The Internet is a wonderful place for finding new and different ways to express yourself. Whether it’s social media based on pics, or blogs, or video…you can find just about anything in the right place for the right reason.
All day, everyday, Americans and the industrialized world over, communicate via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube, etc…giving their followers a piece of their mind, heart and soul. For some, it’s artistry in some form, for others it’s just a way to release…and that is where my topic today lies.
So often on social media we see “subliminal tweets”, “vague statuses” and “general memes” used to convey hurt or “salty” feelings about what bothers us. This can be therapeutic and in some cases it can be detrimental.
Why detrimental? Glad you asked 🙂
Mostly it’s because when you begin the habit of sharing your vague and what sums up to be passive aggressive feelings, you’re not addressing the issues. You’re just sharing your gripe passively, with the hopes [or understanding] that people who follow you will see and either cosign your point, or ask you what’s wrong.
Translation: Attention!!
There’s nothing wrong with asking a question or bringing up a topic and wanting a consensus from your friends. I asked a question just last night on my Facebook page. It’s totally fine to share yourself with your friends and be transparent and relate-able. That’s some of the point of being online with millions…maybe even billions of other people. The melting pot of thoughts and experiences, bringing you all together under the pretense of socializing.
Yet, I wonder if we’re not ruining our interpersonal communication with those around us. If we never confront anything head on, only writing it subliminally and not directly, do we risk the chance of alienating our loved ones? What happens if your friend gets on your last frayed nerve and instead of saying exactly that TO your friend, you tweet it…or status it, or create a meme. Now, it can seem if you’re making fun of your friend. They feel potentially betrayed by the idea of you going to the masses and allowing people who have NO clue what each side is fairly…to side with you or disrespect your friend anonymously.
…but, don’t we all at some point wonder? When we see a status about something, and we take into account who are friend is and who we are to them, don’t we take the risk that they will intuit we’re speaking about them and then reassess the friendship?
Don’t let them do what YOU’VE done…which is then in turn, post about the kinda sorta argument you’re maybe NOT having…and then you have hurt feelings swirling about, landing nowhere but in the ether[net] to fall on the heads of those who may see themselves in your rant.
Are we removing the connectivity to HUMANS in order to connect online? How do we find our way back to organic relations where feelings are discussed and dealt with, rather than allowing assumptions and hidden resentments take over and create tension.
Especially if there are no actions to back up those feelings. People will be angry at each other, feel some kinda way and yet, won’t delete the person…and so when they begin talking again, all is forgotten until the next infraction.
I just hope we’ll get over this stage of social media miscommunication where people are writing and disclosing hurtful things while saying, “Not you…” in person and thinking “Yes you…” in their heads and hearts.
Who has the answers? Sway? Anyone?