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No Memories


I was startled to find this in my Facebook feed this morning.



What do you mean, “no memories today?” How is that possible? I’m torn between thinking there is a glitch in the FB system or that somebody woke up this morning and just didn’t feel like doing it.

I know that feeling. 

At any rate, at least I have another place to go to check on my memories. And, oddly enough, about six years ago, I was writing about Facebook Memories. 

 

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015


The Opposite of Memories


Facebook has the nifty little feature that tells you each day if you have "memories" from that particular day. I find it both fun and informative to take a look back. I can see what life events I was going through, my commentary on local happenings, and hints at the evolution of my daughter's childhood.

Many themes that run throughout my posts remain the same today: family life, my teaching, the local blogging scene, my village of Oakland Mills, Columbia "politics", Howard County government, education and the antics of our Board of Education. Suddenly I had an idea. Perhaps more like an idea for a piece of premise fiction--what if Facebook woke you each morning with posts from your future?

One year from today--

Two years from today--

Three years from today--

Weird, eh? What if Facebook could analyze all of your information and somehow send you the opposite of memories: news of the happenings that haven't happened yet?

If the old French expression is true, then there are plenty of hints to our futures in what we are doing today. And in Columbia this seems particularly possible, as some folks have been stuck in a feedback loop whose purpose is to recreate the past and shut out the future. 

So, what do you think? Based on your knowledge of local happenings, what would Facebook be sending us? Especially in these areas: your neighborhood or village, Columbia/Columbia Association, Howard County Government, Board of Education/HCPSS. Based on what you know now, what will be happening:

One year from today--

Two years from today--

Three years from today--

Are we in a rut that cannot be changed? Can the trajectory of future events be influenced, transformed? 

How would you like to do that?


*****

It’s interesting to read that and think of everything that’s happened since then. I must admit I winced when I read the phrase “the antics of our Board of Education.” At the moment I think I’d prefer antics over recent events at the BOE. 

Has anything major changed since then? Are we stuck in a rut that cannot be changed? 

Oh, and on a personal note, did you have any “Memories” today? I’m still a bit disgruntled about that.

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