I know that most would immediately answer, "yes," without hesitation, but here is what i mean.
I was recently talking with some people who were upset that people would post information concerning accidents on facebook and discuss in detail, sometimes before the family even knew about it. They wondered why people have no respect for people's feelings anymore.
Others argued that people have always had these desires: people have always had the desire to gossip and be the first to distribute information, and social media just gives them a better outlet than ever before. They said if our grandparent's had social media, they would have done the same thing.
Personally, I think technology is great for information we need. In a matter of moments, we can contact someone to rescue us when our car breaks down, get instant weather, driving directions, contact someone from the middle of nowhere, and facebook can keep us in contact with those relatives and friends who live far away who once would have only gotten an occasional letter, call, or perhaps nothing at all. I remember when i first got a cell phone. I felt like I was riding with a bodyguard when I was out driving. I knew if I broke down, I had a phone.
But haven't people developed a few habits that weren't necessarily lurking within us hoping for an outlet. For example, I don't recall having the desire to take a thousand pictures of a sleeping cat and send it to 500 people, or take a picture of my half-eaten dessert and mail it out with the caption of, "yummy." I don't think my grandparents would have done that either. And what about posting every thought we have for all the world to see? Wasn't there a time when people kept journals and diaries filled with "private comments?" I think there was a time when people didn't want others to know every thought they had.
I see a lot of things posted on social media that causes my first reaction to be, "who cares?" I don't care that your husband rubbed your feet after work, or you saw a squirrel in a tree, or you are relaxing on Sunday evening, or you like chocolate pie, but I see a lot of those things. And why do people get on facebook and publicly thank people for things? Wouldn't than mean more if it were done in person?
I check facebook about once a month, or if my daughter calls and says she sent me a picture. I was excited about it years ago when it was new and I first signed up, but after seeing what people do on there, I got bored quickly.
I often wonder what some have to communicate about so much. I see people at work who immediately get on their phone when they get in their car to leave. One lady walks in every morning casually talking on her phone. There are also new expectations for contacting people; everyone is expected to be available during all waking hours, and if you are not, people are stunned.
Whew. I guess I had better shut up now! :lol:
I was recently talking with some people who were upset that people would post information concerning accidents on facebook and discuss in detail, sometimes before the family even knew about it. They wondered why people have no respect for people's feelings anymore.
Others argued that people have always had these desires: people have always had the desire to gossip and be the first to distribute information, and social media just gives them a better outlet than ever before. They said if our grandparent's had social media, they would have done the same thing.
Personally, I think technology is great for information we need. In a matter of moments, we can contact someone to rescue us when our car breaks down, get instant weather, driving directions, contact someone from the middle of nowhere, and facebook can keep us in contact with those relatives and friends who live far away who once would have only gotten an occasional letter, call, or perhaps nothing at all. I remember when i first got a cell phone. I felt like I was riding with a bodyguard when I was out driving. I knew if I broke down, I had a phone.
But haven't people developed a few habits that weren't necessarily lurking within us hoping for an outlet. For example, I don't recall having the desire to take a thousand pictures of a sleeping cat and send it to 500 people, or take a picture of my half-eaten dessert and mail it out with the caption of, "yummy." I don't think my grandparents would have done that either. And what about posting every thought we have for all the world to see? Wasn't there a time when people kept journals and diaries filled with "private comments?" I think there was a time when people didn't want others to know every thought they had.
I see a lot of things posted on social media that causes my first reaction to be, "who cares?" I don't care that your husband rubbed your feet after work, or you saw a squirrel in a tree, or you are relaxing on Sunday evening, or you like chocolate pie, but I see a lot of those things. And why do people get on facebook and publicly thank people for things? Wouldn't than mean more if it were done in person?
I check facebook about once a month, or if my daughter calls and says she sent me a picture. I was excited about it years ago when it was new and I first signed up, but after seeing what people do on there, I got bored quickly.
I often wonder what some have to communicate about so much. I see people at work who immediately get on their phone when they get in their car to leave. One lady walks in every morning casually talking on her phone. There are also new expectations for contacting people; everyone is expected to be available during all waking hours, and if you are not, people are stunned.
Whew. I guess I had better shut up now! :lol:
