MetaChat - Tell me this isn't really true

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

27 February 2007

Tell me this isn't really true In this article about an American Idol scandal, there's a quote I refuse to believe→[More:]

"It's the way this town is: Everybody knows everything about their friends," said Mark Dillon, 17. "At least half the people in this town have pictures of their friends on the toilet. I've personally seen at least 20. It's only because she's on TV that they're online."

Has living in the big city put me this out of touch with "small town" life? Am I missing a certain intimacy with my friends because I don't have pics of them on the john?????

post by: ThePinkSuperhero at: 15:12 | 20 comments

Dosen't surprise me a bit. The advent of the 'net and especially the digital camera has lowered a lot of people's inhibitions.

posted by jonmc 27 February | 15:18

A cursory glance at myspace or livejournal would seem to support that quote.

posted by danf 27 February | 15:19

Dosen't surprise me a bit. The advent of the 'net and especially the digital camera has lowered a lot of people's inhibitions.
posted by jonmc 27 February | 15:18
I'm pretty sure I've seen a pic of you on the throne somewhere on the intertubes.

posted by pieisexactlythree 27 February | 15:21

This thread is useful without pictures. Please(!!), everyone, spare me.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 27 February | 15:24

I was about to refute the quote above until I realized that I have pictures of jonmc on the crapper.

I'm not going to go looking for them, just trust me.

posted by ColdChef 27 February | 15:37

Actually, I'm just standing up in a mensroom, not on the crapper, per se.

posted by jonmc 27 February | 15:38

I don't have any pics of myself on the toilet, nor have I taken a picture of a friend in the bathroom. I'm such a square.

posted by LoriFLA 27 February | 15:48

Explore / Tags / toilet

HTH.

posted by cmonkey 27 February | 15:49

There are pictures on the internets of me passed out hugging the toilet after a birthday celebration, but none of me perched on the throne or covering/exposing my naughty bits, thank God.

posted by kyleg 27 February | 15:50

you're all lame

posted by matteo 27 February | 15:52

"Toilet Clusters" would make a great band name.

kyleg: they may not be on the internet, but I'd wager that 90% of digital camera owners have taken pix of the flesh-baring variety. It's almost a primitive reflex, I think.

you're all lame

I used to be, then I went to dyslexic faith healer. he made me blind.

posted by jonmc 27 February | 15:54

I'd link to my "my space face" photo friday project, but I think I've done enough for one day.

posted by rainbaby 27 February | 16:06

This isn't a small town/big city issue, TPS; it is a generation gap issue. Many of today's teenagers have had internet access (and all the attendant consumer technology) from just before the time that they learned to read.

Worse still is the knowledge gap between those privileged teens and others their age who went without.

posted by mischief 27 February | 16:19

Heh, it's wild that this is something we have to teach our children now. In 100 years, there'll be some cliche catchphrase abuot it: "Remember, Sally; don't take any pictures you wouldn't want your grandmother to see"

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 27 February | 16:42

In 100 years, there'll be some cliche catchphrase abuot it: "Remember, Sally; don't take any pictures you wouldn't want your grandmother to see"

Of course, Sally will have used her mad Google skillz to find those pix of Grandma dancing topless on the bar in Acopulco with a bottle of Cuervo, thus cofusing her thoroughly.

posted by jonmc 27 February | 17:01

Worse still is the knowledge gap between those privileged teens and others their age who went without.
Pardon me for skepticism, but given what most teenagers seem to use the net for, I doubt that their l33t myspace skillz will give them a decisive advantage in the fast-paced, exciting job market of tomorrow.

posted by pieisexactlythree 27 February | 17:34

I'd say that this phenomenon has been jumpstarted not by Myspace or the Net. It's the fact that digital cameras 1) are ubiquitous, both in pure form and on cell phones, and 2) do not require the services of a developer to see or distribute any pictures taken.

posted by deadcowdan 27 February | 17:43

I doubt that their l33t myspace skillz will give them a decisive advantage in the fast-paced, exciting job market of tomorrow.

Job of the future: Online Profile Consultant

posted by dersins 27 February | 17:53

It took me a while to figure out that they weren't talking about framed photographs that happened to be sitting on the toilet tank. No no, you mean photos in which the SUBJECT is sitting on a toilet.../confused

posted by small_ruminant 27 February | 18:08

"their l33t myspace skillz will give them a decisive advantage"

A bit of tunnel vision here, eh? What is THE buzzword for today's jobseekers? Networking. Plus, reexamine the skillsets required of posting a blog entry from a cell phone.

Now compare those skills to those of kids whose parent couldn't afford a television, let alone a used Nintendo from the thrift shop. Illiteracy now embraces much more than the inability to read.

posted by mischief 27 February | 18:22

← "It's short for 'emotional'." || Jeff Wall Roundup →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN