On the fence

     When it comes to social networking most people have joined some form of it, whether being involved in blogs of certain interests or something like Facebook were you can connect with almost everyone.  The founder of Facebook as portrayed in the movie The Social Network was socially inept.  He was more comfortable facing his computer screen and showing his feelings that way than interacting with anyone on a face-to-face basis.  We all must have social skills to survive daily life so in this aspect it has taken away from the learning experience.   For those that are shy it is a way of breaking the ice if you have intentions of actually continuing a non-cyberspace relationship with the person.  Especially dating sites, it allows you to see each other and know what to expect prior to meeting.  Most dating anxiety comes from what the other person is going to think about your looks.  It also allows you to refine your search to people who are actually going to be compatible instead of searching through loads of people to find one person who shares your likes and dislikes.  On the flipside, these sites act as a handicap for those who cannot communicate well to start, if you aren't forced to interact with people then you cannot develop necessary life skills.


    In general, social networking is a tool and most tools are good or bad depending on how you use them.  Some people use things like Facebook to find romance, old friends or communicate with family that are many miles away and others use it for "evil" so to speak.  They stalk people, provoke argument and attempt to destroy their enemy's character.  Alike any tool we must be taught to properly use them.  People can use these tools to say things they normally wouldn't say in a face-to-face situation.  It allows people to hide from real interaction and that aspect I do not like.  I am a firm believe in "say what you mean and mean what you say" and if you can't say it to someone's face you should not say it at all.  Social networking creates a false environment, a fantasy land where you do not have to live by the rules of the real world and can create your own sense of reality.  Many of my family members had become addicted to the games hosted by Facebook such as "Farmland".  They speak to their fellow gamers as if they really are exchanging corn or potatoes for other items and if they do not get the items they need it is mass panic.


Even media acts as a block to socializing.  How many people have seen people sitting at a table and all of them are on their phones (mainly Facebook) and not communicating with each other?  How many people use slang to communicate, especially in texting?  Many of these things and the hurried society we live in has destroyed our language and communication skills.