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I'm A Likeable Idiot - The Trouble With 'Like's

In the day of social networks being the in thing, not quite taking over real social interaction, but undoubtedly creating a whole new grammar... there is a rather disconcerting development. The word 'Like' has been hijacked by the ultimate 800 pound gorilla of social networks, Facebook. 'Like' in of itself isn't so much of an epilepsy inducing word. It's rather pleasant. I use it all the time(when it fits of course). The matter of contention here however, is that there is nothing other than 'like'. Seriously? what about love? or hate? or even dislike?

This 'dumbing down' of the language and social interaction is rather depressing. Just with a snap of the finger, or rather a click of a mouse, the multitude and diversity of expressions in the English language... exterminated by Facebook and it's denizens of  the 'like' brigade. I wouldn't make such a fuss if there was a scale of how much you liked something or a sort of meta tag describing how you feel about a specific post. Much more informative.

Perhaps I'm over thinking things... yet again... but the lack of expression on Facebook is telling. Oh I  know, Facebook was designed in such a way to encourage stuff such as this. A simple click here and there while you are busily sneaking in Facebook at your workplace. Oh don't worry I wont tell. Yes I know you'd rather just want to get to the gist of things rather than to critically analyse and conclude people's feedback... bloody tiring ain't it. Every time I see a beautiful poem or a piece of music posted on Facebook get a like, I die a little... not because  I'm such a grouch and dislike everything(although I suppose on some days that may seem so), but because things are usually a lot more complex to be put simply as... a 'like'.

So the next time you 'like' what someone posted, I implore you, please comment on it on what exactly you found likeable about it. Or perhaps you 'love' it to death in which case you should shower the comments section with love... to death. Oh and if you'd be so kind... please 'like' this post on Facebook(or whatever social network you're on). I would quite like it.


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