Tacit Generation
When I first heard of the social networking site, Facebook.com, I thought - “Great, just another way to collect loose associations - my friends are now baseball cards.” I could write twenty blogs on this topic. Many of my friends were interested in engaging with this media (they are early adopters, I suppose), but I just felt frustrated. (Partly because I’m somewhat introverted and I value loyal relationships… even when it gets difficult, and the whole machine seemed to be straight from the CIA and everyone reads / has access to what everyone writes, which makes it shallow at best.)
At the time, I thought these networking sites would become a substitute for good old-fashioned relationship… You know, the old pastime of face-to-face conversations with multi-sensory communication. As the years went by, I managed to avoid signing up to any social networking sites, until after I graduated, and my job required it. Then I became very active on these online communities, primarily with the goal of being able to communicate effeciently.
But rather quickly, I’m seeing the perks and the drawbacks. This kind of communication changes life and numbs us to some extent. It’s one-sided, layered with covert messages, “disposable” yet permanent, and rather time consuming (if one allows it to become so). Now, I’m seeing people treat other people as disposable in ‘real life.’ It’s almost as if these sites teach us to dehumanize each other. I’m not quite sure why this is, but I do not like it. It’s almost like our full color lives have turned “black and white…” (more specifically into binary code 0101010101…) I don’t think the answer is to boycott the sites - they’re a part of the culture, but at the same time, I’m looking for some constructive ways to engage in activities that value people and honor God in that context. Any ideas?
Last 5 posts by Katrina
- Haiku for Freedom - July 4th, 2008
- On Comparison - June 29th, 2008
February 6th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
i’m with you sis! i agree wholeheartedly…
i think we are over-connected.
and it kinda scares me. i mean you hear the commercials where people are conversing in TM speak. but i wonder if that isn’t where the culture is going, all the while oblivious to the realities and complexities of real relationship.
i think we can see some evidence that it isn’t a very bright prospect that it will just be a fad. i really think that most people have more “drama” in their lives today as a result of the Seinfelds and the Survivors and the StarSearches…
but thats just us i guess, or at least its just me =)
peace
February 7th, 2008 at 8:11 am
We Americans really have no idea how to be friends, do we? What does it even mean to be friends? Does it mean we have clicked “accept” to a friend invitation? It’s strange - many times after doing this with an acquaintance, our next rendez-vous will be filled with “friendly” banter about how we’re now “officially friends” because we’re friends on facebook. That is usually the last time we’ll talk.
You’re right - it helps with networking - for pursuing our own interests and agendas anyway. But it sucks the life out of what would otherwise be real relationships.
I suppose we’re creating two polarities that don’t actually exist. Since letters, humans have been creating inorganic substitutes for themselves and their relationships. We in the 21st century have just refined those skills to an art. And in some ways, we’re better for it! (Your blog’s discussion for instance.)
Let’s keep this conversation going…online or in person!
February 9th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I have no ideas, but…
Thanks for wording my disdain for facebook and such so well. Good job.
I recently (and reluctantly) joined the myspace ranks. But only because it was getting impossible to land music gigs without one.