Failing Forward

Someone in my Facebook circle joined another one of those Join-this-group-to-stop-Facebook-from-charging-us-to-use-their-service groups earlier today.  Out of pure morbid curiosity (read: I was stalling for time because I didn’t want to continue writing the paper that goes along with my senior project), I clicked through for kicks and giggles.  What I found there was simply too scary/comical not to share.  The group description says,

Facebook has announced they will be charging for the use of uploads, video streaming and instant msging as of july 10th 2010, help stop this from happening!! join the group to keep facebook free!!

I pulled from the group page the first wall post that popped out at me.  Yes, the author seems to have had a bit of trouble regarding the Caps Lock key, but I invite you to give him a sporting chance and consider his argument:

IF YOU THINK THIS IS A HOAX YOU ARE STUPID!!! THINK ABOUT IT IF 1,000,000 PEOPLE USE FACE BOOK AT 3.98 PER MONTH. NOW THAT IS CLOSE TO 4,000,000 A MONTH. NOW 4,000,000 X 12 MOS. = PRETTY CLOSE TO 50,000,000 A YEAR WITH OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF ENTERPRISE YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE AN IDIOT TO THINK THAT ADVERTISING IS THEIR PRIMARY SOURCE OF INCOME BESIDES AT 50,000,000 A YEAR I THINK I WOULD EXCERSIZE MY RIGHTS IF I COULD. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO PAY THEN YOU BETTER STAND UP AND SAY SO OR JUST LIKE THE OIL COMPANY PULLING 8,000,000,000 PROFITS IN 1/4 OF A YEAR AND NO ONE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT THE AMBASSADORS OF FB WILL FOLLOW SUIT. THIS IS WHAT THEY DO PULL YOU IN FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS FOR FREE THEN SLAP A SMALL MINIMAL FEE ON SOMETHING BECAUSE WE THE PUBLIC THINK PLEASE DO NOT CHARGE FOR FB OR I WILL BE GONE.

There is not one piece of truth in that entire rant except that there are, in fact, 12 months in a year – so I won’t waste my time (or yours) blowing it to tiny pieces.  Alas, I feel honor-bound right now to invoke one particularly pointed XKCD:

The takeaway: If it was in print 500 years ago, we’re likely still discovering just how awesome it is.  If it was in print 100 years ago, it may have some intellectual worth or it may not, but you can bet it will sound pretty.  If it’s in print today (including digital formats), learn to exercise caution.

For those interested in a real cause to rally behind, see the petition to ban Dihydrogen Monoxide.

Update: Since I began drafting this post, over 13,000 new members have joined the group.