As the biggest fan of social networks like Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and basically whichever Web site is ‘in’ this week, one sad repercussion of my generation’s intense online activity is the loss of our class reunion. In the past, a class reunion was a “hold-your-breath-til-you-get-there-and-see-who-got-fat” kind of thing. Not so much anymore. Linked as ‘friends’ on all social networks to everyone we can find from high school, college, work, etc. allows us to see (in instant time) who , got fat, got a job, got married, and/or got pregnant. It’s like a class reunion on speed!

So, what need is there for a class reunion? My friends from high school and college are spread around not only the nation, but the world! But, I can pop by and say hello any day I want to. AND, I can updated friend statuses telling me exactly what they did today, yesterday, or any other day of the week. My generation is definitely the epitome of self-promotion. We are completely cool with publishing our photos, thoughts, and even relationship statuses online.

So, in the end, we’re losing out on our class reunion. But, MySpace and Facebook made it a lot easier for me to badger our Class President. (sorry Brie!)

Maybe we’ll be able to work it out in the end - and see who is lying online

The first Robotics Institute opened at Carnegie Mellon University in 1979 to “conduct basic and applied research in robotics technologies and transfer them to industry to enhance productivity and product quality.” [RI press release]

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