It's truly fascinating...you put something out there, and you have no idea how fast it gets to people. A little spooky, I must admit. The path of links that exists in cyber-space is really mind-boggling, or bloggling, as I now call it. During my 3 years at INJOY in Atlanta, I was introduced to a lot of marketing trend research and information...and they did say (the so called experts) that blogging was going to be the greatest/or worst marketing asset for companies...a vehicle of communication that would make or break a company - traditional consumer reports would be a thing of the past, and people would buy based on what others were saying on the their blogs!! Companies would have little to no control over the "real marketing campaign" - the new cyber-space "grassroot movement", or "cyber-roots movement" I guess....
And, so the same can now be said about how information will travel about our personal lives as well...as I click through a friend's blog to links of old friends reaquainting myself with their lives in almost 'real time' I am truly fascinated...no more having to worry about remembering call, or sending mass emails setting up countless "group" emails etc...no more having to share the story of your life over the past 3 years to every past aquaintance that you come in contact with....just blog and your whole life will travel from one link to the next and everyone will say, when you see them after 3 years of no direct communication,....Wow, so great to see you...so how is that new puppy that you just got? Still having trouble with the potty training? It was so nice to hear that you and Jack, and the kids had a great time in Hawaii last week!!
It's both liberating and a little sad...we are connecting with people that we would otherwise not, due to distance, and time...but there is the rub...time...somehow, it seems that society is danger of losing the treasure of it...and, I fear the loss of value that will come to the power of human connection - I was talking to a youth leader in Australia a few years ago and she was saying that they are now having to offer classes in personal connection for teenagers - some of them, not even knowing how to introduce themselves, shake hands, and interact with new people - they are "texting" instead - it's the new form of "passing a note" but it is going well beyond junior high - young adults who don't have a clue how to talk to each other except in cyber-space.
Don't misunderstand, I am the worst offender when it comes to the commitment of staying in touch with my friends and even family at times....it is simply unacceptable. And, I think this blogging experience is actually teaching me to value it more, to strive for it, to make it a priority...because nothing can replace it, and if the opportunity of time with a loved one passes me by, I will regret that I did not make the most of it. This opportunity to BLOG my life and let it flow through the channels of space and time, is truly a gift for me - one that will continue to treasure, because I know that a connection is being made with so many friends that I could not in "real time" connect with so personally. To those, I want to say, Hello... I miss you...I am sorry it has taken me so long.
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I've pondered these things many-a day. In some ways, people find the freedom to express themselves in the blogger world (or texting, IM, email, etc) more openly then they ever would have in person, and I value the written-self-expression greatly, and yet, I don't want to see "real time" communications lost or crippled because of technology. The culture changes and shifts and who can control it?
I'm a daily blogger. Now that I share in cyber-world, my parents don't call as much. They read my blog and feel satisfied, as if they've touched base with me. They surely get more information through a post then when speaking with me on the phone--because "real time" includes all the interruptions and poor timing and having to hang up and run out the door for this or that. It saddens me, because they neither comment or blog--it's not even a two-way street.
I threatened them, that I was going to stop posting unless they called more, or at least commented.
Sorry to write an essay. I liked your topic.
Karen, I like your essay! :) Thanks for commenting! This is a new experience for me - I am loving it, and reconnecting with people that I might not, if I just stuck to waiting until I traveled to where ever they are!! Although I love to communicate - I have never been great at keeping up with email and phone calls - I love being with my friends and family - but they are all so spread out around the world. This is a fun way to stay in touch - now I just need to get my address out to everyone I know....! :)
That was one of the most insightful and inspiring posts I've read on a blog in a long time. I admit I'm a little convicted at the moment. Renee, you have such depth and wisdom. It is my privilege to call you friend.
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