I have written several blogs about judgment. My point has been that we each have our own
thoughts, experiences, beliefs etc. that form who we are and the judgments we
hold. My goal is to understand that our judgments
are just that – ours. It’s not to try to
persuade someone else to our way of thinking, but rather to have a discussion,
listen, and maybe see another view point.
That’s called conversation NOT argument or persuasion. What has gotten me riled this morning is
definitely MY judgment so I admit that from the very beginning. I do welcome anyone commenting, agreeing or
not, so that I can learn too.
SNL’s skit about ISIS, Tweets surrounding William
Shatner not attending the funeral of his friend Leonard Nimoy, hateful tweets
surrounding various events at the Oscars, Facebook entrees using foul language
about another person’s activities etc. etc.
My first thought is, “What has this world come to?” Yes, I’m 63 but that doesn't mean I'm not
up-to-date on technology, or I have my head in the sand. I do have my own opinions about being
respectful to EVERYONE and teaching our children and grandchildren to do the
same. I’m also of the opinion/judgment
that if you don't have something nice to say, don't say it especially if you
hide behind anonymity. I am a firm believer in the First Amendment which is
freedom of speech, yet have we sometimes crossed the line and used our freedom
well beyond what was originally intended?
(That’s for another blog.)
These
blogs are my thoughts. I don't expect
everyone to agree, I'm not here to persuade you to my way of thinking, and I
definitely am NOT going to respond to tweets that have nothing to do with me. My hope is I give you some food for
thought.
Social media sites, in my judgment, have taken over our
lives. Do you realize ten years ago,
there was no Facebook, there was no Twitter?
Like most things in our lives there is the good, the bad and sometimes
even the ugly. To begin, using many of
the social media sites have been a fun, personal, and easy way to stay in touch
with my family and friends. The other
day, Jon and I were able to Skype with our former neighbors who are now living
in Perth, Australia. To see them, hear
their voices, see their smiles, and chat was a very special part of our day. Skyping with our children and grandchildren
who are so many miles away helps us feel closer, see how much they've grown, we
are not strangers when the grandchildren can see us, and we can watch as they
are just learning to crawl or walk or shoot a basket. The best part of communicating this way is it’s
free, unlike the high costs we use to pay for long distance phone calls. We feel we're right there with them not worrying about the time and the cost. I
totally enjoy seeing pictures posted on FB of our Australian friends who are
out boating on the ocean as it’s summer there, or the pictures of our
grandchildren building igloos in their front yard, or the new grandchild of a
friend. Even though I’m far away, I
still feel connected.
Social media has also been a way for me to communicate
with my business company on the latest product information, videos, or
testimonials. I can communicate with and
send information to my customers with a link to YouTube or a website. It’s definitely an efficient way to pass on
information. In addition, there are
incredible causes, nonprofits, communication that needs to get out to a lot of
people quickly where there’s a need for financial support, prayers, updates on
someone’s health condition and so much more.
It’s been documented that young people are more involved than ever in
their country’s politics – around the world!
Nonprofits are seeing the benefits of using social media for their
awareness campaigns. Using Facebook, Twitter,
YouTube and other social media venues are more cost effective spreading their
mission, their vision for the future, and gathering support financially. I’m only touching on a few of the MANY
benefits and reasons to love social media.
So what’s the downside?
In my judgment, social media can also be a way to “hide behind the screen”
especially when we can remain anonymous.
In the past, I never would acknowledge a letter or any other form of
communication without knowing who I was dealing with. That also included conversations where
someone would say, “I’m not the only one who feels this way.” I was very direct by saying I would listen to
the person in front of me and if “the others who feel the same way” want to
come and talk to me, I would be happy to listen. However, I would not acknowledge “others”
unless they were present. That doesn't seem to be the method of communicating these days, however.
I am appalled at the number of people in the social
media world today who feel a need to express their opinion/judgment about
someone else’s actions. I find that it seems primarily to be done in a condescending
manner AND anonymously. Sorry…first of
all, much of what is being said is none of their business, and what a chicken
way out by not stating your name. Twitter
seems to be one of the worst. Everyone
has an opinion about everything. Today,
William Shatner has been attacked both on Twitter and in the news media for not
attending Leonard Nemoy’s funeral.
Shatner, a close friend, was attending a Red Cross charity fundraiser
and missed the actual funeral though arrived later. He’s now being called “Captain Jerk.” What?
Since when is what William Shatner does anyone else’s business and why
should he have to justify what he does to ANYONE? We were not there, we don’t know all the
details, yet the opinions and hateful comments fly through the media. My question is, “Why do you care? It doesn't involve you, it doesn't affect
you. Do you really have that much free
time on your hands? Are you so bored
that you have nothing else to do but to say negative things about people you
don’t even know? Do you feel that much
out of control in your own life that you feel a need to have a say in someone
else’s life? Does it make you feel
better about yourself?” This is NOT news!
Since this is not a blog meant to cover all the issues
of social media, I want to acknowledge that I have a concern that social media is
taking over our lives – some people more than others, obviously. My frustration comes when people are impolite
talking on their phones in public and especially in confined spaces e.g. the
line in the grocery store, on the bus to the airport, in an elevator, while out
to dinner, and even in a movie theater. What
about the work environment? How much
time do you take during the week day to check your email, post a message on FB
or Twitter? (It would be an interesting
experiment to put a tally mark on a piece of paper every time you're distracted
by a social media site then, at the end of the day, count how many tally marks
you made.) Can you guess how much of your work day you spent on social media
versus working your full time, paying job?
How does your family approach checking emails or texting during meal
time? Do you have family time where
everyone has to have their phones turned off and that means Mom and Dad too?!! There’s been a discussion, on the morning
shows, about the interference of bosses contacting employees at home and the
stress that causes. Does that happen to
you? What’s in your control to resolve
that problem? If it happens
occasionally, that’s one thing, but if it is happening on a regular basis isn't it something that must be dealt with to come to a resolution? In the evenings, are you busy on your IPad doing
other things while your children are playing by themselves? Do you find yourself so attached to the phone
that you check it every time it beeps even to the point of stopping a
conversation with someone? Like most
things, if we are becoming “addicted,” the balance of using social media is at an unhealthy level and is controlling our lives then it's time to stop and re-evaluate. And I haven't even touched on the topic of
texting!
In the end, there are pluses and minuses to ALL that we
do: nutrition, exercise, work, personal development, and yes, our approach to
using social media. If you find yourself
out of balance, I hope you take time to rethink what that balance should
be for you. My hope is you keep your own
life centered in reality. Don’t miss those moments with your spouse or
significant other, the conversations with your children, the together time with
family and friends, conversations over the phone versus texting, and definitely
face-to-face conversations. Balance!
Here’s to a healthy mindset when it comes to you, your
life, and social media.
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