Don’t Buy: Our Economy is Fucked
So I was having a conversation over drinks (as all of my conversations tend to go) and the topic got around to why our economy is fucked. I mean, this is a pretty big conversation, so it took a few rounds to sort out. From what I can remember through my hangover is that my friend had hit on a theory he was rather proud of. According to him, the culprit (or scapegoat) of the inevitable decline of our economy is Facebook. Before you LOL, listen to his reasoning:
Every day people wake up and go to work. The first thing they do is turn on the computer and check their Facebook. Now, it doesn’t always have to be Facebook. Maybe it’s GChat. Maybe it’s MySpace (old school). Maybe it’e Bebo, because they live in the UK, and the UK economy is fucked too. But the bottom line is, people show up and pretend to work all day long! No one is doing anything. We send eachother e-mails and go to meetings about what would happen if some work were to be done. Then we go back our offices and check our Facebook again. Does anyone produce anything anymore? My friend warns, you can’t base your entire economy on selling ads to people on Facebook. Not even Facebook is making money on selling ads on Facebook.
Anyway. I had a meeting at MTV the other day, and the rumor around the office was that a shit ton of middle management was about to get the axe. At first I thought “oh no!” trying to garner some empathy for those about to lose their livelihoods. But then I remembered my friend’s economic prediction, and realized that the only difference in these peoples lives, post pink-slip, was that they would now have to change their occupation on Facebook. Unemployed.
So I know most of you are probably reading this blog entry at work. I can tell from the analytics, and seeing some drop-off over the weekends. Do you think my friend has a valid concern? Or do you think, like I do, that we’re simply transitioning into a different way to do business? Let’s waste some work time talking about it!
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5 Comments, Comment or Ping
Welcome to capitalism! Hasn’t this always been the deal, ever since Ben Franklin told us to contain our hammers’ noise within the times the boss walks past? It’s so American to have this kind of can-do work ethic, when in fact, the demand is impossible to live up to. Creativity, including entrepreneurship, can’t be forced within a 9-5…
Now excuse me, I have some friends to confirm to my boss’ social networking profile. Because we don’t add, we confirm. Lick it.
Um, Facebook has given me a job title. So, um. lick and click it, mofo!
I think this is the way it’s always been…since computers rolled into cubicles and offices there’s always been something to do on them to not do work. Today’s generation uses facebook. But the last generation had something to use, and so did the last. Remember good-ole solitaire and minesweeper?
The work ethic of people in offices has always been “what else can I do besides my job” yet when crunchtime comes around people get their work done. The competent people anyway.
I wouldn’t blame fbook…if it wasnt around wouldn’t you just find something else to occupy your time? It isn’t THE reason people stop working.
So QED Ryan’s friend’s social networking theory on the economy is flawed. Will you plz tell us if he licked it.
If anything, the economy is more screwed — or will be more screwed — because of the projected social security/medicare deficit due to all the baby boomers getting old ‘n senile.
Don’t worry though. I just got an e-mail that promises that if I send it to 10 more people and add my name to the top of the list, I’ll get like thousands in a week. I’m telling all my friends, and they’ll tell all their friends until we bail ourselves out of this recession.
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