About connectivity and social interactions
There is something about this new era of zero space.
And I mean a social zero space. I recall a few of the writings of Asimov, never being much of a fan of Asimov myself, but certainly an admirer--in a way you admire lava, you observe part of it, but don't dive.
The Last Question, a kind of grandiose (in a sweet way), little, deep and incredibly clever short story. And I mean, incredibly. (Do us a favor and read it, if you haven't. http://lix.in/-bf627c). It details how a society would evolve having many things, including nigh-endless energy and apparently no internal feuds. Or, rather, one of the many paths. In it, there is a point where we become a solitary, unitary conscience. There is full connection with everyone but there is no individuality. And maybe an advanced, futuristic version of me is OK with that, but not the present me. I cherish my individuality.
So, I believe the point of zero social space came before at least a thousand years early. With an estimate of 7 billion people in Earth, there are 6 billion cellphone subscriptions. Therefore, the norm is that everyone that can, will "enjoy" total connectivity.
There is no doubt about the place or the current situation or anything. It's just asked. And the answer must be prompt.
Awfully stressful.
The compelling pings and dings and lights and buzzes call us, like little rectangular masters. We submit to the mobile desire. The messages that want to be answered are. Those pesky inboxes are responded right ahead.
Pure, undiluted stress.
See, the point of social interaction is the same point of a nice wine. It requires fermentation. It requires ambience. It requires focus. There is no point on reading a story when your friend could be telling it over a cup of coffee. It loses the ambience, the fermentation, the focus. No living the moment, but reading a SMS.
The absurd instantaneity of this form of communication has compelled the (regretted) trailblazers to abbreviate and transmogrify words. Sentences and paragraphs have become sparse symbols and letters, formulaic and vague. And with this, ideas become fragmented and trite.
And the social etiquette has morphed along pretty and nice. There is no saying no to an invite, but to complete strangers (and even then)--to the point there are people that thrive on numbers, how many people on their mobile chat, how many friends on their social profile. It doesn't matter who they are or if they actually represent friends. They might as well have been met but once; or acknowledged by proxy.
There is no only following those who considering interesting, but those who follow you too. Because, hey, not following or not accepting an invite might
hurt
feelings.
We took away everything flavorful from social interaction, but managed to retain the ugly, like peer rejection, or at least the feeling.
So, I urge, even, I plead of you, to sever ties with the need to be public. Talk with those you want to talk, and listen. Hug, and kiss, and dance, and caress, and punch, and spit. Smile, and frown, and let those smiles and those frowns be seen. Let your identity and singular flavor be expressed by more than a custom font. If you can't be there, call them. Minimize your "messaging". Try to keep your networks to friends, and your subscriptions to contents you will appreciate.
There is something about this new era of zero space.
I despise its ways.
Laconic: People are too connected. Spitting trivial minutiae. Deceived to think virtual networks are real. Contemplation and creativity forgotten. The flavor of interactions diminished.
And I mean a social zero space. I recall a few of the writings of Asimov, never being much of a fan of Asimov myself, but certainly an admirer--in a way you admire lava, you observe part of it, but don't dive.
The Last Question, a kind of grandiose (in a sweet way), little, deep and incredibly clever short story. And I mean, incredibly. (Do us a favor and read it, if you haven't. http://lix.in/-bf627c). It details how a society would evolve having many things, including nigh-endless energy and apparently no internal feuds. Or, rather, one of the many paths. In it, there is a point where we become a solitary, unitary conscience. There is full connection with everyone but there is no individuality. And maybe an advanced, futuristic version of me is OK with that, but not the present me. I cherish my individuality.
So, I believe the point of zero social space came before at least a thousand years early. With an estimate of 7 billion people in Earth, there are 6 billion cellphone subscriptions. Therefore, the norm is that everyone that can, will "enjoy" total connectivity.
There is no doubt about the place or the current situation or anything. It's just asked. And the answer must be prompt.
Awfully stressful.
The compelling pings and dings and lights and buzzes call us, like little rectangular masters. We submit to the mobile desire. The messages that want to be answered are. Those pesky inboxes are responded right ahead.
Pure, undiluted stress.
See, the point of social interaction is the same point of a nice wine. It requires fermentation. It requires ambience. It requires focus. There is no point on reading a story when your friend could be telling it over a cup of coffee. It loses the ambience, the fermentation, the focus. No living the moment, but reading a SMS.
The absurd instantaneity of this form of communication has compelled the (regretted) trailblazers to abbreviate and transmogrify words. Sentences and paragraphs have become sparse symbols and letters, formulaic and vague. And with this, ideas become fragmented and trite.
And the social etiquette has morphed along pretty and nice. There is no saying no to an invite, but to complete strangers (and even then)--to the point there are people that thrive on numbers, how many people on their mobile chat, how many friends on their social profile. It doesn't matter who they are or if they actually represent friends. They might as well have been met but once; or acknowledged by proxy.
There is no only following those who considering interesting, but those who follow you too. Because, hey, not following or not accepting an invite might
hurt
feelings.
We took away everything flavorful from social interaction, but managed to retain the ugly, like peer rejection, or at least the feeling.
So, I urge, even, I plead of you, to sever ties with the need to be public. Talk with those you want to talk, and listen. Hug, and kiss, and dance, and caress, and punch, and spit. Smile, and frown, and let those smiles and those frowns be seen. Let your identity and singular flavor be expressed by more than a custom font. If you can't be there, call them. Minimize your "messaging". Try to keep your networks to friends, and your subscriptions to contents you will appreciate.
There is something about this new era of zero space.
I despise its ways.
Laconic: People are too connected. Spitting trivial minutiae. Deceived to think virtual networks are real. Contemplation and creativity forgotten. The flavor of interactions diminished.
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