Rhetorically, a birthday shows the person just how much people appreciate that they know him or her. Everyone is much nicer and grateful. The birthday girl (I am just making a generalization of gender) receives gifts to commemorate their birth. I know personally, I love hearing people say "happy birthday" to me. It shows me that they really do remember. It shows that I am special and important to them. They value my relationship with them. Maybe I put too much onto whether or not someone remembers my birthday, but I still think it is important. And I am hurt when people forget my birthday. Do they not care? Am I not important to them? Conventionally, the worst thing on my birthday was when people I was close to forgot about it. Now, however, people who only say "Happy birthday" on Facebook really angers me.
I think that Facebook has made saying "Happy birthday" much less special. Like I said before, it meant something to me when people said happy birthday. But now, it's different. I mean, it's still the same when people say it the conventional way. But on Facebook, it's just annoying. I continually question, "Are they just saying this because Facebook notified them, or because they are genuinely hoping I have a happy birthday." Don't get me wrong, when certain people say it, it feels nice, but for the most part, I just question. And the fact that there is at least 150 extra people (that I rarely talk to) who wish me happy birthday only confirms that they are only doing so because Facebook told them. In the end, it makes the phrase "Happy Birthday" so much less special.
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| Photo by: someecards.com |
Rhetorically, this means a lot, at least to me. Social networking is changing our culture. When the website reminds people when events are, does it make the relationship between you more special or less? Whichever you decide, one thing is for certain; that in some way, it does change it.
I think the ways in which social networking affects our relationships with people, are really dependent on the kind on person you are. For me, whether or not I'm a close friend to someone or not and they write me happy birthday, I'm just appreciative that they took the time out to write on my wall. Also, a lot of times, the most important people in my life either tend to write long things on my wall or call me. It doesn't bother me which they choose because I hate talking on the phone and constantly having to speak to people all day on my own birthday on the phone bugs me. Either way I think its all on how the person feels about their birthday and peoples' response to it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this completly. The 2nd was my birthday and it was on a friday and thursday night I was just sitting there like...now it begins. I don't like it because it feels so impersonal, their only doing it because it happened to pop up on their screen, not becasue they really care. Its sad what social media site has turned us into.
ReplyDeleteKayla, I see your point. I am not saying that I do not enjoy when people write on my wall in general. There are many of my friends and family that I do not see as often as I wish. They write long posts on my wall all the time, and I write on theirs as well. This is the positive aspect of social networking--why it was created. I truly enjoy that. But this post is just talking about the whole "It is Tricia Martino's birthday. Write on her wall." It makes saying it so much less special because Facebook tells you that it is my birthday. Not that you actually remembered. Some people may enjoy it though, because after all, you get a TON more birthday wishes!
ReplyDeleteThis is actually very ironic, for the other day I completely forgot about a close friend's birthday, and the only time I remembered was when I logged onto Facebook. Completely embarrassed, I had to make the walk of shame into the East Halls commons and look through countless belated birthday cards. A late Facebook post would not make up for it. The rhetoric of celebrating another's birthday loses meanings when it is via technology. Where is the personal touch? As we have discussed in class, almost everything is copy written. Not that the card I bought was original; however, my handwriting I can guarantee is mine,
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