“My friends, family and acquaintances are all on Facebook, where they add up to a bustling community I enjoy being part of. More than any particular feature that Mark Zuckerberg and company have cooked up, it’s the people in my life that make Facebook, well, Facebook.
Over on Google+, I find some worthwhile material to peruse, but in far smaller quantities. The smattering of people I encounter hardly replicates my real-world social connections. The conversations are less warm, personal and interesting. As a social experience, it often feels perfunctory.”
This post by Harry McCracken about the differences between Facebook and Google+ made me realise once again that the Internet is all about energy. Finding energy and sharing energy. Finding smart people whose conversations increase your energy and hopefully sharing your energy with others to help them do more, understand more, appreciate more, love more.
Life is too short for perfunctory exchanges. It is too short to spend time, and energy, where you think you should be spending it. Spend it where it makes you feel more alive.
Great insight Euan. As time goes on, I hope and believe we’ll realise that what comes after the pixie dust of tech has evaporated is a deeper, more visceral and meaningful appreciation of what it is to be human.
LikeLike
I share your hope and belief!
LikeLike
Great observation! Your post makes me think of the question: "what makes energy?" Is there a way to roil up movement, to start things, to make places magnetic? A human body moves, the energy in the muscle is converted calories that were stored for the purpose. So, if I want to make a website "sticky" or "energetic", what are the calories stored? For Facebook, it’s people’s stories, I guess.
What say you on this, Euan?
LikeLike
I finish my keynotes with a slide with the word Love on it and talk about the opportunity the web gives us, as individuals or organisations, to share our passions and become more passionate about what we do. I reckon this is what makes stuff sticky and energetic.
LikeLike
So spot-on, as usual Euan.
I have been in self-imposed internet exile for more than a month now. Got something I really need to finish and am nose-to-the-grindstone. I miss my friends and I miss the energy. I have been listening to conversations via reading blog posts but is not the same as getting stuck into conversations.
Can’t wait to get back to blogging and tweeting. Looking forward to getting back in the flow and contributing to the energy. Thanks for a great post.
LikeLike
Glad I managed to entice you out of hiding!
LikeLike