Is randomness dead or just reclassified? Lately, people have been (re)posting a note on Facebook entitled “25 Random Things.” **If you do not know about this than you might as well just stop reading this blog because I am NOT going to explain it.** Even more recently, people have been posting (on Facebook, mind you) a link to a Time article ridiculing the “25 Random Things” notes which states: “But it's just so stupid. Most people aren't funny, they aren't insightful, and they share way too much.”
Do people no longer understand the definition of RANDOM? Facebook (and other networking sites) used to thrive on randomness. People would post random pictures, write random blogs/bulletins, and send random wall posts that made us laugh and brightened our dull days. Now, people (even me, I confess) jump into mass postings of 50 question surveys answering nonrandom questions such as “favorite color?” or “who’s the last person to call you?”
According to Claire Suddath, author of the Time article, “Assuming it takes someone 10 minutes to come up with their list, this recent bout of viral narcissism has sent roughly 800,000 hours of worktime productivity down the drain.” Maybe we shouldn’t blame Facebook for making us less productive but should focus on the fact that our jobs today are so mind numbing and unfulfilling that we resort to “narcissistic” surveys we know no one cares to read. Be honest, people. How many of you feel uninspired to work hard at your jobs? Maybe if our bosses motivated us to care about the company we worked for we’d be more invested in our work and less invested in lame surveys.
But once again I digress from my point. The difference between “25 Random Things” and some survey asking you “What are you listening to right now?” is the key word: random. The former requires brain storming, spontaneity, and creativity, all of which wake up your previously numb brain. That’s right, “25 Random Things” causes you to think; think about yourself in more depth than “What color is the shirt you are wearing?” It requires you to open up and put yourself out there without being afraid of judgment. If there is one thing I am sick of it is logging on to Facebook and seeing another photo album made up of 40 photos that all look the same (1/3 of them blurry or out of focus) and usually just show drunk people at a bar. How does that show any creativity, depth, or even randomness? It just reminds me that you are exactly like the millions of other blurry, Facebook clones out there. But when “Jodi” tells me “25) If you prove me wrong, I'll willingly back down; but if I know I'm right, I will argue with you until you probably want to push me in front of a train” or “Lena” writes “8) I graduated first in my class at Manhattan College, Summa cum Laude, phi beta kappa, won the honorary math award, and yet am terrified to apply to grad school bc i dont think i could hack it” then I feel like I am able to understand them that much more.
Surprisingly, I find it very refreshing to read everyone of these “random things” my friends post because even if I already know the facts about them, I get to see what facts they choose to share with the world. I think that tells a lot about a person in its own way. So if you don’t want to know 25 random things about “friends, friends-of-friends, friends-of-friends-of-friends and coworkers,” as Suddath states than, just don’t read their notes. Or maybe Suddath’s problem is that she’s Facebook friends with people that she honestly doesn’t want anything to do with but is simply too chicken to unfriend them. Either way, I enjoy this new form of randomness and encourage people to utilize Facebook as a creative outlet to celebrate their differences rather than illustrate that you go drinking at bars like everyone else. If you’re original people will respond originally and then maybe you’ll have something interesting to read while bored at your job.
But that’s just my random thought of the day. Thanks, Jill, for the inspiration.
