Why social networking is increasingly essential to our lives.
Fine Jia Zhe, maybe like you said, I was exactly making any concrete points, but instead was just posting lots of statistics. Didn't have time to actually think through how to argue through previously. Then again, you didn't make much of an argument either as you merely just highlight flaws in my argument. Now, I'm properly make my stand, as short as possible so that I can get my proper rest after the promos. Removed the previous post cause they are quite meaningless.
Skipping the introduction, social networking is increasingly to our lives and this is because of the valuable information of people things, issues and perspective available, and although it may not prove to be essential for everyone, but no doubt, it is essential to certain groups of people, certain communities. Put it into perspective, I'm talking about blogging, forums, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and many others.
What kind of valuable information about people? Jia Zhe previously brought up the point that there are (many) people who can leave without, say, what their Primary 2 friend had for dinner. Well, that's just ONE very minor example. There other millions of Facebook of Twitter status that provides valuable information about friends and relatives that you are connected to on such social networking sites. Say, for example, a friend of mine is currently now studying in Sydney, Australia, another at Cambridge, London. Because they are so far away from you, you lose contact with them. You don't get swift and up-to-date information of how your friend's live is. And there are many people who want to know how their friends and relatives who they don't see a lot in their daily lives on how they are doing. Even for fans, these sites provide them with information of their favourite celebrity, maybe not in your perspective essential, but to them it is. Or even dating sites that provide online dating services for singles to find their "perfect other half", which is definitely viable, relevant and essential for them.
Next, for items and things, there are forums such as SOFT and other forums (even STOMP) that provide similar buy-sell services. Let's say I should want to buy a second-hand Telecaster or PSP 100 modified, where do I go to? SOFT and other similar forums! These social networking sites provide more than just such services but people chat and talk about their day to day stuffs too. It makes it a viable place to express your anger and whatnot as no one really know you, you are probably just some random dude to them and more often than not, you find people who share your thoughts and can sympathies with how you feel. There is also a growing trend where people are relying on these channels to promote sales, say, in the form of blogshops, thus proving my point that it is essential to certain groups of people, still indefinitely essential, just not to everyone.
Issues. Blogs, forum, Twitter and even Facebook "offer such services". We have Failblog, and other many blogs that shares their opinion on certain issues. The best example I would say would be the "Petition against high bus fares for poly students" It definitely put thing in perspective. Or say blogs that offer opinion or rating on movies for movie goers - these sites provide them with a platform to check what is hot and what is not, thus essential. Forum, not doubt the best example would be STOMP and I believe I need not elaborate on that, and prove how is it essential for certain groups of people. You can definitely find relevant information and views on issues on how the people around the world, in particular the Americans, view Obama on twitter, or even about Justin Bieber by simply typing in the search engine #Obama or #Bieber. It's also a viable source of entertainment. Youtube, another good example - it can teach you almost anything and everything. The videos available can teach you how to cook, how to tie a dead knot (for idiots) to learn how to conduct and orchestra, etc, etc. Youtube simply has it all.
In conclusion, social networking is essential for people who want this information and there are a large viable audience that fits under this umbrella. Maybe not for you, but you (Jia Zhe) disagreeing with is simply because people don't die from Facebook closing down is rather plain and shows a lack of depth of what it means by essential and besides challenging my stand which was initially flawed and how my statistics haven't proved a thing, you however gave me points of argument without any viable support or valid evidence to prove why is "Social networking not essential to our lives."
An apple obviously can be an orange. But an apple and an orange are both cultivated on trees and both provides important nutrients, i.e. an apple and orange are both essential, however not the same. Going to the logic table, If music, education are essential, and it doesn't mean that you'll die without it, then obviously you don't suppose saying that social networking is essential and without it you'll die. Simple said, what is essential, when lacking, does not "kill" you.
Jia Zhe, perhaps it's time to produce some concrete examples, concrete reasons to why social networking is NOT essential.
