Invading MySpace

"Hey."

"Oh, hey girlie. What's up?"

" I was wondering; do you have a myspace?"

"Myspace? No, sorry, I don't. Why?"

"Thought so. Mm, no reason, I was just wondering why."

"Why?"

"Yeah, wondering why you don't have a myspace. I know you're all into the whole 'rebel' thing, but wouldn't it just be easier?"

"Heh, jeez, make me sound like I'm thirteen! 'Rebel'!"

"Heh, yeah yeah, but... Still, wouldn't it?"

" *Sigh.* Yeah, I guess in a way, but you know, when you have a myspace, you're kind of screwed for life, too."

"What? Wait, what are you talking about?"

"Well, you know, once you have a myspace, it's like whatever you're feeling like at that moment kind of owns and defines you. It becomes you."

"But aren't you the one putting it on there?"

"I don't think you know what I mean. Maybe for a couple of months, you ARE feeling rebellious and keep your myspace like that. Black, skulls, angry or depressing status things, emo moods, you know, all of it."

"Okay."

"Yeah, but then, after awhile, you start to feel a little better about life. Then you go back on myspace and see all these people, friends, strangers, family members, attatched to this idea of this dark, emo person, this 'other you', and you can't help but wonder what they'll think if you put on your status thing, " I'm feeling good today!"

"That would be kind of weird, I guess."

"Exactly."

"But couldn't you just lie?"

"And that's the problem! Instead of just changing it, you play along with it. And constantly pretending to be depressed, believe me, you'll be depressed. It'll start to change you. And also, you're letting those other people dictate who you are and how you feel, even if they aren't doing it on purpose."

"Wow, I never thought of it that way. It's like a new, weird kind of bullying."

"Mmhmm. It's very indirect. But yeah, even if it doesn't go that way, it still makes you define yourself, one way or the other, you know? No room for 'I'm not sure.' It asks your orientation; if you aren't positive what it is, or maybe you are positive but you don't want to put it out there, you might put it on undefined and THAT just screws you over all over the place. Your friends, family, and strangers all know that some chick named 'Thea Williamson' is confused. Otherwise, they never would have even wondered but NOW it's suddenly known throughout school. Put gay, and of course, problems come from that too, from people who might not have been aware."

"But why wouldn't you just say I'm straight? Avoid all that?"

"And there you are again, changing or lying about or being ashamed of yourself for somebody else. Not healthy. Why put yourself in the position?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Jeez, I might delete my own account now."

"Then everyone's going to ask what happened to it and expect an explanation, like you owe them something! Just like the explanation I have to give when I tell someone I don't have a myspace at all."

"...Hehe, sorry about that."

" Aw, don't worry about it, relax! I usually just give them the middle finger as my explanation. I gave it to you because you're my friend."

"Is that healthy though?"

"Who cares? Let's go to class, the bell rang."