You know, it's not so complex for me. I mean, yes... of course it is. The whole social networking thing has a million complexities and backstories and motivations and purposes.
But I use it to a) connect with people I care about now; and b) connect with people who have thoughts and ideas and lives that interest me who I haven't had a chance to care about yet.
Sure, that's sappy. But I had some leftover emotion. So sue me.
Not the same words as you, nor quite the same focus, but more or less the same thing. It's all about connecting.
Shashi Bellamkonda
· 2 years ago
The last two sentences said everything. My goal is to have friends who one day will help create some thing bigger that helps all of us. I am thrilled by stories that social networks helped people find a new calling, help them raise money, answer questions or drive loneliness away.
Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins
· 2 years ago
That's a good question, one I've been asking myself lately. To be real honest, my specialty is podcasting and blogging - those are my first loves in the social media space. I see social networks as something to augment that to me - the different tools to varying degrees of success. I'm most disappointed with Facebook (as you may note as of late). I joined at the behest of Ken Rutkowski and Robert Scoble. Their evangelizing worked. I wanted to connect up with more folks like them. In the end, though, I think my presence there has benefited Facebook far more than it has benefited me. Twitter, on the other hand, is something that has been of great success in networking, connecting and expanding my spheres of influence and communication.
So I guess, to answer your question, I view social networks as a way to amplify my social media presences and turn them into communication avenues instead of broadcast avenues.
Todd Jordan - tojosan
· 2 years ago
It's all about people - ourselves and others. The key for me is meeting like minded folks on one hand but on the other, it's meeting interesting folks. People who are doing things I'd love to do, people doing things I'd never do, and everything in between. For me, it's an adventure, finding common ground where it be thought unthinkable before.
Each day is a chance to exchange information and ideas, what we do with that is up to us.
Great post.
Yvette
· 2 years ago
The most surprising thing about the proliferation of social networks is how social they are. A paradox, to be sure. At this moment, I can't properly answer the questions why, what, what for, BUT I do feel as if my experience on the planet has been improved and enhanced by my participation. What to do next is a very good question...
Michael Bailey
· 2 years ago
Some people have little gardens in their yards. They love to show them off when people come for a visit.
Other people are farmers, they grown tons of food to feed the world. They make money.
Point? It's however you see to use it, whatever gives it meaning to YOU.
Nobody needs to justify it to anyone else (yet we often feel the need to do just that).
Most of it is a pure waste of time - yet, over the last 2 years, I've met 10's and 100's of people who I never would have because of events like PodCamp and VON and Video on the Net, and local MeetUps.
Priceless.
I'm changing my life because of the connections I have made, and the influences and positive attitudes which I have surrounded myself with.
That's gotta be worth something, eh?
Justin Kownacki
· 2 years ago
I think everyone benefits from re-evaluating WHY they do what they do, and checking their gut to be sure it's what they still WANT to be doing.
There's nothing wrong with saying, "No, what I'm doing ISN'T what I want to be doing," and then changing your life.
There IS something wrong with never asking yourself, or worse, asking yourself and then ignoring the answer because "maintaining" is easier.
Loic
· 2 years ago
fully agree Chris, proximity is here and distances are gone. I am happy to see you regularly on seesmic an follow you on twitter, otherwise I would just have to wait for the next conference. See you soon ;)
Luke Razzell
· 2 years ago
Well, Chris, could log onto Blog Friends and leverage your social network to find some great blog posts—which is how I found this one! : )
I've been part of the internet for so long now that it comes a time, it just seems pointless. We're inundated with prevalent news, unreliable information, random senseless rants, all for...?
And then you stumble upon a good substantial read. You stayed a while and continue reading before you reach another level complacency.
It's human nature, I'm afraid. Keep filtering.
Niamh Kiernan
· 2 years ago
I'm staying with facebook mainly because I've I can connect it to my blog and in my line of business that seems like a good idea. Also heard that a ridiculous number of BBC staff are on there. I think it was something like 11,500 and since I make films it also makes sense to be there. Not that anything may come of it but if you are'nt in you can't win.
Twitter is my real love. I have found interesting people through that and it seems like fun.
Erica
· 2 years ago
The most humbling part of this whole revolution... the idea that somewhere, someone may view you as a role model, an inspiration, a soulmate, a true friend.
The first time a young girl came up to me at a racetrack and said that she reads my blog religiously because she sees me as a "role model", I was shocked. I originally started blogging as a personal scrapbook/journal of my racing adventures. Seeing it evolve and learning what having a "voice" really means has been empowering.
Steve Ellwood
· 2 years ago
What do social networks do for me? Don't know all they'll do for me yet, but let's start with: Lets me interact with my CEO in a way I didn't expect; turned me onto VRM and Doc Searls; let me learn a whole heap about things like jaiku 'n twitter 'n tumblr; started me blogging again; got me back into learning about the changes in this space; and hey, lets me keep in touch with what my family are doing too!
That's not too bad, is it. Lifelong learning is pretty cool.
Auto Bookmarking
· 2 years ago
Hi
I am your regular reader You have nice approach.
Would you please review http://www.Tagza.com - it young and funky new Social Bookmarking web site.
All Comments
But I use it to a) connect with people I care about now; and b) connect with people who have thoughts and ideas and lives that interest me who I haven't had a chance to care about yet.
Sure, that's sappy. But I had some leftover emotion. So sue me.
Not the same words as you, nor quite the same focus, but more or less the same thing. It's all about connecting.
So I guess, to answer your question, I view social networks as a way to amplify my social media presences and turn them into communication avenues instead of broadcast avenues.
Each day is a chance to exchange information and ideas, what we do with that is up to us.
Great post.
They love to show them off when people come for a visit.
Other people are farmers, they grown tons of food to feed the world. They make money.
Point? It's however you see to use it, whatever gives it meaning to YOU.
Nobody needs to justify it to anyone else (yet we often feel the need to do just that).
Most of it is a pure waste of time - yet, over the last 2 years, I've met 10's and 100's of people who I never would have because of events like PodCamp and VON and Video on the Net, and local MeetUps.
Priceless.
I'm changing my life because of the connections I have made, and the influences and positive attitudes which I have surrounded myself with.
That's gotta be worth something, eh?
There's nothing wrong with saying, "No, what I'm doing ISN'T what I want to be doing," and then changing your life.
There IS something wrong with never asking yourself, or worse, asking yourself and then ignoring the answer because "maintaining" is easier.
http://apps.facebook.com/blogfriends
And then you stumble upon a good substantial read. You stayed a while and continue reading before you reach another level complacency.
It's human nature, I'm afraid. Keep filtering.
Twitter is my real love. I have found interesting people through that and it seems like fun.
The first time a young girl came up to me at a racetrack and said that she reads my blog religiously because she sees me as a "role model", I was shocked. I originally started blogging as a personal scrapbook/journal of my racing adventures. Seeing it evolve and learning what having a "voice" really means has been empowering.
Lets me interact with my CEO in a way I didn't expect;
turned me onto VRM and Doc Searls;
let me learn a whole heap about things like jaiku 'n twitter 'n tumblr;
started me blogging again;
got me back into learning about the changes in this space;
and hey, lets me keep in touch with what my family are doing too!
That's not too bad, is it.
Lifelong learning is pretty cool.
I am your regular reader You have nice approach.
Would you please review http://www.Tagza.com - it young and funky new Social Bookmarking web site.
Thanks