Monday, August 30, 2010
Connectedness
The opportunities to connect with one another are practically limitless: cell phone, email, facebook, twitter, blogging. So why is it that the more "in-touch" we get, the more disconnected I feel? While I enjoy sharing photos via facebook, and catching glimpses into the lives of those I don't ordinarily get to see, it just doesn't deliver the way a face to face conversation, or even phone to phone chat would. There is now a way of checking in with people by perusing their posts and pics, but without them knowing I am there. It gives me the sense of having "caught-up" without having heard from or shared directly with them. It can feel like a cheap substitute for real contact. I occasionally feel like a stalker into other peoples' lives and relationships, as I view their on-line activity, except that I've been invited. And I often end up on some random persons' facebook, because their picture on my friends' profile caught my eye, and I'm suddenly musing about the lives of those I don't even know. With opportunity, there is always liability. I don't plan to toss completely, these new ways of forming and mantaining connections, but I hope I remain intentional about picking up the phone, pulling in the driveway, and jotting down my thoughts for the people I love.
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2 comments:
You've captured my feelings exactly with the word "stalker," which is why I shut down my facebook page. It was particularly my daughter-in-law's life that I felt like I was eavesdropping on, although she wasn't posting anything particularly private. It felt sort of inappropriate, like a boundary violation. Also, people I didn't want to add to my "friends" list would make a request to be my friend, so I would ignore them and feel mean. It was just too much clutter, I guess. The intentional contact seems preferable. Of course, keep in mind that I'm OLD. I love e-mail though, and blogs, and text messages are occasionally just perfect. What an interesting world!
Clutter is a good word. Clicking the "like" button on a friend's facebook comment does seem a cheap substitue for "intentional contact." We add stuff to enrich our lives and relationships, and end up complicating things. I'm inspired that you are navigating these various mediums, while not letting them run you over.
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