The Un-Social State of Social Networking
December 19th 2010 13:18
Long before cell phones, computers and “status updates” were considered necessities to survive in the technological world; a group of visionaries looked towards a future where technology would bring the world together.
A world divided by a lack of access to information that drove a “fear of the unknown” into the hearts of men and women who had limited access to the things happening beyond their noses.
The original goal of the World Wide Web and the byproduct of its ingenuity in social networking were to bring people of different genders, races, political thought, religions, sexual orientation and national origins together in a place that could not be controlled by any government entity, corporation or individual for the purposes of sharing information and building a new understanding.
An understanding that was about more than a news agency or government entity telling the public what the “truth” is or simply relying on folklore, rumor and innuendo as facts.
For this dream of openness and transparency in the way we get information and the ability to connect with people across the globe; the world public has also been greeted with the injection of all the things that created a need for escapism into cyber space.
The pettiness, hate, strife, closed off mentalities, scams, trickery and ignorance have been a part of the internet as long as human beings have been logging onto the network.
For all the achievements that have been made in connecting people on networks like Myspace, Twitter and Facebook there have also been just as many setbacks.
Setbacks by way of online predators looking to make a quick buck, corporate piracy to steal personal information and social deviants who have found a new playground to commit crimes.
For these reasons, the network built to connect the world has not reached its full potential.
The full potential that will break down social walls constructed by fear of the unknown.
The full potential that will bring people of different faiths, political ideology and ideals together by creating the opportunity for conversation rather than assumption.
The full potential that will create an opportunity for opening up eyes, ears and minds beyond Farmville, Mafia Wars and other internet games into the possibilities that stand before us in discovery of the World and the people in it.
For all the possibilities the internet has given the human race to soak in knowledge beyond the amount of books any library could hold; we have squandered it by staying in our social boxes of friends, friends of friends and celebrity worship for fear of anything different than what we have witnessed in the real world.
A fear that is real but is also a failed excuse for not taking full advantage of the things we are able to do in the 21st century that were an impossibility in all the times that came before.
Impossibilities created by governments who kept a strangle hold on the dissemination of information, a reliance on information from wars between media entities fighting for control over the information that reaches our ears and a lack of access.
While choice and access may no longer be a brick in the wall it is still the job of the people as individuals to sort through what has become “over information” filled with partial information, fact and fiction through elements of extremes.
Extremes that are only interested in keeping the people focused on the most hot button issues that divide us rather than leaving the door open for exploration of the truth for ourselves.
The truth that rests in every missed connection, overlooked internet post that had a piece of information missed by major media sources and missed opportunity for us to gain something more out of the internet experience than was presented to us the day before.
When we look back at the visions of the men and women who constructed the original premise of the World Wide Web we have no choice but to marvel at the accomplishments created.
For these accomplishments, there were never any limits or guidelines set for how this social medium would eventually be used or applied to the lives of people across the globe.
Every evolution of the web has been a learning process as impossible opportunities are now possible and the horrors witnessed in life beyond the internet have found a new home on the web.
Moving the internet forward in a direction that is above the strife and division passed down from generation to generation is an individual responsibility.
An individual responsibility that is important for keeping a free and open space available for future generations.
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A world divided by a lack of access to information that drove a “fear of the unknown” into the hearts of men and women who had limited access to the things happening beyond their noses.
The original goal of the World Wide Web and the byproduct of its ingenuity in social networking were to bring people of different genders, races, political thought, religions, sexual orientation and national origins together in a place that could not be controlled by any government entity, corporation or individual for the purposes of sharing information and building a new understanding.
An understanding that was about more than a news agency or government entity telling the public what the “truth” is or simply relying on folklore, rumor and innuendo as facts.
For this dream of openness and transparency in the way we get information and the ability to connect with people across the globe; the world public has also been greeted with the injection of all the things that created a need for escapism into cyber space.
The pettiness, hate, strife, closed off mentalities, scams, trickery and ignorance have been a part of the internet as long as human beings have been logging onto the network.
For all the achievements that have been made in connecting people on networks like Myspace, Twitter and Facebook there have also been just as many setbacks.
Setbacks by way of online predators looking to make a quick buck, corporate piracy to steal personal information and social deviants who have found a new playground to commit crimes.
For these reasons, the network built to connect the world has not reached its full potential.
The full potential that will break down social walls constructed by fear of the unknown.
The full potential that will bring people of different faiths, political ideology and ideals together by creating the opportunity for conversation rather than assumption.
The full potential that will create an opportunity for opening up eyes, ears and minds beyond Farmville, Mafia Wars and other internet games into the possibilities that stand before us in discovery of the World and the people in it.
For all the possibilities the internet has given the human race to soak in knowledge beyond the amount of books any library could hold; we have squandered it by staying in our social boxes of friends, friends of friends and celebrity worship for fear of anything different than what we have witnessed in the real world.
A fear that is real but is also a failed excuse for not taking full advantage of the things we are able to do in the 21st century that were an impossibility in all the times that came before.
Impossibilities created by governments who kept a strangle hold on the dissemination of information, a reliance on information from wars between media entities fighting for control over the information that reaches our ears and a lack of access.
While choice and access may no longer be a brick in the wall it is still the job of the people as individuals to sort through what has become “over information” filled with partial information, fact and fiction through elements of extremes.
Extremes that are only interested in keeping the people focused on the most hot button issues that divide us rather than leaving the door open for exploration of the truth for ourselves.
The truth that rests in every missed connection, overlooked internet post that had a piece of information missed by major media sources and missed opportunity for us to gain something more out of the internet experience than was presented to us the day before.
When we look back at the visions of the men and women who constructed the original premise of the World Wide Web we have no choice but to marvel at the accomplishments created.
For these accomplishments, there were never any limits or guidelines set for how this social medium would eventually be used or applied to the lives of people across the globe.
Every evolution of the web has been a learning process as impossible opportunities are now possible and the horrors witnessed in life beyond the internet have found a new home on the web.
Moving the internet forward in a direction that is above the strife and division passed down from generation to generation is an individual responsibility.
An individual responsibility that is important for keeping a free and open space available for future generations.
Are you a Fan of this Conversation?
Discussions like the one you have just read cannot continue without your support.
Agree or Disagree, Please help to move this conversation forward by Voting, Clicking the Link to Jump to the Full Blog, Leaving Your Comments at the Bottom of the Page or on the Facebook Page.
Please also click the links of our Advertisers to show your support for the movement that is not about a fantasyland where everyone agrees with each other but one where we can at least come to table of understanding to find a better way.
For more of the Story of How We Can Make an Impact on the Things Happening in our World by Helping Worthy Causes and Taking Action in our Communities.
Please join me on my Social Networks by Viewing my Video’s, Liking/Following Me to Stay up to Date with Posts and Conversations or Becoming a Social Networking Friend.
Follow Me on Youtube
Click Here
Facebook Fan Page
Click Here
Friend me on Facebook
Click Here
Friend me on Myspace
Click Here
Follow Me on Twitter
Click Here
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