CARING: CONNECTING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA
The other night before drifting off to sleep I was reading an article about a man who was closing down his retail custom-framing business and was reflecting on what social media meant to him. After being involved with social media for about two and half years he felt like most people overly focused on the technological aspects/tools of soical media, rather than the basic concept of what truly made social media work. He was mostly focused on Twitter and thought Twitter would change the world. Well, in fact, Twitter has change the world. But he realized that it is the people, the messages they send, and the communities they form that really make social media the force that it has become. I agree. I believe that in order to build relationships, networks and other communities you must show others you care. You must let others know you are interested in what they are saying. People know when you care and they know when you don't. For you to create successful and meaningful relationships in life, you really have to care. Find something you care about and then everthing else - including social media - becomes so much easier, fun and effective.
Social mediums are wonderful inventions because it draws people together who might not otherwise meet. Also it encourages others to be courageous enough to introduce themselves to others who wouldn't meet due to shyness, for example. I have a few online connections (Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, Blogger, Facebook, Twitter and as of late LinkedIn) but due to a lack of time and resources I don't have sufficient opportunities to connect more that I wish. But I really do care about and find very interesting the lives of my social media friends.
However, I often wonder, social media notwithstanding, if we were to see each other walking down the street, in a cafe, a library, a movie theater would we even speak with or to each other? Do we even hang out in the same places? I have many friends from all walks of life - socioeconomic backgrounds, educational levels, cultures, nationalities, races, ages. This brings to mind a passage from my favorite poem by Rudyard Kipling - "...if you can walk among kings and still not lose your touch with the common man."
So for those who visit my blog, and those blogs I visit, to those who I tweet with, chat on Facebook, email through Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail know that I treasure our friendships. Cheers!!
The other night before drifting off to sleep I was reading an article about a man who was closing down his retail custom-framing business and was reflecting on what social media meant to him. After being involved with social media for about two and half years he felt like most people overly focused on the technological aspects/tools of soical media, rather than the basic concept of what truly made social media work. He was mostly focused on Twitter and thought Twitter would change the world. Well, in fact, Twitter has change the world. But he realized that it is the people, the messages they send, and the communities they form that really make social media the force that it has become. I agree. I believe that in order to build relationships, networks and other communities you must show others you care. You must let others know you are interested in what they are saying. People know when you care and they know when you don't. For you to create successful and meaningful relationships in life, you really have to care. Find something you care about and then everthing else - including social media - becomes so much easier, fun and effective. 
Social mediums are wonderful inventions because it draws people together who might not otherwise meet. Also it encourages others to be courageous enough to introduce themselves to others who wouldn't meet due to shyness, for example. I have a few online connections (Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, Blogger, Facebook, Twitter and as of late LinkedIn) but due to a lack of time and resources I don't have sufficient opportunities to connect more that I wish. But I really do care about and find very interesting the lives of my social media friends. 
However, I often wonder, social media notwithstanding, if we were to see each other walking down the street, in a cafe, a library, a movie theater would we even speak with or to each other? Do we even hang out in the same places? I have many friends from all walks of life - socioeconomic backgrounds, educational levels, cultures, nationalities, races, ages. This brings to mind a passage from my favorite poem by Rudyard Kipling - "...if you can walk among kings and still not lose your touch with the common man." 
So for those who visit my blog, and those blogs I visit, to those who I tweet with, chat on Facebook, email through Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail know that I treasure our friendships. Cheers!!
Just catching up on being away ... great post today. all this social media does make it hard to stay in touch. So much coming at us all the time. But always important to take time for family and close friends.
ReplyDeleteHey reena! I tell ya I get so overwhelmed by it all. Nice you are able to spend time with family and friends. Did your grandchildren get to go with you to Amsterdam? Cheers!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know I have 200++ friends? And more are coming? That's with my Facebook, what I like in Facebook is that I can connect with my brother who is in the Philippines and see their photos right away. I have twitter but don't have enough time to do that anymore plus the blogging world which I found bloglings nice.
ReplyDeleteyeah *smile*
ReplyDeleteAloha from Honolulu
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I have met so many great people through my blog mostly. I have driven to visit one of them in Ohio and hope to meet with more. It is so great to be able to talk with people from all over the world.... Crazy isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm a reluctant participant of social media. I think one day it will get to the point where we will be unable to have a conversation face-to-face with someone. All the nuances in facial expressions, smileys withholding, are lost on Twitter and FB. I am not a fan of FB especially because I think the bigger picture is the people running all of the social media are tracking everything we do and it's another form of Big Brother in my business. Don't like that. What I do like are the wonderful people I've met through my site...including you.
ReplyDelete