Has Social Networking Ruined the Surprise at the Olympics?

February 12, 2010 - By Justin E. Gehrke

February 12, 2010 – Despite valiant attempts by organizers to ensure festivities planned for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics, to be held in Vancouver, BC, technology and, specifically, social networking may have ruined the surprise. Set to open tonight, this year’s ceremony is the first to be held indoors. During the course of this week, two dress rehearsals that involved around 60,000 people were held. Though participants were required to sign confidentiality agreements, the proliferance of smart phones made it impossible to ensure pictures, videos, and commentary did not make their way out and onto the web shortly after the rehearsals. Twitter, Facebook, and email providers were all witness to leaked photographs, shaky video, and some very surprise-ruining comments.

Organizers are certain that tonight’s ceremony, which are reported to pack more of an emotional punch than a visual one, will still generally be a surprise to participants and viewers. While the lack of confidentiality and discretion on the part of participants does not constitute a major incident, it does highlight a growing problem. If individuals cannot control themselves and refrain from taking pictures and videos when it is neither appropriate nor allowed, who can control them? Incidents in countries like China and Iran reinforce the theory that banning technology altogether is both unethical and unhelpful. Nonetheless, perhaps its time for people to be a bit more responsible. When organizers at an event say (in a non-threatening and oppressive way), please no photographs, video, or recording devices, people can leave the technology in their pocket and just enjoy the moment. Who needs a picture, when they have a private memory that will last a lifetime?

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