Some of you may or may not have seen the movie called ‘The Bucket list’. 'It’s about two terminally ill men who escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die.' Well, this is a similar concept which is used by 43things.com a social networking website created in 2005 by the Robot CO-OP. Basically, the idea is for you to create a list of 43 goals for your life, cheer on each other, whilst sharing your experiences and progress with the rest of the world on how you have completed your goals. I guess you could call it Twitter with goals.
Recently ‘43things.com’ have teamed up with ‘Facebook’ in an act to acquire more users and interest in the site, it is currently reported that they have over 3 million users. The site embraces the concept of folksonomy, shown by various tags used on the website i.e. “how to lose weight”. Their motto is very interesting and goes a little something like this “if you do not record your goals and share them, you are likely to never achieve them”. This is probably the line which engaged most of its users to join the site. It’s apparent that the sites’ objectives are to provide a support - giving, results based and a richer life style for its users. This is shown users were users are potentially able to accomplish their dreams within their lifetime thus leaving behind no regret, which constitutes a sense of fulfilment.
In contrast, although ‘43things.com’ seems to have a positive impact on its users, one must feel that there are potential negative psychological aspects which can affect the users as well. Reason being, this site seems to be one of the very few social networking sites which has an end, compare to Facebook and twitter which is limitless. Once a user does complete its 43 goals, what then? Do they just leave the site...? Do they start over or do they just continue (I guess it wouldn’t be called 43 things if they could)?
By this stage it must feel to the user that the sense of living has just been removed from their lives. Reason being, as humans we are always evolving, always moving towards bigger and better things. But, this site halts the movement of life to just 43 things... Yes, you are satisfied for now on the completion of 43 things, but how long will this satisfaction last, who’s to say if you will still be satisfied tomorrow, next week or even next month.
I will end the blog with a statement from the ‘43things.com’ website, which reiterates my paragraph above. Where ‘43things.com just focuses on the “doing” and not on the “what happens next” aspect. The statement declares “People have known for years that making a list of goals is the best way to achieve them. But most of us never get around to making a list. 43things is great for that! Make a list on 43 things and see what changes happen in your life. Best of all it’s a way of connecting with other enthusiasts interested in everything from watching a space shuttle launch to grow my own vegetables. So the next time someone asks you, “What do you do?” you can answer with confidence, “I am doing 43 things!”.”
Would you feel depressed if you had completed your 43rd goal? Do you think that the joy of completing the goals will outweigh the depressing aspect? Would you share your personal life goals with the world? Would you join this site?
video on a couple of 43Things.com users
more info on 43Things.com
Introduction video to 43Things.com
Reference to 'the bucket list' movie
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