Category Archives: Random

One of the common trends on Facebook right now is the plea for a dislike button. Ever since the inception of the like button, people have been clamoring for the addition of the dislike compliment.

But here’s what everyone needs to understand. Facebook is selling a product – it’s web-based application to share and express content. Every time you upload pictures, status updates, videos and interact with Facebook applications, Facebook as an asset and a company becomes more valuable because it’s proven to attract attention and customers, such as you and I.

And one key component of the Facebook product is its experience. Facebook wants you to enjoy using its service, and wants you to become addicted so you’ll keep coming back. In the latest fund-raising round to keep Facebook with cash assets, Microsoft evaluated Facebook at $15 billion. $15 billion. Just for letting users post status updates, send messages and play with applications.

Most people don’t know that the like button was actually ripped off from another web service, FriendFeed. So Facebook never originated this idea, but it certainly has been the most effective in its implementation; in other words, Facebook has seen it used elsewhere, and used it appropriately. Facebook would never do something that it didn’t believe would work – and risk alienating its 300 million users in the process.

With all this in mind, it’s easy to see why Facebook would never endorse the creation of the dislike button. Facebook wants users to keep coming back to share content and enjoy their experience while they are logged in; they will never take risk and chance on a large scale – they beta test everything before public release.

Imagine for a moment if Facebook were to create a dislike button. And say your status said something like “I’m watching House!” or “I got an A on my test I didn’t study for!” If people disliked your status, a part of you would feel discouraged and hurt. You might second guess future status updates or media upload, thus going against Facebook’s desire and wishes for your experience with their product. But only enabling like, you only get positive reinforcement, encouraging you to continue posting updates and uploading pictures. While people may express their dislike through status comments, it requires more effort, and most people who don’t care or dislike your post will probably pass over, or ignore your status/content.

So quit joining “if X,000,000 people join, we’ll get dislike!” groups and adding “OMFG, WTF, DISLIKE BUTTON” applications, you won’t get your dislike button. If you really want to dislike posts, quit Facebook by discontinuing/deactivating your account in the Settings menu, stating your reason for quitting because of a lack of the dislike button. Then maybe it’ll happen. Otherwise, use comments to express your negativity.

So quit telling Facebook what to do, they are the largest social networking site in the world for a reason – and just admit it, you have liked nearly every improvement and innovation Facebook has released.

Hope, faith and imagination; what do these words have in common? They carry positive connotations and fuel our dreams. But what they really have in common is an abundance of during our youth, and a steady decrease of as we progress in life.

Concepts like hope, faith and imagination were what we fed on and utilized to accomplish our goals in our youth. Success was relative, and opportunities were copious. But as we grew older, we began to realize one thing: success became absolute (you either succeed, or you don’t.) and opportunities to experience success became few and far in between. Ideals such as hope, faith and imagination were no longer enough to be the primary source of our success. Instead, tools and resources such as intelligence, good looks and money became the fundamental pillars in determining one’s success. This separates the haves and have-nots, closes doors to more individuals, and creates a funnel effect where only a few reach the top.

Sidenote: This does not apply to the entertainment and athletic industries, as the public loves an underdog and feel-good story. But think about the team owners and record label CEO’s, who are they? Generally privileged and expensively raised Caucasian males.

Now, I understand that genuine hard work and motivation can negate and overcome these obstacles. But the reality is that these individuals must work disproportionately harder to reach the level that most everyone strives for. Is this really fair?

Think about how many freshmen go into college trying to be Medical students, Pharmacists, Engineers and Lawyers. Then think about how many of them actually succeeded. Due to the structure of the system, most of them do not. And for good reason – there’s no room in society for everyone to be a Wall Street Lawyer or an Astronaut.

But why even bother preaching the possibilities and potential when all the elders know, deep down, that most of the youth will never ascend the peak of their dreams? Most of us won’t drive the Aston Martin’s, own beachfront houses or be Chief Executive of anything successful, so why give the hope?

By crushing hopes once reality sets in, people lose spirit and imagination. Some people rebound from failures and achieve success later on; it’s a part of life. It’s too bad this process isn’t explained when our mentors and seniors encourage us in our youth to reach for the stars.

Hope, faith and imagination can’t be taught and gained, but they can be lost or forgotten when we fail. The best we can do is not let that happen when we do stumble – it’s one of the only things in life we have complete control of.

I love doing favors for others. When I assist someone, I put myself in a position where my gifts, ability and blessings are used not for selfish purposes – but for making the lives of others better.

I grew up with little and never believed I had the connections or resources to help others. But as I grow older, I find that I’ve either gained resources or believe that you don’t need much to give. Probably some combination of both.

I really believe that helping others will one day lead to others helping you in a time of need. It may not be the exact same person giving back, but life works out in the end.

Recently I had the oppertunity to do a big favor for someone else. The experience in this case was disappointing. Why? Because I didn’t really feel appriciated.

It would have been different if an attempt at compensation or grattitude was expressed. But it didn’t happen and I left the situation drained and unhappy. It bugs me weeks later.

But I’m glad I went through this experience. It reminds me that I need to express my thanks when others help me. I should offer compensation on big favors, but at the very least, I need to openly and expressively be thankful for their help.

Not only does it make the one being helped appear to have manners, but it makes the helper feel valueable and important – a trait we all need to feel as human beings.

– Post From My iPhone