Saturday, March 29th, 2008
The Remarkable Simplicity of Online Connectedness
While there’s significant evidence (aside from the obviousness of experience) that communication quality online is significantly reduced from in-person communication, I continue to be reminded of the inherent power within the simplicity of communication that the Internet has to offer.
Three times in the past two days, I’ve made new connections with people (One through Twitter, another through this blog, and another through e-mail) who I would consider highly respectable, and would have likely never had contact with otherwise. Are they high quality interactions? Not necessarily, but they were simple and as powerful as they needed to be.
I think that perhaps the reason that more people don’t know more people is that they just don’t try. It’s easy to shoot off an email, to give a compliment to another through your blog, ping people through LinkedIn, etc. My amazement never ceases in regard to the openness of others to want to help, accept help, or just shoot the breeze about an interesting topic.
So, next time you’re curious, reach out.
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on Saturday, March 29th, 2008 at 11:21 pm:
Simply put and poignant.
on Saturday, March 29th, 2008 at 11:26 pm:
Thanks Clay. You’re one of the people I was talking about, btw. ;)
on Sunday, March 30th, 2008 at 10:03 am:
I will mention that several of my online acquaintances have grown quickly grown into real friendships and professional relationships largely because the ability to communicate quickly and regularly via the electronic medium.
I will also mention that my wife is a member of an online forum for women and that has resulted in several close friendships for her - like to the point that they sent us baby gifts when our daughter was born. Members of this forum who are also local have become some of our closest friends as a couple.
I agree with you that , as with any relationship, it is all about the time you are willing to put into it. I would also argue that the sheer amount of communication and interaction methods available to us all in this day and age makes it all the easier for those with a desire. When a request to “friend me” is more than a desire to expand some popularity credits but a real desire to interact.
Great and (as you can tell) very thought provoking. I will most likely link to this with a lot of what I have said here also stated on my site if that is OK with you.
on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 at 1:16 am:
OK, but I don’t know about the respectable part :-).
on Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 at 4:47 pm:
Well said Ben
Some of the people I know who are skeptical about social connections online generally give the argument “you don’t really know who they are”. That kind of appeal to fear/ ignorance argument completely discounts the fact that even if I meet you in real-life, I could lie to you, misinform and deceive you… just as I could online.
Social networks are a great tool, not a replacement for real interaction… anyone who says anything different probably just doesn’t get it.