Part of it, I suppose, is that I've become incredibly disenchanted with anything related to 'social media'. While I never cared how many 'friends' I have on X page, I've really begun to wonder how many of them are actually friends. While some have moved away, I have to admit that there are very few I see face-to-face anymore, let alone have a conversation in 'real time'. Leaving comments on walls or pictures or such reminds me too much of living in a house with a bunch of roommates, and only communicating with them through post-it notes.
Passive-aggressive, even on friendly terms?
Blogs... everyone becomes a 'writer', everyone has something to say. Just now as I type this, the phrase 'meaningful exchange' comes to mind. When's the last time you've had one of those? Who goes out for coffee anymore, without a laptop or iPad or whatever? We as a 21st century society are hiding behind computer screens and plugged into mp3 players, whether we are at home or out in public, afraid to truly interact with our fellow human being, afraid of being wrong, afraid to be challenged out of our little bubble or reality, afraid to be sucked out of our safe complacency and into the vacuum of options (does the word 'freedom' sound familiar?).
So why am I even on the internet? Maybe I see it as a gateway drug, and as a gateway I'd like to see if one can go through it from the other direction, successfully and with minimal jaded after-effects. We've gone into this electronic world, perhaps we can come back out. Perhaps... we can gain back some of our humanity.
I highly doubt it'll happen, at least not on a whole. As a species we are too weak rise above our addictions, to do anything that isn't easy. But personally I'd rather maintain connections with people who see this electronic age for what it is... and enjoy a cup of coffee with them.
PS. I'd rather be having this conversation in person, by the way.
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