Let the Airing of Grievances Begin!
“A Festivus for the Rest of Us” is my favorite “Seinfeld” episode, and arguably the most brilliant.
“Seinfeld” was at its best when the characters were at their worst–it’s part of what makes “Seinfeld” guru Larry David’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” so hilarious. The more the characters horrify you, the funnier they are. Which is why imagining young George Costanza being forced to gather around the Festivus Pole to hear his father list out all the ways young George is a huge disappointment is so hysterical. Sometimes the dark side is remarkably amusing, particularly when it’s contrasted with something so relentlessly cheerful (the holiday season). Wwhich is probably why I’m in love with Hatebook, Festivus to Facebook’s Christmas.
TechCrunch bills the new satirical site, effortlessly aping Facebook‘s features (in its own hateful way…I especially enjoyed that in lieu of “About me” there’s a section called “Why I’m better than you”), as a “place for (temporary) misanthropes to air grievances about everything they hate.” Users build “enemy lists” instead of friend lists, and are encouraged to “upload blackmail material or publish lies,” and “get hate points for disturbing people who live, study, or work around you.” And, naturally, it can be used for plots to “take over the world.”
(That bit gave this blogger most excellent flashbacks to my deep and unabiding love for Pinky and the Brain.)
Hopefully anyone registering sees the site as a clever parody, and doesn’t actually try to blackmail or harrass anyone. No worries on that front though, since Hatebook is entirely lacking in privacy. Want to network your hate? Just be sure you’re willing to take credit for it!
Everything on Hatebook, right down to the messages users send each other (in a cute move, all mail on Hatebook is called “junkmail”), is accessible to anyone using the site. Talk about transparency. But then again, Dr. Evil never did try to hide the fact that he was evil. After all, he didn’t go to 6 years of Evil Medical School to be called “Mister,” thank you.
Tags: Hatebook, Facebook, Seinfeld, Festivus
Filed under: Uncategorized
I signed up this morning… Hatebook is rather cute. The map feature is a little stalker-esque, but I think overall the site a really fun twist on “this is me and these are my friends.”
I haven’t signed up, as much as I love it. I just can’t deal with another social network at the moment! I would have fun with the “Why I’m better than you” section though, tee hee.
Amanda, thanks for reminding me, we’re in the process of expanding our Boston-area blogroll, I’ve just sent your site to Nate for “da list.”
I think Festivus is a GREAT counterpoint to Christmas…although it’s getting commercialized! Look at places like http://www.cafepress.com/hoganstore/1782703 and the site selling Festivus poles. Pretty funny stuff!