I don't speak DHCP, SSL or 4G

We live in a technological world. If you’re not posting, tweeting, chatting, pinging or the likes thereof then you’ve missed the virtual boat.  As for me, I argue the dinghy counts!

These days it’s commonplace to be able to reach a global audience without ever leaving the comfort of your home. Almost everyone has the capability to do so to some degree but at the very least social networking seems essential to modern day existence. In my quest to carve out a little niche for myself, I wondered if I was the only one who finds it ironic that in today’s world of  “sharing and communicating” people seem more disconnected than ever?

How many “friends” do you have, who’s in your network, what are you doing during every minute of every day? After all, it’s vital to our well being to know that “so-n-so” just overpaid for a non-fat mocha latte with two shots of espresso. Rest assured we can sleep easy tonight.

Sound like the bitter ranting of the socially inept? Perhaps, but how much vapid and extraneous content is enough? I certainly don’t strive to add yet another layer, though I may not be able to help myself.

Social networking, media marketing, branding, blogging are all the rage these days. Okay, so they have been for awhile but work with me here. Typically, just to thumb my nose in the face of the mainstream movement, I created an Anti-Social network. It took less than two minutes, has only one member and no privacy issues. Take that Mark Zuckerberg!

Okay, redirecting my diverging thoughts.    

With so many blogs, chat forums and virtual communities etc., where will my content fit into all of this, if at all? More importantly, will it matter, inspire or at the very least promote a modicum of interest? I’m not selling products or services; wait does Craigslist count? Uh no….

On any given day you can expect to find a bevy of “how to”, “what not to do”, “top 5 online careers”, blah blah blah to choose from 24/7/365. You can find guidance on everything ranging from finance, self improvement to “Five foods that age you”. Really? Yes, really. Hold on, just need to add “How to flirt effectively on the third Wednesday of each month” to my favorites because that is definitely need to know. Alrighty then.

Thus being overwhelmed with the prospect of playing in the traffic, I began to think about one on one interaction; almost a lost art form. Nowadays people live and die by their devices. Even in a so-called social setting, there’s no absence of people consistently using their PDAs, smart phones and what have you. From the beaches to the mall, no one wants to miss anything crucial by making eye contact or speaking directly to someone.  Let’s face it, if you want to connect with someone new, just simply “friend” them or send a text (technically this would require actual interaction but taking creative liberty to illustrate a sarcastic point). I remember seeing a posted picture of a group of friends on vacation in a hotel room and every single one of them was using their device. Like they say on Monday Night Live, C’mon Man! But I digress.

I confess that I’m not so different in that I use my device to “hide” when waiting in a long line or to circumvent awkward situations but still, I believe there are times where these methods are inappropriate. Of course, I write this reluctantly since I’m not a phone person, introverted by nature and about two weeks away from full blown Agoraphobia J

Kidding aside (sort of), I don’t consider myself to be terribly nostalgic but I actually miss the social simplicity pre-Digital Age. Communicating seemed a little more unfiltered and sans the options we have now forced us out of our comfort zones. Looking back, my ability to communicate wasn’t any better then and probably even worse. Chalk it up to my reluctance to live in the “now”.  

My long winded bottom line (since I’m incapable of anything less) is that trying to put a fresh perspective on your personal school of thought and life philosophy is challenging enough much less being able to parlay it into something more captivating and successful.   

No question I’m a late bloomer and realize that my way of thinking could be dated.  I suppose that depends on your audience, which is pretty much comprised of one family member. “Hey, I told you to add comments on every posting?!”

Okay, back to me. Ultimately, this adventure may have more to do with my desire to brave uncharted territory in order to nurture my own interpersonal development. At the very least I hope to avoid speaking without saying anything but that remains questionable.

This doesn’t change the fact that I am currently technologically inadequate. Seriously, have you seen my “Bio” for the site? Presentation-N/A. Oh dear, I feel myself on the precipice ready to careen into a proverbial “What’s wrong with this picture?!!!” Pencils up!!!!