Social Networking's Ugly Side
I think I've come to the conclusion that for all of its good, social networking allows a little too much information at times. It lets one see an ugly side of some people that normally wouldn't surface. Twice in the last few months, while looking around Facebook, I've stumbled on some acquaintance I thought highly of only to be shocked and somewhat disturbed by the language and opinions expressed on the person's Facebook profile.
I keep thinking: I'd have been better off without seeing that, thank you very much. I'm not sure why people feel that an alter ego “anonymous internet identity” works when one is using one's real name, but for some reason people do (this has, of course, be reported on in the media). I don't know — I'm quite conscious when I post here, or anywhere else on the internet, that as someone using my real name people I know in the life offline may see what I have to say. Facebook and sites like it, that link many people I know offline with my online presence further this connection even more. However, even if I didn't think people would tie Tim the Blogger with Tim the Person, is it really a good thing to act differently just because you don't think anyone will ever be able to identify you with your offline self?
Don't worry, it isn't anyone who is a regular commenter on asisaid or who is one of my Facebook friends that encouraged this little post. And, the people shall remain nameless who did.
I think you hit on an integrity issue. People's integrity is popping out. I used to think that people simply needed to be trained to understand the open access to information posted, but I'm beginning to think that this is a unique look into the heart of people. That person that, before, only came out when behind closet doors.
The training needs to be directed at the heart. My previous view on the issue simply creates someone who is better at hiding their heart.
Amen, Josiah. If we were honest from the start, openly admitting our failings before the Lord and His People, there would be far less to hide. We would be getting help overcoming our failures. What we see here is far different from the maxim of civilized behavior: “Random humans are the not the proper audience of every thought crossing you mind.” This is a problem of dwelling on those improper thoughts we all have, and in Christ would rather not have. Those who fail to recognize we should not want such things in our hearts force me to wonder whether they have the Holy Spirit there.
Ah, Tim, what a crazy world we inhabit!
BTW Tim, are you getting any of this nasty weather stomping across the OKC Metro right now?
Both of you definitely hit the nail on the head, IMO. I suppose in some ways, it is helpful that people are honest online so you can see their real positions, but it is disconcerting as well. It is indeed a crazy world.
And yes, Ed, the weather is coming by here. I've been getting it on and off, with a steady rain/freezing rain coming in late this afternoon. As of now, the trees are all iced over and I'm having some brown outs.
How are you doing?
From seventh grade through college I was pretty active in the Role-Playing Game world (you know, D&D and the like). Whatever other arguments people have against such games, this is an issue I had to deal with as a young teen role-player. The point of RPGs is to take on a different character. But how far can we take this? I realized one gaming session that RPGs did not allow me to play characters that acted counter to moral law as laid down in Scripture. I decided at 14 never to play a character which acted contrary to God's word.
This very thing arose again as an actor. I turned down many villainous roles. I can't play a villain. Even though its understood that I'd be only playing a role, how can I even pretend to act contrary to Scripture?
Now, setting considerations of integrity aside for a moment, and going to questions of strategy and implementation for a moment, I see this “social networking” thingie as worrisome, because almost all of those networks insist on using real names and data, and these are for everyone to see. This looks dangerous to me.
Jason: Interesting point. I don't think I'd have a problem playing a villain, generally, but I have a few particular qualms, especially about language. A couple of years ago, I took a modern drama class, and we often did dramatic readings in class. I earned quite a reputation for editing during my parts; I don't mind being the villain, but I wouldn't take God's name in vain, particularly. Sometimes I'd just pause, or I'd try to find a good substitute. I struggle with words such as “zounds” which has no real meaning to us, but in Elizabethan English mean “God's wounds.”
No one said anything until the next semester, but I found all the feedback was quite good. I suppose in RPG's, people might have noticed your choices and that might have made an impression on them.
Eduardo: Good point. To the extent that I've posted information on such sites, I've not posted anything that couldn't be gleaned elsewhere though. In fact, while I keep my physical contact info off, whois provides plenty of information to the really inquisitive.