Posting and feeling obligated
Mar. 22nd, 2009 11:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
greatbearI have not been posting much. Anyone paying attention would likely notice this. Thing is, I've always been a rather private, busy sort. I approached the internet in it's earliest days not just for being a techie/business/information resource, but as a way to kinda force myself to be more outgoing, to relate to people I don't know (yet) in a more personal, direct manner. Taking this track allowed me to dip my toe into the interpersonal relations waters minus the direct contact, which was always my stumbling block. You see, once I get to know someone, I'm at ease, the conversations flow, good times are to be had. I found the 'net to be the perfect 'ice breaker' for me, and it's treated me very well ever since.
Recently, though, I feel myself retreating a bit, and really not feeling much like socializing. The reasons are many, from being busy at work and with projects both here at home and up in PA with Jeff's parents, to finding myself seemingly brushed off by quite a few so-called friends that dont return calls or messages. So, I take the hint and replace social interaction with my old standbys like tinkering and projects, going to swap meets, music listening and other introspective pursuits. I'm happy as a clam with this sort of thing. Part of this feeling is probably from 'overextending' myself into the social realm, building a sort of dependence on other people for enjoyment. Well, people have their own lives, like me, and can't be counted on to be the most reliable friends. Rather than feel exposed, I minimized my interaction with a considerable amount of people and instead placed the onus of friendship in their hands. In quite a few (more than half) I was greeted with silence and inaction. Okay, now I know where not to concentrate efforts and instead focus on those that seem to really care. It's a start, I guess.
Now, I've said that I am mostly a rather private individual, and I'm a man of substance. The same internet that brought my out of my shell has changed over the years, and not in the best ways that suit my personality. Services like Facebook and Twitter feed on the minutiae of daily life, encouraging people to constantly publish their activities. This in itself is not intrinsically bad, but it's not for me. I signed up for Facebook as a means to keep in touch with others, and intend to try and use it for that purpose. But I can't constantly upload the droll happenings of my life just because I can, and if I happen to be doing something of note, well, why should I drop what I am doing and tell the world? LJ is like that for me in some ways too. I considered Twitter in the beginning, but thought better of it. All of these electronic gotchas are tinged with 'obligation', which is something I feel uncomfortable with. I am a great user of technology, but I feel like the tech is using me all too often.
All this being said, I intend to keep with my ramblings here on LJ. Unfortunately, a good many people from here have migrated into the 140-character-at-a-time worlds. I'll miss the substantive posts and deeper interactions that 'macroblogging' provides. If it finds readership and interaction, then I am happy.
PS: The New Queensryche album is awesome.
Recently, though, I feel myself retreating a bit, and really not feeling much like socializing. The reasons are many, from being busy at work and with projects both here at home and up in PA with Jeff's parents, to finding myself seemingly brushed off by quite a few so-called friends that dont return calls or messages. So, I take the hint and replace social interaction with my old standbys like tinkering and projects, going to swap meets, music listening and other introspective pursuits. I'm happy as a clam with this sort of thing. Part of this feeling is probably from 'overextending' myself into the social realm, building a sort of dependence on other people for enjoyment. Well, people have their own lives, like me, and can't be counted on to be the most reliable friends. Rather than feel exposed, I minimized my interaction with a considerable amount of people and instead placed the onus of friendship in their hands. In quite a few (more than half) I was greeted with silence and inaction. Okay, now I know where not to concentrate efforts and instead focus on those that seem to really care. It's a start, I guess.
Now, I've said that I am mostly a rather private individual, and I'm a man of substance. The same internet that brought my out of my shell has changed over the years, and not in the best ways that suit my personality. Services like Facebook and Twitter feed on the minutiae of daily life, encouraging people to constantly publish their activities. This in itself is not intrinsically bad, but it's not for me. I signed up for Facebook as a means to keep in touch with others, and intend to try and use it for that purpose. But I can't constantly upload the droll happenings of my life just because I can, and if I happen to be doing something of note, well, why should I drop what I am doing and tell the world? LJ is like that for me in some ways too. I considered Twitter in the beginning, but thought better of it. All of these electronic gotchas are tinged with 'obligation', which is something I feel uncomfortable with. I am a great user of technology, but I feel like the tech is using me all too often.
All this being said, I intend to keep with my ramblings here on LJ. Unfortunately, a good many people from here have migrated into the 140-character-at-a-time worlds. I'll miss the substantive posts and deeper interactions that 'macroblogging' provides. If it finds readership and interaction, then I am happy.
PS: The New Queensryche album is awesome.
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no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 06:05 am (UTC)That's exactly what he got. LOL
I too was the school-aged loner (but not lonely) and preferred my mostly solitary intellectual pursuits. With hindsight, some of the gadgetry I came up with should have been patented. But I know that I was having too much fun instead. And those pursuits of the past serve me well today.
Maybe it's me getting older, or perhaps it's a need to filter the rapid-fire information I am constantly bombarded with on a daily basis. This is why I envy your vacations and trips and your stories and pictures that come from them. I feel we are blessed that we are able to share in all those great moments, but that sharing isnt the be-all and end-all either. It can be a wonderful tool. But if you start seeing the tool as simply a hammer, everything around you begins to look like nails after a while.
I honestly think we are at the same exact point.