It's funny, how we distort our realms of normalcy to fit socio-economic gains and superficial values, whilst thinking we are furthering ourselves and our society.
Doing a paper on Facebook, and looking at what exactly the medium of communication does to our ideas of interpersonal relationships and social norms, draws upon some-many-interesting points. Too many to be outlined at present: one of which, however, I thought of fleetingly, but I am choosing presently to record it if only because it is insubstantial enough in the grand scheme of my thoughts on the subject, that I'd rather have it concretely outlined in text, to return to later.
Often I make the distinction, well 'we' make the distinction I suppose, between knowing and feeling, or learning and experience. For instance, I was initially amazed at the power and wonder of venturing to historic sights in Italy, which had instantaniously a much grander impact on my psyche and learning then all the textbooks and history courses I'd taken could enlighten me to. It was as though being present in such an environment of history and spiritual value awakened something in the soul that facts and figures cannot hope to achieve.
I relate this to Facebook truly: the communication and interpersonal relations inherent to the medium speak to community and collective mentalities; it promotes a 'classless' society and ease of communication. However, Facebook is non-physical, and un-emotional in its encounters. It does not feel, nor does it emote its inner desires and pains: it does not smile, it does not emit warmth. The dialogue and community of Facebook is hard and cold, and devoid-I see this as a major unfortunate, as I think it becomes a barrier to true relationships, and encourages an increasingly voyeuristic, superficial mentality. It is as though we are led to believe that this 'reading' of communication has some severence of reality to it-it poses as true, legitimate communication. But one only has to speak to another, to engage in frequency and vigor with another being, to connect at length, to understand and feel the difference. WHY must we be involved in each other 24-7? WHY can't we be content in our own company, only to see and appreciate our peers in their physical, emotional presence at infrequent intervals? When did we become so socially dependent? I see facebook as being an unintelligent removal of social function, decreasing our humanity and making us shallow and inherently self-absorbed and self-conscious. Facebook, truly, makes me sad.
The real and the non-real: perhaps there is no distinction anymore. It is bizarre that one can exist in the physical sense, yet not exist online. Where does the ghost reside, truly?