Some thoughts on social media. My first thought is if total strangers were having a conversation on the street, or in a store, would you interject yourself into that conversation? What I mean is, just jump right in there and begin berating one of them? I don't think so, but on social media that is very common. I know why; because there is no consequence to doing that. It is an opportunity to say out loud what your thoughts really are. You chance to be Braveheart. Perhaps it is a form of social therapy for the insecure, I don't know.
I do spend too much time on social media, I'm aware of that. Perhaps it is some form of therapy for me as well. So much time that my real personality is on full display. What you see and read is what I really am. I do give my honest, unbiased, unfiltered self. I'm binary! Either you like me, or you don't. In some instances I'm like those "heel" wrestlers, someone people love to hate. I'm okay with all of that, there are some I really don't care for either. We all live in our own little worlds and have vastly different experiences. I can't expect or demand anyone understand or accept my world. In most cases I just see it this way, I'm right or you are wrong. Binary.
Another interesting thing about social media is meeting those that knew you many years ago. You know, like old classmates or co-workers. You may not have seen or interacted with these people for fifty years. You feel like you know them when in fact, you don't. I'm as guilty of that as anyone. But I have discovered that those that I weren't that close to fifty years ago, generally speaking, I still don't get that close to. Our worlds were different then, and remain that way. You hear those talking about growth and all of that but there are times when you just grow apart even when you come from the same root.
So just what is it about social media that retains my interest? I do enjoy seeing the meme's, photographs and exchanging pleasantries with others on Facebook. I like a lively debate until it devolves into name calling. Unfortunately that seems to happen quite often, I suspect because there is no real consequence to that. I'm certain many others feel like I do, oh well, I really don't care what you think when it comes down to the brass tacks. It can get depressing it you allow that. I just move on. A few years ago I blocked some people, two or three I don't remember, but I don't do that anymore, seems petty.
The vast majority of social interaction is superficial anyway and has no lasting consequence or repercussion. You can call me jaded or skeptical, whatever, but I haven't formed any lasting relationships on Facebook. I don't go looking at profile pages. Others must however as they attempt to hurl insults at me by referencing things on my profile page. Something that amuses me as you are telling me something I already know, yes I worked a Save-A-Lot. I also retired from the Navy, so what's your point? Facebook, and I suspect other social media platforms, are like little fantasy worlds were anything is possible. I can tell you for a fact that I take everything I read on there with a grain. I'm also assuming others are doing the same, at least I hope they are.
Now were you to meet me in person my thinking is you would find me a delight. Yes, I'm amicable enough, easy going and humorous. I'm also blatantly honest in my opinions and thoughts on every topic you can think of. I will tell you exactly what I think. Sometimes I will even offer those opinions without you having to ask. That seems to upset some people, although I don't know why. I'm quite confident and secure in my person. I do have that take it or leave it attitude towards others. Binary. You either like me or you don't, your choice, I don't have anything to say about that. I don't require anyone to "validate" me, I do that myself, kind of like a self-checkout. In the end, I'm the only one that has to live with me.
Yeah, social media is a different world, a brave new world for us old people. My grandchildren haven't known a world without that medium. I grew up dealing with people face to face or being a pen-pal. Well, honestly I never had a pen-pal but heard about that. Man, talk about a slow method of conversing. I do remember waiting for letters while at sea and how long that took. By the time you got the news, that news was old. Not like today were everything is instant. Maybe that is part of the problem as well, maybe we just need to slow down some, consider our thoughts more carefully before responding. The reality of a smack in the face used to provide that temperance, but it's non existent of social media.
Well, I'm just a binary person. I believe in right and wrong, and I believe I get to judge that for myself. I will tell what I feel is right and wrong, even though you may not agree with that judgement. How you feel won't change that. That's the thing about judgement, sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn't, it is also a binary thing. I'm not much for fad or fashion. I'm a bit of a traditionalist and patriotic. This is my country and I won't apologize for that. America first, Americans first, family first. Charity begins at home, not in Congress. Not as impressed by educational degrees as some seem to be, I value common sense and simple logic above all else. I've met a lot of educated damn fools in my life. You can repeat the whole book, word for word, and never grasp the meaning. And with social media you can't begin reading at page 53 and expect to make any intelligent comment.
You can't be a little right or a little wrong. You are one or the other. Being a little of anything, is just the acceptance of a little of the other. I ran across this quote from Agnes Moorehead, the actress that played the mother on Bewitched, Endora. "I studied ethics more than anything - people's feelings about humanity. Of course, I was much younger then. I had more trust in humanity then, but I think people were more trustful. They had standards of right and wrong. Now people say: 'What's right? What's wrong?' And I say: 'if you don't know what's right or wrong, then I'm sorry for you." I haven't studied ethics but I've dealt with a lot of people over the years. I agree with her, if you can't say what is right and wrong, I do feel sorry for you. The sorrow being you being afraid to say what is right and wrong. You know, all this computer stuff, the internet, social media platforms and all of that are possible because of a binary system, ironic isn't it?
one and zero / on and off / right and wrong
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