Perhaps I should instead ask...have you ever heard of a MySpace page? What about Facebook? Twitter? Instagram? A blog?
Are you secretly a member of an online role playing realm who goes by the name of Dan the Destroyer?
Nowadays, there are a myriad of online ways for us to keep track of friends, family, and random people who remember you from that time you were stuck in line together for an hour and a half at the Walmart pharmacy. (Side issue: how old do you have to get before you're allowed to use terms like "nowadays"?) In fact, with the popularity explosion of smartphones, one need not even be online any more. There is an app for any of these so called social media available on virtually every cell phone company's plan.
All of this connectivity gives all of us unprecedented ability to stay in touch with the other people in our world. We could, if we wished, communicate with others so much more efficiently right now than at any other time in human history.
Here's the problem: we don't.
I have noticed that most social media users mostly fall into two categories.
The first group is people who desperately crave validation of others and misguidedly but actively seek it online. You know these people. They're the ones begging celebrities to follow or retweet them on twitter. They're the ones with 872 "friends" on Facebook. I'm not positive I've even met 872 people in my entire life.
The second group is people who don't communicate with others as much as communicate AT others. I believe that I belong in this group. Nobody cares. I know nobody cares. I am fully aware that I have less than 150 twitter followers, and I was recently the object of ridicule from some coworkers because I had only 89 Facebook friends. I recently tried to ask some general questions of my Facebook friends. Simple stuff about what kind of TV, movies, or music people were enjoying and would recommend to me. Can you guess the answers that I received? Nothing. Crickets. I didn't get squatch. (Hi little Bro!)
Yet, I continue to post MY opinions, MY photos, quotes or sports stats that aroused MY interest, and observations on MY world.
Seems kind of selfish.
It is kind of selfish.
Ironically, it was a Facebook friend who actually did respond to one of my posts (and my response to him) that keyed me into all of this.
Several months ago, I decided that at work, Friday would be the day every week that was dedicated to jazz music. I play it on my computer all day long and often post a status about a song or artist that really touched me that day. One day, that looked something like this...
Man, I can't draw a straight blackout line to save my life. By the way, that Ward quote is incredible in MY opinion.
Anyway, back to the first post. Two things you should know. First, Josh is a friend, but not an extremely close friend or family member. Actually, he is one of my brother's friends. Since my brother and I are both adults, with our own families and lives, I rarely encounter his friends any more. We may only communicate with each other by methods like Facebook for months or years without seeing one another. Second, that one "like" on Josh's comment was from me.
Several days later, it occurred to me how pathetic I was being. Someone actually read one of my thoughts and took time out of his day to to comment. He shared a relevant observation and suggestion that, based on my current and previous posts, he felt I would appreciate.
How did I respond? I clicked Like and went on about my life.
End of interaction.
Sad.
I had a MySpace page once. I use Facebook. Twitter is great. I obviously love blogging. It scares me to think how many social interactions I've avoided by using, or rather misusing social media.
A "like" (which by the way used to be a verb and not a noun) is great for when a "friend" posts an update, a photo, or link that you...wait for it...like. It's not so great for expressing your true thoughts.
What I should have done was respond. Perhaps something like: Thanks for the tip. That's not one of my favorite songs, but if anyone can do it well, it's the Rat Pack. I will look into it.
So, to Josh, and everybody else with whom I have failed to effectively communicate via social media...I am truly sorry.
Please accept MY sincere apology.
Scripture: “A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing” - Proverbs 13:17
Quote: "The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate." - Joseph Priestly
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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