Comments on: (un)Social Media?

By: Shaun Olinger

Shaun Olinger — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:46:32 +0000

There is another aspect of social media that hasn’t been voiced yet, and is, to me anyway, the more important. That is the ability for someone so inclined to be anyone or anything they want to be, and no one else the wiser. It is the ability to be lied to, cheated, scammed, and hurt in so many ways that it blows my Internet-illiterate mind sometimes. Everything you read, see, and hear is a digital product, and digital products can be manipulated in ways I have never even heard of yet, and may never.

This is a problem for me. I find myself looking for the tell-tales to see if what I am reading, seeing, or hearing is real or not. It creates, in me at least, a feeling of cynical doubt. In face-to-face you have the warmth of that person to make it real, and reality is a fast disappearing commodity in this truth-for-sale-society. Face to face allows you to be, as Sean put it, unguarded and private, without a bunch of people I’ve never met and probably never will commenting on something that was none of their business to begin with.

Do I sound cynical? Yep, I probably do, but with online predators, scams, viruses (I’ve been hit by two in less than a week), and Lord only knows what else on here, it’s kind of hard not to be. Unfortunately, there are few other ways to get this kind of information access, so we do our best, be the honest, caring people God would have us be, and trust his will be done.

Even if it means you get a virus or two.

By: Alcane

Alcane — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:49:23 +0000

I love it! I’ve often thought about how much I’m “infatuated” with technology I am and how much I can see it destroying (strong word… hampering, maybe?) society. First off, think of how it’s changed how we live: when the Pony Express was invented. it allowed us to communicate with people farther that we could easily travel in a day. Side note: I do find a letter more personal than an email, text, or Facebook message. So, since the mail is still restricted by physical means, it’s still slow. we now are able to communicate with anyone in the world instantly from any internet connection! =D Quite an amazing feat actually. But, as I’ve said before: technology has made the world a smaller palce while pushing people away from each other. Honestly, as amazing and facinating as technology is to me, it’s getting scary. I’m going to put up a blog to talk about technological advances, politics, struggles, and general ideas. Great blog! =D

By: Larry Cornell

Larry Cornell — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:05:15 +0000

Right on Beezer ole buddy ole pal! Nice insights Sean. I know that you proof these before publishing so I won’t tame it down. Post it if you like. Sometimes we can get to a point where we are so ecclectic that we push people away for simply not knowing where the best coffee in town is. That is counter-productive. The Lord said ‘blessed are you when you are persecuted for righteousness sake.’ Righteousness is about love and about looking under the surface, but its really about God and who He is and what He thinks is right and wrong. Even geeks like you and me can get that, if we get Jesus.

I recently pulled back from FB because there is too much data mining going on and I don’t know if the social engineering is done by someone I want to know about me and my family or someone I pray never will. The world is darker than it used to be and the Internet, though filled with great potential, will surely only give the broad roaders a really fast ride to their eventual destination. You cannot save everyone. Well honestly we can’t save anyone, only God does that.

I read all of your blogs and though I may have stumbled out of your life a long time ago you are often on my heart. I only remember one time that we disagreed strongly, at Coco’s. Then you shocked me by turning around and starting to read Luther and all this stuff. It was a very impression dimension that I only saw in a few other of the youth I knew and all of them are in the ministry now like yourself.

God’s plan is bigger than us and His plan for you is going to carry you further, and when I say further I mean to the very heart of real christianity. Stand back from it all and take a breath and the wind that fills your lungs will be the Holy Spirit. Many changes are about to happen but those who know Him will not be caught off guard. Let go of the paradigm of paradigms and feel the depth of the bedrock below your feet. Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today, and forever.

Peace.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:52:45 +0000

I think you’re absolutely right! However, I DO like that Facebook has allowed me to re-connect with old friends (most of whom are not local so I don’t have that opportunity to bring chicken soup over to them). I guess it can go either way!