Thought for the Day: Well, a few of them!
With the Internet, the social networks, and the blogosphere, we have amazing opportunities for connection and re-connection. With all that potential for contact comes greater potential for disappointment because our expectation has risen exponentially. So when that friend or family member who previously would have only sent a Christmas card once a year ignores our brilliant and intuitive post on Facebook, we somehow feel ignored and even rejected.
What is the solution?
Have you seen FB posts that say they’re running a test to see who actually follows their posts, and they pose some kind of crazy question, like “When was the first time you saw me brush my teeth?” And the folks whose loyalty is really in question ignore the post, primarily because they are busy finding a cure for cancer, reading a Harry Potter book, or in some way saving the world. Then an irreparable rift happens or at least a good sulk. Well, I think the solution lies in lowering our expectations and in only talking to perfect strangers, sexual predators excluded.
So here it is: I if you have never met me, have never seen me brush or floss my teeth, and couldn’t care less what the name of my first pet was, re-post this to every social network you are involved in, and some you are not, as well as attach a message by carrier pigeon and carve the words in a tree. Then when I have a revelatory moment and reflect on how pitiful it is to have so few friends and so little influence, because no one will actually do that, I will sit down and have a good cry, brew some coffee laced with trans fats, and write another blog to pollute the ionosphere because in the larger scheme of things I really don’t care. :-) Well, a little.
What is the solution?
Have you seen FB posts that say they’re running a test to see who actually follows their posts, and they pose some kind of crazy question, like “When was the first time you saw me brush my teeth?” And the folks whose loyalty is really in question ignore the post, primarily because they are busy finding a cure for cancer, reading a Harry Potter book, or in some way saving the world. Then an irreparable rift happens or at least a good sulk. Well, I think the solution lies in lowering our expectations and in only talking to perfect strangers, sexual predators excluded.
So here it is: I if you have never met me, have never seen me brush or floss my teeth, and couldn’t care less what the name of my first pet was, re-post this to every social network you are involved in, and some you are not, as well as attach a message by carrier pigeon and carve the words in a tree. Then when I have a revelatory moment and reflect on how pitiful it is to have so few friends and so little influence, because no one will actually do that, I will sit down and have a good cry, brew some coffee laced with trans fats, and write another blog to pollute the ionosphere because in the larger scheme of things I really don’t care. :-) Well, a little.
