Geez, even I am getting tired of reading the latest on my thoughts, obstacles, delights and wine sipping as I prepare for On The Road with Operation Bon Appetit (OBA)Trip.
The other evening, Tracy Copes, graphic artist and incredibly generous giver of time and talent for anything related to Earth Charter, came to dinner and to teach me how to access and manage OBA Facebook that she had set up. Despite my anxiety about learning anything technological, I found myself enjoying the inputting of profound thoughts to be read by countless readers. There was the blog, the youtube video, the profile writing all about me and Tracy’s appreciation. Combined, they made a nice aphrodisiac.
I did not let the reality of the situation get in the way of my fantasy. The reality being that we have an insignificant number of “hits” and no one including myself believes I’m profound. This immersion into me and my plans gets deeper and deeper with every new social media outreach—coming up are Twitter, Pinterest, and Flickr. It’s getting nutty. As a serial social entrepreneur, I have for many years spent a lot of time figuring out how to make a project happen and how to inspire folks to join me in doing that. But this is the first time a project has had the on-going marketing opportunity to inform and engage others in something that I really believe in. But it also demands more attention and sharing, which, at times, feels narcissistic.
I also wonder if others are experiencing either this gnawing sense of narcissism and/or more bonding with friends and acquaintances through social media. I look at their Facebook pages and see them sharing news about themselves and their families and that does seem like “being in touch”. I also see the fun my grand-daughter has in sharing her exploits with her friends via Facebook. Perhaps, I am experiencing a generation gap and the simple fact is that I am just not as much “at home” with this new form of being in touch.
At the same time, I cannot help but wonder if our digital indulgence is slowly eroding the desire for in-person connection. In the past, the in-person connection that Earth Charter US organizers around the country experienced at our annual retreats beat out the connection we had via our monthly conference calls and email contacts. When we met, the energy in the room was sky high and there was always lots of laughter, sharing of personal triumphs and struggles as well the opportunity for private one on one talks. The retreats gave us a feeling of collective support and lots of encouragement. We all went back to our community work with renewed energy. I believe that personal contact has also contributed to the enduring relationship we have enjoyed over the years.
Apparently, I am not the only one with qualms about the encroachment of the Internet and social media on real life. In today’s New York Times there is article on “The 7-Day Digital Diet” by Teddy Wayne. Detoxing from the addiction to virtual is being done by folks like Adrianna Huffington of the famed online “Huffington Post” and a host of others to who unplug for one week to focus on the present. Some report less “addiction” when they return to their wired world.
Alena Graedon has written a novel “Word Exchange” about the dangers of being too digitally connected. That plus the film “Her”—a super film about falling in love with an information operating system named Samantha—might actually create a larger conversation about our “Pavlovian dopamine rush of external affirmation and information” as Wayne calls it. It seems like the balance between real life social connections with the virtual is becoming more important to more people.
Maybe what social media boils down to for me is that it is simply a terrific opportunity to introduce people to the hopeful work others are accomplishing in their home towns. Who knows? It just might give them a lift or maybe even prompt them to host an Operation Bon Appetit Dinner Party to also spread the good news and then, maybe even do something similar.
Meanwhile, there is still much to learn like how does one create a hashtag? However, that question will have to stay on the back burner as I enjoy my smoked salmon frittata and coffee with the rest of the Sunday NYT.
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