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F4 has caught Manila by storm. And another F - Friendster - incidentally, has caught up. No, Friendster isn't another Taiwanese-speaking/singing/dancing boy band or the latest brand of clothing from New York. They sell T-shirts, though. And stickers, and lunchboxes, and maybe if you're interested you can just visit their site at www.friendster.com, as if you didn't know that yet, for more details on their merchandises. But, there is more to Friendster than T-shirts, stickers, and lunchboxes. Maybe it's about time to find out more about our favorite site these days. I'm sure you've got the login page bookmarked, too.
Friendster was created by Jonathan Abrams in 2002. I bet you didn't know that. Hey, we should acknowledge the genius of the man. And, it was "opened" to the public in March 2003 and still running its beta version. They have had some system upgrades these past few months, though. Hmmm… maybe they're coming up with a newer and more stable version. Cheers to that! And, it is only about time.
Now, let me see if you know what you've been clicking on lately. What is Friendster? You log in there probably more than three times a day and I suppose you know by heart what it is. It is not a crime if you don't. OK, I'll give you a clue. You'll find the answer to the front page of the site. But, I'm feeling good now so I'll make things easier and too bad, a little boring for you. I'm feeling like a teacher today. OK, class, listen. Friendster is an online community that connects people through networks of friends. In other words, you get to connect friends and strangers through friends, friends of friends, friends of friends of friends, and so on. Get the picture? It is a useful tool for meeting new people for dating or just for friendship. On the lighter side, I came across a humorous definition of Friendster at www.urbandictionary.com. They had 20-something definitions of Friendster. And, on the top of the list was Chester's. According to him, "Friendster is an online networking service for the people who do not have any friends and desperately asking to be someone's friend." Used in a sentence, the Chester way. "Hey! I have Friendster. Go online and add me! And, write a testimonial, too!" Sounds a little harsh and pathetic, but I've heard those lines a couple of times before. Have you?
According to Danah Boyd, a U.C. Berkeley PhD student researching on online social networks, Friendster is the new Google. But, to make things more local, Friendster is the new "txting." Pinoys have become addicted to Friendster as they were with texting. It is the new national pastime.
Individuals are not the only subscribers of Friendster. Groups, companies, schools, organizations, radio and television shows - name it - have also been bitten by the Friendster bug. The only persons I know that haven't been bitten by the bug are my parents. Have your parents signed up? I'm just wondering.
The testimonials are my favorite things on Friendster. You get to find out what your friends think of you. And, you get to get back at them if they didn't write a good testimonial for you. I like testimonials with personal touches. Some people have a "generic" testimonial. I have one. You really cannot blame us. It is for those "friends" that we just know, but are not close, too.
My least favorite is the multiple account holders who flood in the bulletin board asking the same friends to add them up. No offense meant, but it just doesn't make any sense. They will just have a new account with most of their friends from their full accounts and some new friends. Am I just being bitter for having a single account or actually making a point?
I have been Friendstering for about nine months now. And to date, I have 363 friends, 2 pending requests, and 65 testimonials. The first three months were exciting. Approving new requests and testimonials, uploading new pictures and looking for old friends and acquaintances were always fun and something to look forward to. But, as time passed, I got bored. Just like with toys. If you just had them, they are always fun to play with. But, if you play with them every day, you just lose interest. I am not as enthusiastic as before. I could go on for two weeks now without checking my account. I'd say that I am rehabilitating from my Friendster addiction.
Everyone and every thing that has an e-mail address and an access to the Internet have probably signed up with Friendster. It has evidently become a craze. Somehow it has become a game - an ego game of some sort. If you've 500 friends, 500 testimonials, and have multiple accounts, you win. You are the supreme ruler of the kingdom of Friendster. But, in the game of life, when you have one true friend, you are a winner.
By the way, I have Friendster. Go online and add me! And, write a testimonial, too!
Author's Sources:
www.friendster.com
www.urbandictionary.com
Kahney, Leander. Making Friendsters in High Places. (http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0%2C1284%2C59650%2C00.html).
July 17, 2003.
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