Once upon a time, two people would meet at a party, make eyes, flirt, and over the course of several months, fall in love. Thinks would get "serious," and then, more often than not, things would go sour ... and then things would end. The breakup could be swift, and other than accidental run-ins, the two parties would never again see one another at a part.

That time is over. The so-called RenGen has reinterpreted relationships, tinkering with technology to bring an unprecedented level of dysfunction to relationships' concluding chapter. The assumed silence between two people that proceeded post-breakup has been replaced with the cacophony of crossed computer wires as bitter spats and priceless pity parties envelope the content of blogs, Facebook notes and Twitter accounts. Apparently the super-accessible, hyper-communicative Web 2.0 has birthed Breakups 2.0 - and we're not any better off. Stumbling upon the musings of a former paramour can quite likely lead to a prolonged recovery period, or simply an unnerving curveball in the quest to move on.

"Finding my ex's blog is like biting into a piece of rotten fruit," a friend suggests. "I was grossed out at first, but then just annoyed." Forcibly forgetting the URL and clicking "Block" on Facebook news feed seemed like the only options.

There's an aspect of vanity in the process of digging up an ex's blog. "I hope my exes write about me," explains one friend, adding, "Unless he calls me fat or something. I would leave mean anonymous comments if he did that."

It's not that hard to find an ex.

the suffering of heartbreak is universal

majority of white person art is created after a difficult breakup; films, indie music, and poetry are all kicked into high production during the end of a relationship

"During this time, they are permitted to talk at great lengths about themselves, listen to The Smiths, and get free dinners from friends who think 'they shouldn't be alone right now.'"

imperative not to kick them out of their misery