This blog along with so many new fresh and exciting ways to connect with one another without having to actually ever meet in person. Social networking is in my view the new “BUZZ-WORD” to label what it is all of us if not most are doing with our lives here and now this very moment in time. Networking yes Social I beg to differ. It would seem more proper to call it Computer Connecting/Networking. The public phone or phone booths have become obsolete, Superman comes to mind. Postage stamps and the personalized letters from thank yous to “how are you doing” are now replaced with the quicker IM, E-Mails, and or Text messages. Still leaving less of an impression for the one on the receiving end. This of course no fault on the givers part but one must think twice when sending a Get Well Soon text message while laid up in hospital. I have never had good grammar skills or readable penmanship but in 1980-83 I had taken all 4 typing classes and prided myself back then never thinking in a million years it would be a real necessity not just in a job but as dictated today while engaging someone in conversation or networking “Socially”.
Realizing after seeing a story on one of the thousands of 24 news stations spoke of how some schools have slowly phased out the importance of writing with a pencil but rather typing on a keyboard. I don’t want to sound like a cranky Andy Rooney from 60 minutes but upon hearing this I was a bit sad which in turn brought me to this point and express my feelings and thoughts. Logging onto AOL in 1994 was the start of “Something Wonderful”, if I may be so bold to take a quote from 2001 space odyssey.
Loving all things Sci-Fi growing up dreaming of having my own best friend who just happens to be robotic, to owning the smaller of the two Atari’s idea of Personal computers was so exciting. Not becoming a console or computer gamer until later in life. Around the year 2000 I was introduced too computer games in the form of The Sims and Diablo 2. Then as time went on PlayStation’s, XBox’s, Nintendo, hand-held, etc. you name it I bought it and still am guilty of putting all of my life’s attention into some of these games. I guess because of my situation health wise it helps keep my mind off of the more depressing things like dying. I remember once telling someone about my situation and story on how it came to be and the response I got was shocking. The person was like I am so jealous, I wish I could play video games all day forgetting for just a second why I could play video games all day I replied back by saying jokingly well get yourself out there and catch you some of them AIDS and maybe you too could enjoy video game playing all day. I could take this thought further but I will leave it at that. The Internet now with it in full swing upon going Mainstream 10 or so years ago fills so many voids in all of our lives one way or another. You can’t escape technology, for those of you who refuse to be plugged in. Banking, shopping, even talking on the phone you will eventually realize computers and A.I.s are taking over. WE look to our computer screens or portable toys for the latest on our personal interests/matters, to controversial/political matters,shopping/deals sexual/pornographic, opinionated/debated, copyrighted/infringement, RIAA/entertainment, humorous/comedy, helping/charities, educational/learning, creativity/building blocks or new computer code languages which allows our computers to do more. For some lucky individuals example: create a search engine hitting the jackpot financially in all of this chaos just listed going on 24/7 is still able to be born gives others hope their ideas, code, widgets, engine, game, etc will be the next big thing and a payoff at the end of their rainbows. However for most of us Joe Q, Public we will buy, read about, participate enjoy and spend not just our hard earned money but our most valuable God given gift of all…our TIME. No one likes to be the messenger with bad news or remind us of something we already know but I myself don’t want to look back on what LIFE I still have thinking DAMN if I only had two more weeks I could beat Nightmare mode on a video game, or I wish I could just have 2 more hours to upload those photos I promised to my family, and finally being a procrastinator myself using the route of LAST minute gift shopping be it holiday or birthdays ordering a heartfelt and thought out gift like a Chia Pet wrapped up in pretty paper and a bow speaks volumes of how much you care. If you, your family, and people with whom you met in person and cultivated friendships without having to plug in can accept this thought of living in a computerized world more gigabytes to you. But for those of us who choose not to shrug this thought off or speak for those individuals in our life without actually asking them how they really feel about our use of personal precious time left be it on projects, email, games, and now Social Networking which basically still and always will benefits the user regardless of what fancy title they come up with next hopefully will help my Thought be proven to be a Process for change. Be it big or small making a change in any area which frees up some extra added time, minutes or even seconds is a good thing. Like you I proof read this in the comfort of my sedentary overweight false sense of reality where I created game and now Social NET: worlds so as to not face my truths or reality. Wanting to be a part of or included with all that is new by registering/signing up onto every new beta web ware 2.0 upstart site wondering is this going to be the next big thing or is it the next one, and so on etc. Just signing up and filling out all of the same lame profile questions trying to be witty or clever is a full time job itself, and at the end of this kind of day all I get in return is a validation email and I am then on to the next one never adding anything like CONTENT or say something of importance or interest. But as I said just a second ago, change no matter how big or little is all that matters and writing this “content” is my achievement or follow thru for this day. With that said as my closing statement I find it funny and interesting at how this achievement of mine goes against most of what I was trying to explain and share about our time? I guess this is more of a sacrifice then an achievement.
