Do you care?

I have placed my self all over the interweb. I have a blog , a Myspace page, facebook, I tweet and I have an account with flickr, picasa, and photo bucket. And those are just the big ones, that doesn't take into account the obscure social sites (i.e. MapMyFitness.com). I have plastered the web with my face, my pictures, my writing, but really: who cares?

I recently went on a trip to New Orleans. It was for "business," but was scheduled right in the middle of Mardi Gras. Well, having never been to Mardi Gras and knowing alot of other people haven't either I tweeted (posted on twitter), my whole trip. Parades, dinners, lunches, aquarium visits, everything. Needless to say the constant pulling out of my iPhone in order to document the lunch I just ate or the float that just passed, began to get to those I was traveling with. One person even went so far as to ask "really? who cares?"

This blunt statement got me thinking. I tweet whether or not I'm doing something interesting. I update Facebook like it's my job, and I spread my political, religious and other affiliations around Myspace like people SHOULD care what I think. But really, who am I? Who am I to tell the world what's happening in my day to day life or what deep thoughts pass through my brain. I'm not famous, I'm not even that important.

There have been recent study's that suggest that these social networking sights are encouraging people to be more narcissistic, making friendships shallow and vapid, and even ruining the socialization skills of the next generation (Generation i). It makes me wonder what all this will lead to.

I know that personally the social networking sites have made me feel more connected, or at least informed, to the lives of my work/school peers. I may not hang out with them, but because of our "friendship" on Facebook or Myspace I know their marital status, have seen pictures of their kids and could even tell you what they are doing right this moment. Now some may call this Facebook stalking, I consider it getting to know those around me.

This technique is not the norm, but I feel it soon will be. And suprisingly as long as we keep some sort of verbal communication going, I don't think it really matters if we communicate through social sites too. There are people out there who are getting their social validation through these sites, expressing ideas and feelings that they couldn't in a face to face setting. I think that for some, the web allows narcissism, but i think for others it allows them to express themselves with out worry of ridicule or judgment. And for some it's even a place to feel supported. So just because you don't care doesn't mean someone else wont.

So really the answer to the question (Who cares?), may be Nobody, but I know that if nothing else the social aspects of the internet help me to express myself and feel better connected to those around me. I care what I have to say and I believe that every bit of information posted might be applicable to someone some where. So to all those people out there who hold back because they think no one cares. I care. Keep posting. I know I will.

Live Life,

Love God,

Keep Posting,

Jah Son