patrick: noticing the tides
The world moves on. Sometimes we move on with it, and sometimes we don’t. Curiously enough, we often don’t notice the world changing, and don’t notice ourselves changing with it.
In the most recent copy of Relevant Magazine, my recent thoughts on the changes in American culture today were found in two articles on back to back pages. I’ll share one thought with you today, and perhaps the other another time.
We live in the era of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. People want to communicate to each other, but they do so in a very non-committal sort of way. Every leaves a “status” on the Facebook, describing what they are doing, thinking, or feeling at that moment. Some people update their status obsessively.
People like to be spectators in culture. We like to know what’s going on with celebrities and athletes and politicians, but we don’t like to do anything about issues anymore. When is the last time you heard about a high school student who gave blood regularly, or who volunteered every month at a local homeless shelter? You will hear young people talk about issues like poverty more and more, but it’s so rare that people actually do anything about the issues. I’m guilty of it. You probably are too. We spectate. We like to know the status of things, and act concerned, but we don’t do anything anymore.
Our relationships work the same way. We like to be aware of each other. We like to update each other on our status, making US the celebrities of our own little world. But people shy away from actually sharing experiences with one another. They shy away from real life together, and instead indulge in an electronic relationship instead. I email and txt and message people on facebook far more often than I actually call. And I call far more often than I actually spend time with someone. I sit and watch a movie or TV with my wife more often than I go out in the world and experience something with her.
I want to change all this, at least in my life. I want to share experiences with you. I want to go on walks, and take pictures, and climb mountains, and volunteer, and eat together, and make music together, and discuss real life issues.
So…you think all that will fit in my facebook status? I don’t know how to summarize it in 2 lines…
Cami (Mom) said,
January 20, 2009 at 5:09 am
I think that however we connect, we connect. I am a big facebook person and I don’t call some enough but I make an effort to connect…and I volunteer every week teaching yoga to people who are transitioning from having been homeless.
I appreciate whatever means people make to connect. It’s a hectic world these days.
P.S. I love you.