, not the best in us. But could the same thing also be said about the Internet itself? Yes, though maybe not as easily.

However, rather than just point out the bad, I have to point out some positive things Myspace is doing. Maybe not extremely positive, and maybe only marginally positive…but…better than the negative that could otherwise be happening I think…so here goes…

5 Positive Things Myspace Does or Can Do

1. Myspace makes us communicate more, and brings back oft-lost relationships and friendships that we all seem to have become too busy for these days. Myspace keeps us in touch with people we’d otherwise not stay in touch with.

2. Myspace is everyone’s space and voice in the world, a virtual ego so that people can start to form an identity, and/or see who we are, what we like, as well as what some of the many sides to us are that they may not otherwise see. Myspace meets that inner ego need, does it not? That's why they call it "My Space", right?

To expand on the ego part a bit, people are always egotistical, and in need of expression these days. It seems Myspace allows some of that to be brought out in a healthy way. People can have an ego without taking themselves too seriously.

The other thing is it allows a bit of Freudian slips out, purposefully. For instance…if someone likes a certain car or type of music and no one knows it, Myspace reveals it on purpose, so you can get to know the full picture of someone better, a purposeful Freudian slip I say. Could these items be overly read into or taken too seriously? Perhaps.

On the other side, there is a degree of maturity and responsibility that is also revealed based on what one has on their Myspace.

3. Myspace is keeping many youth out of trouble today…believe it or not. Myspace is making the youth who would otherwise go out and cause trouble to stay at home, stay in front of the computer…hey someone putting things on Myspace, as long as they conform to the rules, is better than someone going out and causing trouble, right? A lesser of evils at least, perhaps?

4. Myspace is an easy-to-use site accessible to anyone with a computer and browser. It creates what everyone always wanted, a photo album and talk show site, where they’re the superstar…links into videos via Youtube, etc…it’s easy, quick, convenient, snazzy and buzzy and otherwise faddish and therefore has the new generation of electronic gadget-oriented interactive people hooked…

5. Myspace brings out things that people would otherwise not know about us, and is a good way to get to know others better…it’s the obnoxious person’s dream…again all of these points including this one can have a negative affect as well…a two-edged sword…but at least there is some positive.

It’s up to us…it’s in our power and grasp to keep it right, clean and a good thing, not a bad thing…a real two-edged sword I say…and next I explore the reasons we may dislike Myspace.

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5 Reasons to Dislike Myspace

Reasons to Dislike Myspace - Negatives vs Positives

In my other article I talked about 5 Reasons to Like Myspace. I also mentioned that Myspace actually seems like a two-edged sword, so I want to present the bad with the good.

Should Myspace stay or go, or should people just be more careful, or not worry at all, or what? Let me know after you read this…

The 5 Negatives

1. Myspace makes us communicate in person with less quality, and seems to cheapen our talk and mislead others about us due to foolish stuff we add to our profiles, building an entirely false and overdone image of ourselves.

We seem to lose more than gain when this happens. Unless everyone defaults with the “I don't take you or any of this too seriously” mentality, which they probably won't, people then begin making some bad judgments based on the ignorance of their assumptions and conclusions.

Case in point - schools and how they will overdo the whole profiling of their students based on what is on their Myspace. I know of an instance where one person was making the hang loose sign with their hand but it was mistaken for a gang symbol.

2. Myspace is everyone’s space and voice to the world, a virtual ego that makes them love themselves a little too much, become a little too vain, without even realizing it. Myspace is like a mirror they constantly look at and have to see how they look at themselves. Is this the path to narcissism?

3. Myspace is getting people into trouble today, based on what's posted, and what may be misinterpreted, or what may be exploited and otherwise create a danger to others, from identity thieves or worse. I showed an example earlier of this, but I want to go a step further here and mention that people could face similar misinterpretations by their employer.

4. Myspace is an easy to use program accessible to anyone with a computer and browser, which means others can impersonate anyone and you never know who is really luring there. This creates the possibility of a disguise for some, and yes there are some people out there that make this stuff an unsafe risk for others such as prowlers and sickos who prey on kids for instance.

5. Myspace is the tool for the privacy snoops, marketers, and other organizations. "Big Brother is Watching" as they say. As such, Myspace reveals things that should probably be private and should not be accessed by everyone.

But that's the fault of those putting whatever they want out on the Internet. Problem is, they may not realize the damage they're potentially doing to themselves. It’s like they want to openly trust the world of strangers. That's taking quite a risk.

Is It Worth It?

In summary, Myspace is a two-edged sword. Does the good outweigh the bad? That's a tough one. I'd say it probably does, barely, maybe like 51-49. We have to be careful with things like identity thieves probably traversing these sites constantly. Thoughts?

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