Rise in Social Media, Rise in Isolation?

Social media is just another tool. Like email before it, and the telephone before that. If you know how to filter bullshit, it's easy to find folks with whom you can share a rapport.

I don't care to share connections with most people I meet, online or off. Why? Because doing so takes time away from forging connections with the few folks I can stand to be around for more than a few minutes.

I'll let Carlin take it from here...


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyWsFfd9pqE"]YouTube - ‪George Carlin - People are Boring‬‏[/ame]
 
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Now this is my kind of conversation, it's close to me vs. everyone.

The internet (in general, social platforms in specific) has allowed us to find people whom we have more in common with than was possible even 10 years ago. Seriously, I could drive for hours today and not find someone 1/2 as awesome as I am.

Thank you social media!!! I now get to skype with people who kick almost as much ass as I do all day every day.

Bottom line, if you are one in a million, there are exactly 6,775 people just like you somewhere in the world ... the only trick is finding them & that's where social media is a game changer for humanity. Progress in most fields (niches) will run wild for the next 30 years or so due to these communication advancements.

Who cares if I never get to shake JakeStratham's hand (I can buy the blow up doll ;]), his ideas are scale 100x better since he doesn't have to physically be present for every knowledge bomb he drops. And if you absolutely need physical contact, kids have hugs that can be bought with cookies.

Disclosure: I have no twitter/facebook account & don't really participate in the new wave of SM ... OG FTW!
 
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turbolapp said:
There's a real danger here. People think we're all so connected and that we are progressing as a species and while we are, on a technical level, we're certainly regressing at an emotional one. Humans are a social animal, we need touch and proximity to go along with our conversations and connections.
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I see this everyday in my job. People have all sorts of "connection crutches" to allow them to communicate with each other without risk. Email, Chat, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
I've learned that in my day to day work that a simple phone call can be a devastating weapon + help me get results that my peers cannot hope to emulate.
Send someone an email? They have an inbox full - if you're lucky you get added to their outlook "to-do" list.
Pick up the phone and ask for help with your issue? You'd be AMAZED how much more response you'll get. Oh - and if they're just around the corner then walk over and talk to them. Look them in the eye and ask them for their help.

Connect with people, REALLY connect with them. You'll be amazed by the results.
 
JakeStratham said:
Social media is just another tool. Like email before it, and the telephone before that. If you know how to filter bullshit, it's easy to find folks with whom you can share a rapport.
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Agree... Its all up to a person and the choices he/she makes. Back in mid 90's it was bbses and fido for me, but not much got changed as I was still spending most of my free time reading crap and talking to people I didn't know. Facebook is nothing other than a global bbs, just looks better. It would be a lot easier to meet with people if it was local.

What was nice back than is that we would meet weekly and party, got my best friends back in those days... Would be awesome to have regular city/state meetups here.

You can use social media to connect with people. I wish it was there back in 2000 when I came to US. I didn't know anybody at all, walking on campus for hours just trying to meet someone to have a conversation with. I think it just depends how you use it...
 
JakeStratham said:
Social media is just another tool. Like email before it, and the telephone before that. If you know how to filter bullshit, it's easy to find folks with whom you can share a rapport.

I don't care to share connections with most people I meet, online or off. Why? Because doing so takes time away from forging connections with the few folks I can stand to be around for more than a few minutes.

I'll let Carlin take it from here...
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I couldn't have said it any better myself. Most people categorize themselves and everyone around them as "social" or "anti-social" -- but there really needs to be a "selective" category for the rest of us.
 
EricVonDoobie said:
Does anyone else think social media is so popular right now because, for most people in the world, they JUST got online?

When I was 9 or 10 and going online via our Prodigy dial up I was always going to chat rooms, forums, etc.--for people who don't know there's something productive to do online they default to social shit.

I have a feeling it'll die down considerably and it'll be mostly adopted by younger kids/teens who are just getting online for the first time. Just a thought though. And yes I appreciate the irony of me participating in a forum about this topic.
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I agree, seems that's the reason most people use social media.
 
It may be a fundamental disconnect but a lot of people seem to genuinely believe "internet-based" interactions will satiate their human need for connection. But no amount of skyping away at one another for hours is the same as meeting up for coffee or a beer.

If you need social proof of that, look no further then the charge we all have when we get home from a conference from having interacted with one another on a face-to-face basis.

The nature of affiliate marketing as an industry, however, necessitates a great amount of self-reliance and self-discipline… and rewards individuals who are masterful at both. Its not surprising that people who "make it" are capable of spending inordinate amounts of time alone, and indeed a lot of us prefer it. But everyone biologically speaking, no matter how much of a lone wolf you may think you are, has a fundamental need for interaction with other humans that simply stretches beyond the capabilities of a keyboard and a monitor.

This is not to say that you can prevent a motivated person from harming themselves if they were deadset on doing it by spending more time with them face-to-face. Its just meant to be a reminder that all the zeros you could ever want in your bank accounts don't add up to squat if you aren't leading a life you enjoy and spending all the time you can with people that know you. Not your avatar, not your sig line, not your drink of choice during 3 a.m. all nighters. You.

 
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just my insight - the more friends you have on facebook the more lonely you are...

BTW

google opens the +1 for websites:
google.com/webmasters/+1/button/
 
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