Friendships Online - Are Those Virtual Friends Really Worthy?
It is just amazing how many people spend countless hours on social networks each day - could it be they are addicted to the process? What if the Internet goes down, what will they do then I wonder? Not long ago, I was discussing this with an acquaintance, who seemed to be enthralled by it all, and believed that it was a positive thing for human relationships.
Well, there are "some" positive aspects to this sort of communication, but overall I'd say it is a net-negative.
For instance, it is hurting productivity in the work place, it is taking time away from real family and friends, and it is clouding the true definition of friendship as well.
My acquaintance stated that social networks are allowing people to make friends on a daily basis.
Well, yes, but when we say "Friendships" - how do you define that? What is a real friend? Someone "friending" you on a Facebook page doesn't mean they are a 'real friend' - you may never have met them, don't know anything about them, don't really want to meet them, or even give them any more information than what you've already posted for all to see.
My acquaintance suggests that people go to these networking sites to make long-lasting friendships.
They may think that is what they are doing granted, but it appears to me more about self-gratification and about "self-validation" or wanting to belong, or low-self esteem uplifting? I'd say many people go onto social online networking for many other reasons, they themselves may not even fully understand.
Is there more than one psychological human trait that these sites use to harness the needs, wants, and desires of their subscribers? Yes, it appears that they've done an excellent job tapping into the mass psychology.
Indeed, if this is the case isn't it drawing out all the insecurities, and problems with humanity? In doing so, in using the allure of "belonging" and then having folks participate in conversations geared towards the lowest common denominator, aren't we merely dummying down society and making all humans stupid as hell? I mean I hate to put it bluntly here, but think about it? We did note that when the average American began watching 2-3 hours of TV per day that the average grades in school went down, along with the overall IQ of the masses.
Now it seems folks online have already surpassed that number of online hours, and not a lot of higher-end thought is going on these days on these online social networks, so the excuse that people are making more friends online and thus, it's good for humanity, simply is a total falsehood.
Please consider all this.
Well, there are "some" positive aspects to this sort of communication, but overall I'd say it is a net-negative.
For instance, it is hurting productivity in the work place, it is taking time away from real family and friends, and it is clouding the true definition of friendship as well.
My acquaintance stated that social networks are allowing people to make friends on a daily basis.
Well, yes, but when we say "Friendships" - how do you define that? What is a real friend? Someone "friending" you on a Facebook page doesn't mean they are a 'real friend' - you may never have met them, don't know anything about them, don't really want to meet them, or even give them any more information than what you've already posted for all to see.
My acquaintance suggests that people go to these networking sites to make long-lasting friendships.
They may think that is what they are doing granted, but it appears to me more about self-gratification and about "self-validation" or wanting to belong, or low-self esteem uplifting? I'd say many people go onto social online networking for many other reasons, they themselves may not even fully understand.
Is there more than one psychological human trait that these sites use to harness the needs, wants, and desires of their subscribers? Yes, it appears that they've done an excellent job tapping into the mass psychology.
Indeed, if this is the case isn't it drawing out all the insecurities, and problems with humanity? In doing so, in using the allure of "belonging" and then having folks participate in conversations geared towards the lowest common denominator, aren't we merely dummying down society and making all humans stupid as hell? I mean I hate to put it bluntly here, but think about it? We did note that when the average American began watching 2-3 hours of TV per day that the average grades in school went down, along with the overall IQ of the masses.
Now it seems folks online have already surpassed that number of online hours, and not a lot of higher-end thought is going on these days on these online social networks, so the excuse that people are making more friends online and thus, it's good for humanity, simply is a total falsehood.
Please consider all this.
