Social networking under fresh attack as tide of cyber-scepticism sweeps US | Media | The Observer

Social networking under fresh attack as tide of cyber-scepticism sweeps US | Media | The Observer

"technology is threatening to dominate our lives and make us less human. Under the illusion of allowing us to communicate better, it is actually isolating us from real human interactions in a cyber-reality that is a poor imitation of the real world." - Turcle's thesis

Would you agree or disagree to the above theory? I would have to agree. I find it so sad how our generation today can barely even remember a time where Facebook didn't exist. I feel lucky in a way that it wasn't around when I was younger and more easily influenced by everything. I think I must've joined Facebook in year 11, but I'm pretty sure that if the Facebook evolution began any sooner than it did, I would have done so, so much worse at school! Don't mean to sound satirical, but I have honestly got to the point where I hate everything Facebook represents; yet, somehow, I can't stay away from it. It's a truly dire situation. It's like the more I am online, the more I feel I have to keep checking, refreshing etc, but it also works the other way; the longer I spend away from the online world - like if I'm on holiday - the more I really don't want to return to it. Basically, I think it all stems back to us feeling the need to know everybody's business. We are a nosey lot, eh? I sure am, anyway, yet most of the time I just sit there internally screaming at my Facebook homepage and at all the shit that pops up from the hundreds of people ("Friends") that, frankly, I couldn't care less about. I am only interested in about 10% of my 291 friends on FB, and those are the people who I keep in touch with by external means - by this, I mean not stalking their page. The rest of the 260-odd lot do not interest me, yet they might still fall prey to my stalking ways - a habit that has been solely developed through use of social networking, and is definitely not healthy or beneficial to my life. Generally, I feel like Facebook is another self-generated media-ploy that really adds nothing to the quality of one's life; paradoxically, I think it does the opposite, and makes you feel a whole lot more shit about yourself. No, I do not need to see another album containing hundreds of the same mirror pose, and nor do I want to be subjected to disgustingly cringey status's that automatically makes me never want to talk to said person again - not that I'd really talk to such people in reality, anyway. Keep it to yourself, or GTFO.

I'm done now. 0:)

Banana Chocolate Fudge Bars

Banana Chocolate Fudge Bars

I should really cut back on reading food blogs....hungerrrrr, ow.

Might try this recipe out at some point, maybe when the kitchen looks more hygenic/when I can muster up a little more energy.

Oh food, glorious food. :(

First post...and an uncomfortable post at that

So this is possibly my third try at blogging, and I am determined to make this one last!

I'd better introduce myself. My name is Katie, I have very recently turned twenty (grudgingly) and I am a second year student at Southampton Solent University, studying for a degree in Writing Fashion and Culture. I am originally from a wee little town situated about 12 miles out of the centre of Bristol.... so technically I am Bristolian, but I don't particularly have the accent (fortunately/unfortunately? I can't decide).


Second year at university is proving a little trickier than first year; for starters, we have to actually do work this year! Don't get me wrong, I did do work last year too...but the workload is clearly a lot heavier this year. This means less time partying, which is actually easier to do than I first thought! I find that now, going out maybe once or twice a week makes me really look forward to those nights so much more than I did last year. It's less of a routine now. However, it would appear that the lounge room/sofa of our student house is becoming more and more enticing as the weeks pass (and as the deadlines get closer). Big problem.

Now I will revert back to the title of this post, as I feel like I have some explaining to do on the 'uncomfortable' front. The thing is, I am currently lounged across the living-room sofa at home in glorious Yate, sucking on a bandage in my mouth with the distinct taste of blood and saliva. Before you start wondering if I am actually some crazed masochist, I will reassure you that I am indeed not: I have had my first tooth out today in prep for my brace, which will be fitted next month (17th December to be precise). Yes, that's right: I will be a real-life Ugly Betty, a full-grown twenty-year-old with a great big lump of metal in my mouth. Woo!

I can't say the tooth-tugging was the highlight of my day; however, I did spend a good two hours shopping in good'ol Yate town centre with my lovely hometown chum Maria (aka Mazzle jazzle, mazj, majjle...take your pick) and the Yate charity shops came up trumps yet again! I spent my money wisely on a gorgeous vintage-looking handbag (apologies to Mazzle who was simply a second or two late in this case - first come, first serve is a rule that must be abided by I'm afraid! <3), a classic leopard-print shift dress, a rather attractive M&S Autograph parka coat, yet another big fat patterned Granddad jumper (I can't get enough) and a leather plaited belt. A bit of a splurge, I know, but hey - it's for charity! :)

I'll post images of said items as soon as I can. But for now: must work. Really, I must. Oh.