It started out so innocently: I was going to be super nice, and join a facebook application to help out a good friend. This is not my M.O. My M.O. is to block every single application invitation without giving them a second glance. But this friend was nefarious and used puppy-dog eyes on me, and I couldn't say no. No big deal, though - It was supposed to be easy. I join the app, become her "neighbor" then ignore the whole deal for the rest of my facebook career. Whatever. Piece of cake!
And then ...someone gifted me with a fish. "Aw, neat" I thought "someone was thinking of me and wanted to give me a fish for my new tank because they think I'm actually interested in spending time on this ridiculous program." I didn't want to hurt feelings, so I accepted the gift.
BOOOOM!
The death knell sounded for my facebook morals.
A very curious thing happened: I didn't feed the little fellow, and he died. That's not particularly curious - My reaction, however, was.
I felt awful. I had just murdered a little virtual fish baby through neglect. I kept telling myself that I was not allowed to have emotional attachments for entities that only exist on my computer, but reason and logic did not prevail.
THE FULL CONFESSION: Up until just recently, I have had a tank full of well-fed fish on Fishville. I liked scrubbing the algae off my tank. I liked earning coins. And I liked getting gifts from other suckers like myself. I was having fun playing with a facebook application.
My Enjoyment of this mindless pursuit was at war with my Indignant Soul:
"You're wasting your life on virtual fish!"
"But I'm having fun."
"Get Adam to buy you a REAL fish."
"I don't want a real fish. I'd have to spend money on them and clean their gross fishbowls."
"Well whatever, you need to QUIT."
"But I don't want to quit yet."
"If you're enjoying this application so much, then why are you so careful to make sure no one else on facebook knows about it?"
"...Uh."
"You WILL quit some day. Your conscience won't let you spend the rest of your life checking facebook every day to make sure your stupid, fake fish are happy."
There was no way my whiny Enjoyment voice could win against my Soul, the Essence of Anna, so I compromised and set a Goal. When I reached level 21, I would be able to buy a FLAME ANGELFISH, which was the best-looking fish on Fishville. After I reached this level, bought a bunch of these fish and enjoyed them for a while, I'd quit altogether.
The Goal was reached on, ...er, I forget the date. About 2 weeks ago.
I now speak to you as a recovering Fishville addict.
Hi, my name is Anna and I have been Fishville free for 2 weeks now. Thank you.
I am so glad that's over.
My Enjoyment of this mindless pursuit was at war with my Indignant Soul:
"You're wasting your life on virtual fish!"
"But I'm having fun."
"Get Adam to buy you a REAL fish."
"I don't want a real fish. I'd have to spend money on them and clean their gross fishbowls."
"Well whatever, you need to QUIT."
"But I don't want to quit yet."
"If you're enjoying this application so much, then why are you so careful to make sure no one else on facebook knows about it?"
"...Uh."
"You WILL quit some day. Your conscience won't let you spend the rest of your life checking facebook every day to make sure your stupid, fake fish are happy."
There was no way my whiny Enjoyment voice could win against my Soul, the Essence of Anna, so I compromised and set a Goal. When I reached level 21, I would be able to buy a FLAME ANGELFISH, which was the best-looking fish on Fishville. After I reached this level, bought a bunch of these fish and enjoyed them for a while, I'd quit altogether.
The Goal was reached on, ...er, I forget the date. About 2 weeks ago.
I now speak to you as a recovering Fishville addict.
Hi, my name is Anna and I have been Fishville free for 2 weeks now. Thank you.
I am so glad that's over.
