In the past couple of weeks, we’ve talked about new technology and its effects on social activism – how we’ve gone from the kind of life-risking activism it took to effect the Civil Rights Act to the kind of activism that only takes sending a text message to donate ten dollars to the Japan tsunami relief. In thinking about the upcoming essay, I’ve been considering how this has had an effect on the sense of purpose we feel as individuals. Let me explain: dictionary.com defines purpose as “the reason for which something exists” or its “practical result, effect, or advantage.” Not everyone will agree, but I think that having a sense of purpose is vital to living a peaceful and happy life; knowing your purpose in relation to your family and community is key to being content with your career, family roles, and other relationships.
So I’m wondering if there’s any connection between the sense of purpose we feel and the amount of time we spend online. Whereas there are benefits to being on Facebook and Twitter like connection to others, especially those who live far away, and convenient communication, I have to believe that Turkle was right when she said that new technology encourages us to have the “illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship” (Turkle CP200). We like Facebook and E-mail and other forms of digital communication, because they are convenient andeasy, not because they necessarily encourage better and stronger connections with people. I worry that in the pursuit of faster and easier, we sacrifice meaningful and substantial.
I think one of the main points Gladwell was getting at when talking about “strong-tie” versus “loose-tie” activism (Gladwell CP193-195) was that being part of an online community is not the same thing as being part of a close-knit group of friends, and it does not have the same benefits and outcomes. Joining an event on Facebook doesn’t mean you’re passionate about its cause or care at all for that matter. Tweeting “pray for Japan” doesn’t mean you’re on your knees begging for God’s blessing on Asia or that you’ve done anything to help the cause. If these are the things that being an “activist” or bettering humanity is about, then it’s no wonder we should lack a sense of purpose. Being online requires no passion, it requires no real friendship, no true knowledge of your cause, no true sense of self. These are things that are vital to prospering and bettering ourselves and others, and while being online doesn’t necessarily contradict those things, it doesn’t exactly encourage them either. New technology has allowed us to reach out further and in greater measure than ever before. But if we’re not careful, I feel like we may lose ourselves in the convenience of it all.
I think she shows some good points in her post because she talks about what can happen if we let social networking take place of somethings that we normally do. For example that she shows she tells of that if you like or agree with a charity event on facebook or tweeter its not the same thing as going their and supporting it. Also if you like these kind of events you don't even have to care or like it. You must show your support for something by going to the event and helping not signing up for it on a social network. We must not let the use of social network take place of the things we want or choose to do. Also, we must not use them to make it look like you like something and really not care its not right nor good for you too use it that way. You must use it to benefit you not take over you. Joe
ReplyDeleteI like when Christine says, "Being online requires no passion, it requires no real friendship, no true knowledge of your cause, no true sense of self." In my Bibliographic essays, I came across a quote that I really liked too.
ReplyDeleteSwartz, Jon. "Protesters put tech tools to work to drum up support." USA Today n.d.: Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web.
Swartz quoted Beth Kanter a social media consultant to non-profits when she said, “The big change is not so much technology but connecting people to people” (3).
I thought these kind of went together because Kanter is right that, technology is only good because we are connecting people to people but if we don't use it in the right way, we can get lost. The real friendships from Facebook come from when you make a contact, if you actually get together with them in real life (example: have a business meeting//job interview). That "friend" means absolutely nothing if you don't. I think sometimes people do get lost in the internet and think people really are their friend just because they are friends on Facebook. I think future generations will have the greatest trouble with this because they are just going to have the internet as their connection and not an actual lunch buddy or friend that comes over and play board games or something.
emily p.
One possible way to interpret the digital trend is that we still have meaningful relationships, but now with the addition of a whole host of "weak-tie" relationships. I think almost all of us still have close friends and causes we care deeply about. But we now also have the capability to extend into all of the weaker relationships, a capability that we didn't previously have. Weaker ties seem to be a relatively new phenomina. One example of this is in the current upheaval in the middle east. Many of the first people to take to the streets were part of many weak tie organizations, but they also were part of one or two strong tie relationships (Muslim Brotherhood, neighborhood club,...).
ReplyDeleteIn conclusion, I would argue that the weak tie relationships are not coming at the cost of strong tie relationships. I think the internet can be seen more as an addition than a detraction. Thoughts?
Devin (Btw, I thought the piece was well written and reasoned, and I am merely presenting this argument as a possible alternative to consider.)
It's hard for me to gauge whether or not the internet is hurting our relationships to others and the world thereby injuring our individual purpose. Our generation grew up in the gap- between the time when computers were still new and not necessary for everyday life and the time when computers became rampant due to decrease in price and ease of use. I feel like many people in our generation live in the "best of both worlds"- we understand face-to-face communication and revel in personal, strong relationships but we also value the computer as a tool to facilitate the ease of communication and planning face-to-face interaction.
ReplyDeleteBut sometimes I wonder if generations younger than us missed out on understanding how to build those real friendships. My sister, just 3 years younger, is struggling with friendships right now. She always appeared like a social bee, fluttering from friend to friend. Her perky, socializing habits made her seem better at making friends than me. (I am usually reserved until I understand the person I am engaging with.) But lately every "friend" she has keeps ditching her and backing out of previously made plans she made, leaving her alone and socially depressed. In comparison, I have always had a friend I can talk to or hang out with in a time of need. It appears that she does not. Is it merely her personality that keeps her from making stronger connections to people, or is the computer and technology a little bit to blame?
Curiously enough, she deactivated her Facebook a couple of days ago. For her, that is big. She said it was just too much for her to handle right now.Her circumstance leads me to believe that maybe everyone is not like me: able to use the computer and technology without letting it take over real life interactions or dampen my purpose in life.
-Victoria
I tried to post here several days ago and for some reason it didn't go through. Strange.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, I have to agree with Christine, at least for the most part. I feel that Facebook and other such social sites do cater to a kind of deep down need to feel connected to others -- even if that connection is fake or dishonest. When you log on and see you have a hundred friends, and you read their posts and you comment on a few it makes you feel as if you have all these people who are interested in you. THis explains why people are so willing to put private information on Facebook, even when it is a terrible idea -- people are often fired due to saying things they shouldn't have, but it's understandable if you consider your "friends" on Facebook to be real friends. That is to say, we may assume our connections are "strong-ties" when really they are weak. However, that is not to say that this kind of social site is inherently bad -- if, like email, we use it to communicate with people we really are connected to, it can be a way to keep up friendships or relationships despite separation. Still, for the most part people do not use Facebook to that end, and certainly it'd be hard to call spending time on one's farm in Farmville, as some of my friends used to do, anything but purposeless.
Connor
Does it seem like many of these questions come around to the issue of HOW we CHOOSE to use any particular media? And that, perhaps, leads to questions about where we learn to be in control of our media use, rather than simply let it be there and surround us (as Macey points out).
ReplyDeleteDevin, I agree- I think that for the most part, online media does ADD something to our sense of relationship and self through the promotion of weaker-tie relationships. I don't necessarily think weak ties are bad at all. BUT it's when we mistake the weak ties for strong ties that we lose a good sense of friendship and self, and I think that's easy to do in this age...which relates to what Victoria was talking about in relation to her younger sister. I feel like it is becoming harder for younger, more digitally involved people, to develop real, true relationships with others.
ReplyDeleteI understand when Christine says "being online requires no passion..." but for a lot of people it's the exact opposite. Many people find their identity through online interactions. I've seen shows that document people who prefer to spend more time as their virtual selves than real life. Some people may be taking the "social" in social media too far.
ReplyDeleteMarquis I think that is exactly why it can be so dangerous to spend so much time online. Some people become so enthralled with being online that they don't even really feel like they are living their own life anymore. They just waste away their day on avatar sites. I think that when Christine says "being online requires no passion..." these people are most definitely passionate about being online but it is in no way shape or form healthy. They have lost all "social" skills. to the point where all they have left are "social MEDIA" skills. - macey flowers
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