Sunday, June 7, 2009

Video Killed the Radio Star

A thought has occurred to me. Is web-based social networking altering the quality and depth of our connections with one another? These days when I meet someone or get reacquainted with someone from my past, the easiest thing to do is just to say, "Hey, I'll add you on Facebook/Myspace/Bebo/Twitter, etc..." And that usually becomes our method of communication, with the exception of a few rather exceptional folks who actually pick up the phone and call me or I them, and then we ***gasp*** get together and do stuff in person. There are specific examples I could cite where I have hidden behind the internet and relationships have been underdeveloped at best, but I am tired from a happy weekend with people I love, so that will need to happen later. And I'm not saying that everyone hides behind the internet...not by any means. But I do. Because I am shy-ish when I meet new people.

So I'm thinking about doing something radical (for me) and shutting the old Facebook down for a bit. If I want to connect with someone, I am going to pick up the phone, and I am going to invite everyone else to do the same. I've always wanted to do a social experiment, and I think this will be fun (and challenging). So yeah. That should be coming down the pike here in just a few days.

I love connecting, and I want to do it the best way it can be done. For all of its wonderfulness, electronic communication also poses some of the greatest challenges to the communication model by layering filter upon filter and subsequently removing several key tools for interpreting a given message. To be clear, though, I am not boycotting Facebook or Myspace or Twitter or e-mail. Just going to step back a bit and rethink how and why I use it.

In the meantime, I am on the hunt for scripture verses that address industriousness vs. laziness, doing good work (as unto the Lord), and pretty much anything that is God's truth about being a faithful steward of what he has given us, particularly as it relates to keeping an orderly home (as opposed to being lazy - are you sensing my theme yet?). I would most definitely welcome any suggestions on where to look.






My baby and Dux, one of her favorites, and a special gift from Uncle Sam (the man, not the government). She has been so much fun this weekend.