Good post . I completely agree with you that measured in terms of genuine human benefit and well-being, social media offer a means but not a substitute for interaction and communication. And I sincerely hope that’s widely accepted and recognized.

But there are cases, it seems, where the substitutes and mediating games, checkins, system messages etc create a sense of attention, interest, obligation, etc strong enough to sustain involvement. Regardless of whether we think this is healthy or not, it’s part of what makes the whole thing work. I don’t envy folks for whom this becomes more than a distraction, or for whom it’s a compulsion — powerful enough that in face to face settings those people reach for their iPhones.

And then I think, we’re at an awkward stage of evolution with social media. Gone are the days of putting up a profile and counting page views and testimonials. It’s now full-on 24/7, and redundant across so many channels that communication itself becomes counter productive. Can’t count the number of times I’ve just called a person to finish what was becoming a time-consuming text msg exchange.

I hope we do come up with new modes of interaction, instead of just faster and more of what we have currently.

But hey, I’m writing this into a small box on the kitchen counter, and you could be reading it on a small box on a desk counter, and that’s something.

I am always amazed at our culture and the short time we associate value to technology. It shrinks with every new tool, technique and platform that comes along. Why did everyone want to find the “new” Twitter at SXSW? Is the “old” Twitter no longer providing value? Do we feel that we have to be the kid on the block with the new toy before everyone else to prove our worth? The telegraph and telephone lasted for many years before becoming obsolete and yet both technologies still live on. The bottom line is that social media and all the tools are still just a method to connect with other humans and develop real relationships offline that provide value beyond 140 characters.

By the way I am glad that I’ve had the chance to meet you in person and have a real discussion! Hope all is well in Chapel Hill and let me know next time you are down this way.

I took a break from all social media for one month, just to see if I could. Then I composed a blog post about my feelings of liberation and not having to check in on a timely basis. I didn’t post it because it sounded so opposite of everyone else.

Think I’ll go publish my post now. You’re the best for sharing these feelings. Even though we’ll probably never meet – and I’m ok with that – your words helped me get through a tuff patch of disillusionment today. So did the comments. Thanks to everyone.

Like you sad, “So many of us ‘connect’ with people on asymmetrical networks because it is easy to do so. But so few of us make the next step–to explore whether or not such a connection even makes sense.”

To me, this is where events come in. The face to face. You have to meet people, have “offline” conversations, see facial expressions, laugh out loud with them, drink a beer or two together. Only then do you know whether or not those connections make sense (to use your words).

I’ve never met you. I’ve never met @unmarketing (Scott). However, we have enough common connections and have several online exchanges to confirm that we’ll get along just fine when we eventually meet face to face.

Then again, we may not. We may learn that it just isn’t meant to me.

I told my wife recently that there are many people who I know online only. When I do get the opportunity to meet them face to face, I’m sometimes disappointed. They are either way cooler online or they are straight up phonies. So. I live with that. The other side of the coin are people like Amber Naslund and Mike Schneider and Jay Baer and Jason Falls and Chris Brogan (etc) who are even kinder, cooler, nicer, in person then they are online.

So…not sure where I am going. I’m just writing. Ha ha. I’m not even sure if my comments are consistent with the point of your blog post. Awesome, right?

Thanks for making me think today.

DJ Waldow
Director of Community, Blue Sky Factory
@djwaldow

Your post really resonated with me. It’s nice to know that I’m not alone in wondering what to do with all this. I especially like idea of retreating to smaller as the way to make meaning in the future.

Thanks!
Ardath

I’m overwhelmed at the kindness and the feeling of community that I’ve received from Twitter, but I also feel lost at times. I’m curious if I’ll ever really meet these people or if they’re even interested in really meeting me. Like you, I’m pretty much an introvert. As much as I wanted to go to SXSW, I have a feeling I would’ve spent a great deal of time wandering around by myself being incredibly overwhelmed.

Again, great writing. I’m curious to see what the future holds.