for a couple of days, i’ve been locked in a battle… an absolute war, even… with a woman named debra. we’ve gone back and forth, trying to outdo each other in the quest to become mayor of a little square outside the local train station. i admit that i kind of feel some sort of birthright to the space, as i was the one that added it to foursquare, but i guess it’s all a part of the participatory self-publishing culture.

i’m mayor again today, if anyone’s interested.

but i’m fascinated about why i feel compelled to check-in at random places, sacrificing my privacy for some online badges that don’t mean anything. in fact, in the biggest clue that i’m not using foursquare as it was intended, i got the bender badge for checking into this patch of pavement for four nights in a row. something isn’t right.

i’ve been trying to come up with something for our new student orientation in august, maybe using foursquare to check-in and become mayor of different parts of the school and perhaps giving prizes to the mayors. but i can’t help but feel like i’m really reaching here, too addicted to something that really doesn’t have an authentic place in a school. 

still working it out — both my issues and what i might do this august — but if you’ve got any thoughts, feel free to drop me a comment.