It’s a cold and windy day here in my hometown. I am sitting here with my heat on, my new wireless router enabling me to watch Netflix via my Wii console, and I am thinking how darned lucky I am. I am thinking about the people who are outside today, the wind cutting through whatever clothing they have on. Because this is the kind of wind that can get you no matter what you are wearing, no matter where you are. A leaf blew up onto my door and clung there a moment as if even it wanted to get inside. How lucky I am. How unfair it is that so many people do not have a quarter of what I have.
As these thoughts pass through my mind, I sign into the online world. I have always seen so much potential for platforms like Twitter and Facebook and blogging, not necessarily for business alone, but also for just making the world a better place. When people put their minds to it, as they have done before, Social Media can become a force of nature, making the world better, helping people in all sorts of ways. To me, this is the potential magnum opus of the online world. Making a dent in world hunger. Giving homes and voices to the homeless and the sick. The possibilities are endless.
And yet, as I sign into the online world, I feel like I am stepping into a high school cafeteria, not a place where great things can happen. And let’s face it, the high school cafeteria at least had hot pockets. I sit here and watch people take pot shots at each other. The same people. The same arguments. All of that energy thrown into the same efforts. “Hey, make the online world better. Follow me and not that guy.” It’s so boring. It’s so juvenile.
I am feeling like there is too much going on in the world, and honestly, when you get right down to it, I’m feeling a little spoiled that I’m a part of this online world. I feel like we’re sitting on a porch on a house resting on top of a big hill, and below us a town is bursting into flames. We’re sitting there saying, “Boy, someone should really do something about that. Let’s argue with each other about who to follow on Twitter!” I’m just not interested in those conversations anymore. There’s more important stuff going on. So much more important.
I love blogging. I love conversing with you here. But I am thinking that maybe the direction of my blogging needs to change. Maybe it’s time to start using my blog to highlight ways we can improve the world instead of just commenting on how people no longer know how to act with civility online. That’s been made clear, and my writing about it will not change anything. And maybe my writing about real issues going on in the real world will not change anything either, but at least I will feel of the world and not apart from it.
Are you feeling that wind?
Image Credit: http://www.sxc.hu/profile/sarahjjay
Hi margie. Very noble. Do you know the what issues you want to start writing about?
I hear you on almost feeling guilty about how good we have it to spend time online, while others spend this same time simply surviving. I’d be down for a brainstorming session. 🙂
@Craig Morton Likewise, sir. You’re much better at the motivation thing than I am 🙂
I feel the same way. That is why when a week or two ago, when a homeless pregnant woman got on the train as I was commuting home,. I gave her an apple. My action in a world of inaction did spur other passengers to do something different too. Some reached for their wallets. Would they have done it I did not start? I have no idea.
I have been quietly changing direction on my blog, from just abstract thoughts to concrete real-life trying to make a difference in some small way.
What is really rewarding is that my son talks about donating the clothes that no longer fit him. He says, even we are not rich, he knows we have more than other families do.
I try to stay away from the noise online as much as possible. Some days are better than others. All I can do is try my best, and hope to touch a few lives in the process. Just like you already are doing.
@NancyD68 you’re my hero, Nancy D. Keep being you!!!
I’d been feeling the same way for some time now (though not exactly for the same reasons entirely).
I’ve been feeling as though the online world is becoming more a place like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, where everyone is sweet, helpful, kind and willing to help … with an agenda.
Not to say that there aren’t folks online who fit that bill, myagenda and margieclayman come to mind.
For me, it’s beginning to feel like the “interconnectedness” that the online world promises in social media could be a hollow promise.
I actually think it’s my fault that I haven’t found more “community minded” folks online … so I’ll try a little longer because I, too, want to contribute in some way to make the world a better place … both where I live and in the larger global village.
And avoid the unnecessary debates and trivial discourse we find in plenty around “that cafeteria you described so well”.
@MyBklynReportmyagenda Thanks, Michael. Yeah, it’s tough to realize that a lot of people come into the online world with very self-centered agendas. You have to watch out for that, but you also don’t want to sweep away people who may be legit but maybe just have been burned one too many times. It’s a tough world out there. But from what I’ve seen, you’re doing a great job growing your community and getting out there. Just hang in there 🙂
@margieclayman you’re absolutely right (I guess I backed away from the last online community I was involved in (with a big ongoing convo occurring daily) after being skyped by a big contributor to that conversation who only intended to pitch me the entire 30 minute conversation on joining their thing and hire them for what they do. I’m going to renew my participation online and not push away those legit folk who are there for the same reasons as I. Thanks Margie for the great advice.
FYI – I’m outside too………in short pants and short sleeves in case you were wondering……….:).
Just not in my neighborhood, right? It’s easy to sit on the hill and not get ‘involved’. But I totally agree this platform provides the opportunity to actually do something good instead of wondering who is following who…….really?
Keep those thoughts coming and keep it away from the cafeteria mentality, right?
@bdorman264 why do guys do that? Can you answer that for me once and for all? We used to have a mailman come to our office and he’d be wearing shorts in a blizzard. Makes no sense.
Ehem. Anyway…
Yes, the “not in my backyard” thing is a double-edged sword, but that’s also where the power of the online world can come in. Everyone’s backyard is your backyard because you are connected to so many people from so many places. So everything is our concern, right? 🙂
@margieclayman I wouldn’t do it where you live; I’m in Florida, we always wear shorts…………:)
So let’s do it. What do you have in mind? I’m willing to help. 🙂
@BrandonPDuncan I don’t know…I think we need to talk about things that can really help people, whether it’s helping people feel more welcome here in the online world or ways we can connect the online world’s power to people who really need help in the offline world. It seems like there is nothing but potential 🙂
Good morning margieclayman …it’s a GREAT day here too…cold, misty rain outside and coziness inside with the dogs.
I,too,see the pettiness all around me everyday…not just in the real world but also in the online world where we have seen the pettiness invade what we hoped would be a platform rife with positive possibility. But, I have to tell you @margieclayman …you are one of the reasons that make signing onto the online world everyday worthwhile. You DO make a difference…every single time that you blog or comment. Your blogs are rich with information, humor, wit, compassion and wisdom. You take controversial topics and handle them with aplomb and passion. You touch lives that you probably aren’t even aware that you touch. Never for a second stop believing that the issues that you write about, light-hearted or serious, are not changing anything. Change happens one person at a time…I believe that with all of my heart. I HAVE to believe that because if I didn’t, why would we even bother to get up out of bed every day. There will ALWAYS be pettiness and immaturity…there will always be popularity contests…they have existed as long as humans have started socializing in caves. But most of us want what is best for the world and each of us contributes those gifts differently…individually. One of your gifts (I don’t know you IRL but I am SURE you possess more than one gift 😉 ) is your gift of intelligent and thought provoking communication. You ARE creating change. Imperceptible to you perhaps, but powerful change…one heartfelt post at a time.
I am going to get a reputation for posting LOOONNGG comments on people’s blogs and I apologize….
Claudia
@SocialMediaDDS Ah Claudia, never stop commenting the way you do. You are wonderful.
Thank you for all of that. And yes, I too believe that change can begin, much like a fire, with just one tiny spark. If that spark takes and other people pick it up, heck, there’s no telling what we could do. I’m all for it 🙂
There’s no point in complaining about something if you’re not willing to change it. Instead of looking at everyone else’s wrongdoings, let’s start doing things right. Right?
Great post.
@dashingly Yep, that would have been a much better way to say what I was trying to say.
Thank you!
Amen.
martinamcgowan
@Doc_1martinamcgowan thanks 🙂
@margieclaymanmartinamcgowan
I’m new here, but have felt it from the beginning. You are welcome. Let me know what I can do to support.