Firstly, (officially) Happy New Year all! I hope the
festive season was kind to you. It certainly was to me, even after pigging out
over Christmas and stuffing my face with way too much pudding. I weighed in
yesterday for the first time since the December break, and I was less 1kg! (Cue
the whoop whoop!!).
So, I’ve hit a little bit of a writer’s block this week (sad
face). I have been desperate to blog about something, yet nothing came to mind.
Trying to ask my Facebook friends for ideas turned out a fail. However, I shall
mention that Mo did request I write a whole post about him, and my dad suggest I
talk about the new addition to our family. (Her name is Clara Lynne, by the way,
and she’s adorable). Chris asked if I would write a post about him too. His
side of that conversation went as follows:
“Your amazing boyfriend”
“How much of a troll he is”
“How you sometimes want to strangle him”
“But you love him anyways”
It’s all true. He is amazing, and means the world to me.
Even though he can be a troll (talk nonsense and cause trouble just for the
sake of it- for those of you not in the lingo-loop), and make me want to
strangle him sometimes, I still love him to bits!
All my difficulties aside, I found myself thinking about
social networking- I hit the jackpot! Something to blog about! YAY!!
In all honesty, I hate the idea of social networking.
Sometimes I wish I lived way back when before the invention of the internet and
mobile phones. It seems so peaceful... and a hell of a lot cheaper! It is so
addictive for me. A few years back I was probably signed up for almost ten different
social networking platforms. I was on Facebook, Twitter, mySpace, YouTube,
Email, mXit, BBM, WhatsApp, Google, Blogger... and the list goes on. At some
point I realised it was a waste and I didn’t fully utilise each platform and
gave up a few of them. I still make use of some of them for the pure fact that
it aids my communication with people in my life.
The main complaint I always hear about social networking
is that it destroys good old fashioned face-to-face communication. What is this
“face-to-face” you speak of? If you’re seriously asking this question, I think
you may have a real problem! I was always a shy child, and to some extent I am
still rather shy in unfamiliar situations. I think that was the reason I got
into social networking in the first place. It was an outlet for me and it was
easy. I didn’t have to be shy anymore. However, as I’ve grown older and
experienced both aspects of “normal” social behaviour (as in pre-social networking
social behaviour) and social networking behaviour, I’ve come to develop an
opinion around the social-sphere that is the internet. It is not the best way
to communicate in terms of creating and developing friendships and relationships,
however, it is one of the easiest. Although I love to leave my phone behind
from time to time so I can do other things and just forget about my networks, I
am constantly wondering if I’m missing a call or a BBM, or new updates.
I think it is safe
to say that social networking has completely transformed the way we live and
has taken over our lives (even somehow managed 2 cHAngE h0w ppl sP3ll nd TyPe-
DON’T do it, it’s terrible). Last week, my family and I were fortunate enough
to go see the stage show of Dirty Dancing
at Montecasino’s Teatro, and while sitting in the theatre waiting for the
show to start I noticed how many people were on their mobile phones, either
texting or taking pictures (to Tweet most probably). I don’t understand how you
can be out with your family or friends to have a good time, but constantly feel
compelled to let the rest of the world know who you’re with and what you’re doing.
I came across this image on Facebook the other day (ironic, I know, but at
least I wasn’t in the company of others). I think it is a brilliant idea, and I’ve
even tried implementing it at the dinner table at home (first one to pick up
their phone has to wash the dishes). We’ll see how that one works out.
With all that said, I do believe social networking has
done wonders in making the world a smaller place. I can easily send messages to
my friends in a different city, or my family overseas at the quick and easy
push of a button (if Telkom is co-operating, that is).
*takes a break from writing this blog to check her BBM*
(Yes, Chris, it was you)
So, weighing up the pros and cons of social networking, I
find myself in the middle. Its great and handy, but also a royal pain in the
***.
I’d love to know your thoughts on social networking. Post
a comment below. And if you have any really interesting topics I could blog
about in the next few weeks, please feel free to comment here, too! I love
getting comments from readers (just be sure to include your name, I’m not
telepathic, and I like to know who you are).
Yours in social networking,
but also in the
real world,
PeaceJ
<3 Nicole_Kayley
