Our last post was a letter from an avid reader who suggested using a Facebook "status update" in order to concisely communicate with a large number of e-friends. We thought that the suggestion occasioned a more robust analysis of status updates generally.There is no one rule to govern the etiquette of the status update. Status updates can be delineated into several categories; most categories can be used appropriately, despite some caveats. Below, you'll find some Dos and Don'ts for each category, as well as examples of REAL status updates from our facebook feeds (some names modified for privacy).
The Literal Status Update
Literal status updates are essentially self-explanatory. They alert other users to one's physical state at the time of posting.
Do: Briefly describe your current situation.
John is going to lunch.
Matthew is flying across oceans.
Don't: Whine about what you're doing, or give your readers information that might make them uncomfortable.
Leandra is working in Evanston today. Leandra hates working in Evanston.
Whitney is yelling at her husband for messing with her facebook.
Ted just had the hardest doctor's appointment with Karston yet. he was crying so hard, i was crying too! he's not a fan of the doctors.
The Emotional Status Update
The emotional status update tells your e-friends something about your current emotional state.
Do: Express non-controversial affection or exasperation.
Jill loves turtles!!
Latisha is glad she stood up for herself.
Don't: Express anything too intimate or confrontational.
Sherilyn is I am actually looking forward to my workout today... What has my husband done to me?
Helen is happy to not be on the phone with poison control anymore!
Katie is relieved to see she'll be getting paid three times this month.
The Referential Status Update
Referential status updates "refer" to pop culture sources.
Do: Pay homage to a universally recognizable song, movie, or book.
Aaron is watching American Idol . . .
Beatrice is Celebrate Good Times Come on...
Don't: Refer to anything embarrassing or obscure
Alfred is schmokin.
Jared Just ordered Citizen Cope tickets...listening to him as i ordered them has really got me super excited for the show.
The Jocular Status Update
The purpose of a jocular status update is simple: to make your e-friends laugh. Jocular status updates can come in a variety of forms.
Do: Indulge a tasteful joke well-suited to the medium.
Soma Coffee wants to make you a smoothie now that there's a heatwave!
*This was posted on an unseasonably warm winter day. -Ed
Don't: Leave your friends groaning, or feeling awkward.
Amanda thinks that her Secured Transactions case book is both schizophrenic and overly obsessed with Wisconsin.
Caroline Doesn't want to look at her data anymore. It's just making her sad.
The Political Status Update
Political status updates reference the news and current political events.
Do: Make a short observation about relevant, national news.
Matthew wonders if Ted Stevens will get pardoned today.
Don't: Fly off the handle about controversial political affairs.
JayCee thinks it is interesting that Mr. Bush "kept America safe." What about 9/11, the beheaded journalists, and the dead American soldiers?
Michelle is decidely pessimistic about the future of the nation-state... but glad bush is gone. at least there is that. thank goddess.
Maria esta emocionada y orgullosa. tenemos esperanza ; tenemos un nuevo lider- Barack Hussein Obama!!!!!
The Verbiose Status Update
Verbiose status updates simply try to express too much information through a limited medium.
Don't: Ordinarily write multi-sentence status updates.
Joseph is predicting the reds AAA team to have the best AAA season in the history of baseball. Translating to a 2010 World Series championship.
The Nonsensical Status Update
Some bad status updates just can't don't make sense.
Don't: Confuse your e-friends with incomprehensible language.
Erika iZ LiK D0NT TAlK BeHiNDS BACKS CUZ TH3Y D0NT TALK BACK; FACES D0.
Jessie is wearing her full tard for fridau! no jokn.
Tyrese Is your cold as the winter wind when it breeze yo. Did you really think they would kick me out?
The use of Facebook status as a means of personal communication is just plain absurd and contemptible.
ReplyDeleteAmanda is "Josh, I am leaving for work now."
(I have seen this)
In this day and age, the hay-day of interpersonal electronic communication, what with text messages, e-mails, and IM, not to mention the old-fashioned cellular phone call, you would think one would not have to resort to using the Facebook status for personal communication. Not to mention that if you are on Facebook so much that the best way to contact you is through one's status, you may want to consider professional help.
avid reader, first time commenter
mikey