This week marks the 2nd Annual Wormhole Week celebrating advances in science and all the amazing stuff those geniuses come up with!
For 2014, the theme is to name one
thing where science advances mankind, and one where the same technology
with unforeseen consequences will go too far and set mankind back.
My selection is something that's been coming up a lot lately within my work (I'm a therapist): social media. My clients will talk about time they spend on Facebook and I keep running into the same phenomenon: it's actually disconnecting people. Rather than having an actual conversation, a REAL connection, we are instead connecting with these surface-level representations of people. Sure, I can see pictures of your kids and I can catch up on what's going on with your hobbies but I'm not actually connecting with you.
The real danger (or least the issue that's coming up most often within my sessions) is that we see these presentations and we think that counts as connecting. I sent a text, I left a comment, I posted a link- I connected. But did I really? Then why do I still feel so lonely?
A ridiculously intelligent woman named Sherry Turkel talked about this at great length (and with far more eloquence than I can manage) in 2012 and although it's a long video (20 minutes), it's so WORTH it to watch.
"We expect more from technology and less from each other."
I appreciate the irony that this blog is in and of itself a form of social media. I like to think that you all reading this post and leaving me your comment makes us connected on some level- but it's never going to replace the need for me to spend time snuggling with my sweetie, hugging my friend and having an actual face-to-face conversation complete with all the stumbles and slip ups that mark my humanity and let the other person see the unedited me. That's what technology cannot give us. We need to connect, for real.
Celebrating the release of Escalation by Stephen Tremp.
Together, Breakthrough, Opening, and
Escalation follow the lives of the unlikely participants from innocence
to a coming of age through sacrifice, betrayal, passion, lust,
unconditional love, and hope. Escalation is an international thriller
and will appeal to fans of modern-day science fiction, action, horror,
and a bit of romance for the ladies.
(Click the pic above to get yours!)
Co-host Diane picked the Internet for the same reason - it's disconnecting people. Wonder what the next generation will be like? Will they be socially inept in public?
ReplyDeleteI agree. While blogging and email can give us a sense of connection if people are being open with each other, it doesn't replace my need for a hug or playing board games with family or going to the theatre with someone and having a good laugh. It does help in those times when I don't want to be around people, but still want to talk to someone, though it's not quite as interactive as talking on the phone.
ReplyDeleteI think about this same thing a lot. Comments are nice, and much appreciated by bloggers, but they aren't the same as a brief face-to-face conversation with a reader of your work who really got it or appreciated it. There are parallels, of course, but the comments left are more formalized, structured. There's something almost ritualistic in how we've appended commenting as a function of blogging that we don't force upon in-person interactions...yet...
ReplyDeleteHope I'm better late than never here...
ReplyDeleteI'm totally on the same page here, but I wonder, "how does video chating fit into this?"
It's hard making connections for some people no matter what, but I do agree that the sense false connection probably causes more harm. It one thing to know you haven't connected with someone and it another to suddenly realize that you haven't connected with someone you thought you had because you know a lot of mundane information about them gained over status updates and Likes.
Great post!
Social media can be a component to healthy relationships, but I'm not the sort of person who can have them exclusively through it. I wonder how that may change for people born and raised into the stuff.
ReplyDeleteI suppose that's why I look at blogging and social networking as my work, and not my social life. I've never been able to grasp the concept of true human connection via a few links or technological word exchanges. That being said, I have actually developed a few wonderful friendships through these means, where we step beyond the keyboard, take the time to get to know each other, and truly tap into the people that we are. It's possible, but like with all real relationships, it takes time, effort and a willingness to reach beyond the surface.
ReplyDeleteMJ, A to Z Challenge Co-Host
Writing Tips
Effectively Human
Lots of Crochet Stitches