I’ve intentionally kept personal venting out of this blog. I’m now sort of realizing why.
I love the internet.
But I don’t like the way it can so easily de-humanize people. Recently, I’ve taken a step back from the internet. Granted, I’m still on it a lot, but I’m trying to not maintain relationship through the world wide web. It comes across to me as fake, and I don’t like it. Don’t get me wrong, I still update my twitter and check my facebook to an extreme amount, but when it comes to communicating with someone I prefer hearing their voice.
The July/August issue of RELEVANT has a really good article titled “The High Cost of Friendship” by Seth Hurd. He writes:
Freinds, real know-you-down-to-your-soul friends, come at a high cost. They guarantee a lifetime of broken hearts as we say goodbye, farewell and amen, again and again over the course of our lives.
Sadly, more and more people are finding that cost too high. Fifty years ago, the average person had three or more close friends and family members in which to confide. Today, that average has dropped to somewhere between two and one. The world-within-a-world of social networking has its benefits, but it’s also continually drawing us further into an “invent your own fantasy” identity and away from face-to-face relationships. This year, the average American will spend more time with their computer than with their spouse. As a study in the March 2009 International Business News so aptly put it, “Facebook, Twitter users among the loneliest in America.”
… Online friends don’t borrow money and not pay it back, gossip or spill Gatorade in your car. They don’t show up at your house after just getting dumped and stay until 2 a.m. when you have to be at work in the morning. Online “friendships” are always efficient.
True friendships demands vulnerability. It requires that you rearrange your schedule, and intentionally plan time to spend with other people with no agenda.
The article goes on to explain that the appeal of online friendships is very human because it’s selfishly convenient and keeps people and a comfortable distance. I’d have to agree. But I don’t want that.
As I said, I don’t mind reading up on people to stay up to date (like reading blogs – haha), but in order to maintain a real relationship, I need more. Instant Messaging is great for leaving a short note or letting someone know you’ve been trying to get in touch with them, but not a personal conversation. Knowing that school is over, I’m going to try to make more of an effort to keep up with people by actually hearing their voice or seeing their face, instead of reading pixels forming letters on a screen. I’ve already done this with some of my closest friends, but I could do better. I haven’t even called some people. I won’t have those friends much longer if I don’t do something about it.
I’ve kept venting and deeper emotions out of this blog because (1) I don’t need to broadcast that stuff all over the internet and (2) I need human interaction for my human feelings. I blame this epidemic on Myspace.