Today’s super dooper guest post is bought to you by Mrs BC from Mrs BC’s House of Chaos. And I know she is good people. Because I met her. Easy going. Charming. And so, just, warm and bubbly. Those words don’t sound quite right. But take it from me, she is pretty darn cool. And so is her blog. So pop over and visit her. Enjoy her witty account of being a late adopter. A total laggard.
I am what marketing people call ‘A Laggard’. No, not LAGER – my head is sometimes a bit frothy but we are not talking about beer today.
In sales figures, you can generally graph any products lifecycle into a bell curve. Those who jump on board early are called ‘Early Adopters’ – these are the people who smugly run out and buy a Beta video player before anyone else. The majority of the buying population will wait to see if the price will come down, what the competition will do, what recalls will happen, and so on. Mostly people will jump on board after a short while, they just want to see if it turns out to be another Beta. The verrrrrrry end of the bell curve, the little lip at the bottom, the final, final people to grasp the concept – these people are the Laggards. I am one such Laggard.
So it was quite some time before I joined the facebook league. It took ages for anyone to convince me that it was ok to do so because my main concern was that I would have my identity stolen by an organised fraud ring’s call centre in a 3rd world country. I have recently clocked up my first anniversary on fb and I am still uneasy about this possibility, although there does seem to be more pressing dangers..
At first, fb was like some kind of miracle (and it still is, I guess). Being a laggard, I was not surprised to see that my senior citizen Aunts where already on fb, happily collecting rainbow cows in Farmville and playing Bejewelled Blitz. My goddaughter sent me one of my first comments ‘Welcome to fb, darling! Shocked to see you here!’ Thanks ever so. Can’t wait to see YOU at Christmas…I love that you can see what people are up to, what their babies look like, their holiday snaps (sometimes)…
And of course the major reason – what my teenage daughter and her friends are getting up to. It’s like the best surveillance tool ever for the Mothers Mafia. Photos of everyone drunk at the formal after party? Check. Photos of the graffiti’d blow up doll that was floated around school via helium balloons on muck up day? No problem.
And of course the major reason – what my teenage daughter and her friends are getting up to. It’s like the best surveillance tool ever for the Mothers Mafia. Photos of everyone drunk at the formal after party? Check. Photos of the graffiti’d blow up doll that was floated around school via helium balloons on muck up day? No problem.
One thing that has me constantly and unhappily flummoxed though, is the element of 6 degrees, especially if you come from a smallish area (and sometimes even not). Why is my cousin fb friends with that dirty skank that I used to work with?? Why exactly is that dickhead from school fb friends with people from that other social circle?? And most terrifying of all – How on earth did those two end up together???
In the age of infotainment, ignorance is bliss – except I can’t look away. And social courtesy means that I can’t easily ask those questions. I can quietly rejoice that oh she was sooooo up herself and now that nose job looks horrible! Hahaha!
That guy that was too cool for school at school? Not so cool at all now!! I could easily go on. Truly, it is rich fodder for my not-so-inner snark. Despite all of the Daily Inspirations and Crystal Love Messages, sadly fb really is NOT teaching me to be a better, more compassionate person.
In the age of infotainment, ignorance is bliss – except I can’t look away. And social courtesy means that I can’t easily ask those questions. I can quietly rejoice that oh she was sooooo up herself and now that nose job looks horrible! Hahaha!
That guy that was too cool for school at school? Not so cool at all now!! I could easily go on. Truly, it is rich fodder for my not-so-inner snark. Despite all of the Daily Inspirations and Crystal Love Messages, sadly fb really is NOT teaching me to be a better, more compassionate person.
I love that you can (keep tabs on) stay in contact with old colleagues/far flung relatives/ex boyfriends/high school frenemies without actually having to have a conversation with any of them. See how bald/fat/unemployed they are!
Actually, I once liked a page that said ‘Looking back at your high school boyfriend and thanking god you didn’t end up with him’ only to have some other guy from school immediately comment ‘Really? Maybe they are thinking the same about you’ *dislike button* !!!
Actually, I once liked a page that said ‘Looking back at your high school boyfriend and thanking god you didn’t end up with him’ only to have some other guy from school immediately comment ‘Really? Maybe they are thinking the same about you’ *dislike button* !!!
I’d like to expand this guest post to include all social media, but as a Laggard I am not fully convinced about joining the twitter conversation. And I don’t even have an iPhone…
Oh, shut up.
Oh, shut up.
Haha. Thank you Mrs BC for bringing to us a laggard’s perspective. Truth be told, I’m a bit of a laggard myself. I only joined facebook and blogging in 2009. I know, unbelieveable, right! But it must be said, my brother and I inherited my parents Beta machine after they upgraded to VCR and it was the BEST thing that ever happened to us. Cheap tapes {until they stopped making them} and our own player to use whenever we wanted. Win! So Beta = Not all bad. I’m just sayin.
So which are you? An early adopter, a middle of the road’er or a laggard?
Go on. Spill.
Suger 
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