I have over the years made many personal connections with people. Especially in my work environment. I engage in dialogue with my collegues on a day to day basis, which I love. I enjoy the interactions that I have with people and being able to look them in the eye and nod your head because what they are telling you is of intrest to you. My fear is that is being lost somewhat with the age of teachnology. Sure you are engaging in another kind of connection with people but the intimacy among the people you know. Computing is a wonderful way to stay connected to those afar, and to engage in some networking…but man I miss the one to one in person conversations. I have to get used to the idea that technology must be embrased and that is something that taking this class will help me to do. I must go beyond using Facebook…lol. Til next time….
Those personal connectons….have I lost them????
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Daniel Donahoo said,
February 4, 2009 @ 5:51 am
I used to use similar language and had the same ideas about personal connections and online environments. I wrote about it, online – and bloggers from everywhere descended on me – http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=3375
My ideas have since changed dramatically. I don’t discount real life interaction, but i think we house online connections and real life connections separately at our cost. I have found great professional and personal connections via web2.0 technologies. I think we are only at the beginning of realising the value of the hyperlink, the connection and the interaction that is possible digitally.
I can skype my sister in the uk and connect in a way we never previously could. I can podcast with geekdads from geekdad.com in the USA. I am extending my network. i still go to school meetings and find like minds in my community and sometimes i even connect them with those i know only in the electronic world.
There is no black and white, right or wrong here – it is a journey for each individual to find their balance and make the most of the connections available to them.
Hadass said,
February 4, 2009 @ 5:54 am
Brandy, have you ever had a pen-pal? Not all electronic conversations are group interactions, and there is plenty of opportunity to learn to know people on a real basis. Use Skype if you want body language, or the thoughtfulness of a blog post to think through your words.
I find that my circle of dear, real friends has only grown and been enhanced since I joined the virtual world back in 1988 . I have met quite a few of them in person, too!
Good luck and have no fear. Like everything else, virtual friendships are what you make of them.
Malik said,
February 4, 2009 @ 6:02 am
Nice post! I guess that is what web2.0 is all about – Collaboration and connections. However, we may gain connections with strangers and others such as co-workers and friends.
However IMHO, the connections that may suffer are our closest connections such as family and/or significant other where technology has not totally integrated successfully or is conclusive in facilitation.
-Mr. R
@mrich1911
Embracing Technology « Miss Hill’s Blog said,
February 4, 2009 @ 6:13 am
[...] ladies are not alone with their thoughts about questioning the idea of loosing personal connections due to technology. [...]
Shawn P. Calhoun said,
February 4, 2009 @ 7:00 am
Great points. I think you’re spot on in your assessment that technology can become a distant replacement to face-2-face interactions. That said, I have met folks online that I would have never met w/o things like FB. I have never crossed the pond – but have hosted all sorts of folks from around the world who visit my home town (San Francisco). My network of friends is deeper and more diverse because of technology – and often the web just brings us together to meet, break bread and share a few laughs. Cheers! -shawn from the University of San Francisco
PS – if you;re ever around SF please drop me a line
)
http://www.twitter.com/shawncalhoun
Chad said,
February 4, 2009 @ 10:54 am
I think you hit upon an interesting thought that a lot of people are having with the revolution of online social networking. I would direct you to Michael Wesch who a professor of anthropology at Kansas State University. http://mediatedcultures.net/about.htm
If you youtube “anthropological introduction to youtube”, you can watch an hour long presentation to the Library of Congress about the impact of web based tools and one of the points he makes later on, which I found rather profound, is that the more we become independent, the more we desire connection and group norming. I think what we are seeing right now, is that very push. Facebook has exploded, not because people are seeking to be alone, but because they are seeking to be connected. Your comments lead me to believe that what you are REALLY speaking about is a deeper connection, a more real connection that comes with only f2f meeting and most would agree that digital relationships lack that emotional relationship UNTIL you meet that person. I have only really been involved in a few online communities and with tools like twitter and blog posts, you can get a sense of who the person is on the other end better than you used to. Still not the same though…
Debbie said,
February 4, 2009 @ 12:48 pm
I have longer, deeper, meaningful conversations with certain tools like Skype, where I can text chat OR verbally chat (for free) while dropping links, and Plurk, where conversations are threaded. My kids can interact with their grandparents, who live far away, much more regularly and visually with technology like Ustream. My parents have been able to “attend” school events and even watch us decorate our Christmas tree that way!
Finally, through Facebook, I have reconnected with people from college and high school that I lost touch with over the years. It’s such a nice, casual way to see what people are up to without having to have a deep conversations – because I can only have so many of those a day, especially with kids in my life!
I understand what you mean about the difference in face-to-face interactions, but I am really looking forward to going to NECC this summer and meeting some of my new online friends from the past year face-to-face.
In short, I think technology provides new tools for deeper human connection and interaction.
Bud Hunt said,
February 4, 2009 @ 3:53 pm
I guess I’d just say that I make lots of human connections via the technologies that I use to connect with folks, and that I would argue that I’ve stronger relationships with some of those folks, geographically distant, but philosophically and/or purposefully close, than I do with many of the people that live on my street.
Connections are valuable, and we should be working to make them both online and off. But one type isn’t necessarily better or worse – just different.
Mike Wolf said,
February 4, 2009 @ 4:37 pm
This is a point that’s been brought up a lot, and I’m sure studies have been done on the antisocial tendancies that, for example, hardcore video gamers have. Higher level communication (face-to-face, over the telephone), is becoming more and more rare. Luckily, things like SKYPE are around and try to bring back some of that balance.
Here’s an interesting piece of artwork I found that perhaps conveys what the world will be if technology overcomes face-to-face relationships.
http://i.gizmodo.com/5142421/image-of-the-day-a-better-reality
Jon Kruithof said,
February 4, 2009 @ 5:08 pm
Hi, I’m following Alec Couros on Twitter and linked to your blog through him. Being lost in technology is a common feeling. It can be isolating, but what I’ve found is that I have two distinct social circles – my online and offline circles. Rarely do the two intersect (usually on Facebook or through e-mail). I remember my wife, who upon discovering a chat room online during the mid-90′s, stayed up all night chatting away with folks she barely knew. One of those people became a good friend of ours, so he migrated from her online circle to our offline circle. He lives about 3000 miles from us, so he kind of goes between the two circles.
I also find that if I want to know about educational technology, I can turn to my online circle and ask questions. If I want to know about some other things, maybe my offline circle knows better.
Jackie Durocher said,
February 5, 2009 @ 10:43 pm
Brandy don’t give up on Face Book !lol For myself I believe that I am afraid to try something new, a lot of this new technology is scary for me. As Guy penny said in his blog, take one step at a time! ttyl
stephen king said,
February 6, 2009 @ 12:10 am
Hey Brandy,
Nothing can replace face to face contact, but in a world where families get separated by oceans (as mine is) the social networking sites provide an invaluable tool to keep in touch. And as I’m learning by playing in Twitter, you can form connections with people you cannot face to face with and maintain connections with people you cannot meet directly with. Beats the old days when people moved and you never heard from them again. Dive into Twitter for an evening using Tweetdeck and you might find yourself enjoying it as much as facebook.