Online Profiles

With all this analysis of online networking sites and individual profiles we've been doing, I've come to realize that while some people put large quantities of time and thought into their profiles, others simply do not. Most of our class discussion has been along the lines of, "What was this person thinking by placing this on his profile?" Many times, though, the more appropriate question is, "Was this person thinking when he placed this on his profile?" I know that my time on Facebook is a time to relax and unwind. I don't think especially hard about what I include in my profile and what I don't. I debate over content for a term paper, not an online profile. I have a feeling many people, even some of those we've been analyzing, are the same way. College life is stressful and busy enough. Most students don't have the time or desire to actually worry about what is placed on their Facebook profiles.
Take this rising scandal over student athletes using Facebook for example. Athletes are being punished because pictures are found on Facebook of the athletes taking part in illegal or otherwise immoral activity, usually through pictures posted by the athlete or others. Schools are taking serious action on these altercations, using Facebook profiles as evidence to suspend or expel student athletes. I think, in this situation, it is very clear that the student athletes are not putting much thought into their profiles. If they were thinking, they wouldn't post pictures of themselves drinking or hazing other students. These actions are very stupid; a little bit of thought would have kept them from happening. And we've been discussing things like all online profiles have a lot of thought put into them. I think it is best if we would remember to consider both sides of the spectrum, and not limit ourselves to one.