Thoughts on Communication and Social Networking

With the never ending options for Communication and Social Networking, I’ve come to develop philosophies on how or when something should be used. Of course, these are MY rules and do not apply to you, necessarily. Whatever your approach, I’m beginning to think it’s both counter-productive and even dangerous not to have a clear sense as to why you use what you use.

For instance, email is used for basic communication…pure and simple. While Michael Scott would disagree and say that email is for sending funny forwards to everyone…we all know that Michael Scott represents everything we mock in the real world.  But I digress.

For me, blogging provides the outlet I occasionally crave to write out my thoughts on a particular subject (like now).  Blogging is not–and should not be–something that enslaves me to write everyday.  Blogging is done at MY pace.  If I don’t blog for a month, that’s fine.  The purpose of the blog is not to produce content or even to be read by hundreds of people…but to clearly articulate my thoughts on a matter or argue persuasively for something I believe in.  It’s an excellent exercise for when something is really nagging at me.  For me, I simply can’t blog about what I just ate or what I’m wearing.  For others, that might be fine and fit their purposes for blogging…but for me, it has to be an essay-worth topic, primarily.

Facebook seems to be the more intelligent (and free) version of classmates.com. While I utilize it for interactions with my current crop of friends and family, my main thrill with Facebook is that I can actually re-connect with friends and foe alike from high school and college. Great stuff…and I have some thoughts on Facebook that I want to share in the future.  But again…I digress.

I don’t really use Myspace because–and forgive me Myspace users–it seems more like the creepy under-belly of the social networking scene. Ugly interfaces (that have been changing, I’ve heard) and those constant messages from people wanting your number so that we could “meet” were enough to drive me away. Facebook just seems to fit my style and comfort-level better.

Speaking of Facebook, there is one feature where things get a little messy concerning how people use Facebook–status updates. The reason it gets messy is because of Twitter. I’m warming up to the idea of twitter and it’s potential applications…but am not sure why it’s intermixed with Facebook for so many users. Perhaps my disconnect is that I use Facebook for completely different purposes–interacting with friends, both new and old.  For those friends, my purpose is to connect and converse in a manner consistent with a never-ending social event or party.

To me, Twitter is best used within the arena you currently exist…be it a job, industry, group/club, etc.  For instance, if I connect a Twitter post to my Facebook status, I have concerns for how pertinent my current work-related status has to do with my 2nd grade friend that doesn’t live in my town, work in my field , etc. Too much is lost in translation and you become one of those people they skip when reading status updates. In short, it seems to defeat the purpose of social networking on both fronts.

Similarly, I’m confused by the “what I’m eating” banter I sometimes see on Twitter.  Again…not trying to be critical of someone else’s choice of use…but that’s not going to be a compelling reason for me to follow someone on Twitter.  This strikes me as creepy and “stalking by permission”.  But hey…if that’s how you use it…whatever works for you.  I just won’t be following you. 

Ok…so this has brought me to a conclusion as to how and why I utilize the aforementioned tools:

Email: Pretty basic…specific communication. Little explanation needed. Use this constantly.  Those who need it, already have my email address.

Blogging:  Extended writing on pariticular matters that will resemble a magazine article or short book chapter–and only when I actually have something to say.  This is my blog, so no need to list the address.

Facebook:  Purely social networking.  I treat Facebook (along with the groups and pages features) like a party that I never leave.  It’s the friend and family zone for sharing random thoughts, Seinfeldian-observations, pics, videos, links, etc.  My Facebook page can be found HERE.  I won’t approve you as a friend unless I know you or I’m reasonable sure you’re somehow connected with CityView or Acts29.

Twitter:  I’m new to this…and I’m mainly experimenting right now.  I’m not 100% sure I’ll even continue.  However, I see a unique application for this in that I can update my status as it relates directly to my job in particular and my field in general.  As a pastor, this provides immediate updates regarding pertinent info for followers within our church, accountability on how I’m  working my schedule and generally useful information–both to church members and to other pastors and/or followers in my field.  My Twitter ID is Rick_White and can be found HERE.

In short…determine why you use what you use and stick to your own rules with singular focus.  This is the only way you’ll steward these tools (and your time) well.