Wondering about the volume of my Social Chatter?
I think Jesus has a love/hate relationship with Web 2.0.
Facebooking, blogging, tweeting via Blogger, Facebook, Live Writer, Tweetdeck, Twitterfeed, Twitter, Reader, Twitterfon, Vlingo, and … wow, I have been posting a ton. My devoted (or not so much) Facebook Friends, Twitter Tweaters, and/or Blogger Buddies must be annoyed with my constant feeds.
Or not?
I truly don’t think it is simply that I like to talk about myself (although ashamedly I probably I do). I think my volume of social chatter is more about the yearning for social interaction, my desire to walk through life with others, my desire to connect with others. Jesus created us as social beings. He is writing my story within the context of others. He made us to thrive in community. We become better as we stick together (1 Cor 12).
Too voluminous? I look at other well respected bloggers and tweaters (example Mark Batterson), and I see exponentially more posts. Then again, their constant posts usually mean something…
hmmmm…
Rob
Comments
To be honest, I have thought a good bit about how much time "we" all spend doing digital socializing. I believe that we are drawn to the continuous connection offerred by the likes of twitter because of a real need and yearning for human connection and community. I also agree that this yearning is part of the gift that God gave us when he created us as human. The issue that I struggle with is how to use digital socializing and how much it can replace and/or augment real or, more politely, person-to-person interaction. I have, at times, been truly blessed when I have posted something to our family's blog and been able to read comments from everyone. On the other hand, I also feel our culture becoming more and more accustomed to immediate gratification. We feel a need to take any spare moment we have and update our blog, our facebook status, etc. Do we still make time to read a good book, spend time doing nothing, or just spend time with our families?
To be honest, Rob, you are my hope for the future (okay, that sounds a bit like a cheesy sci-fi movie, I know). What I mean is, I can easily get feeling particularly pessimistic when I see teen-agers in a restaurant with friends where no one is even talking to each other because they are too busy texting. That is when I wonder about the value of digital socializing. On the other hand, I see (some of) the digital socializing you do, but I also know you personally. I know that you do spend time with your family, talk to friends and family, and most importantly spend private time with God.
So, that's what I mean that you are my hope for the future. When I begin to think that maybe I should swear off all technologically enhanced socializing and become Amish, I think of you (*wink).
What do you think? Do you consider the time you spend doing digitial socializing as time well spent? Do you feel more connected, in a wholesome, deep, and true way as a result of blogging, twitter, facebook?
Brian
Anyway, you are spot on. I agree with your thoughts. Here's my further .02.
If the web socializing displaces the face to face, then one should stop tweating.
If the web enhances genuine relationahip, than one should sing like an angel (tweat that is).
If the web, or the face to face for that matter displaces one's relationship with Jesus, than one should chuck it all, and get right with God. Then again, getting right with God requires, by God's design, social interaction.
Web socializing is a tool for developing and maintaining relationships. The moment is ceases to do so, then it has become rubbish (note Phil 3:8).
May "the force" be with you.