A friend of mine recently commented: "I guess you don't check Facebook..." No I don't. But I knew my dear friends birthday party was coming months ago. In fact, I'm getting ready for it right now, I simply couldn't wait. It reminded me of all the instances when friends and family tell me: "Why didn't you check Facebook?," or "Didn't you get my poke?"
I seem to miss events almost entirely since I'm not glued to FB. I guess it must be an office cubicle thing. Since I've escaped that lot, I seem to be missing out.
Now, this isn't a rant at those who do use Facebook. Instead, I'd like to comment on its usage and how it seems we view communication. In the age of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, WAYN etc. I think the way we communicate with one another is changing. However I don't necessarily believe that its changing for the better. Perhaps its just all a bit unnecessary.
Now I've often been accused of being a skeptic and also being all to often ready to play the devils advocate for this or that. But I absolutely dislike using Facebook! At this time you may gasp and tell me all the wonderful benefits and neat features it has to offer, or how it lets you keep in touch with your friends and know what they're doing. To this I reply. How about ask? How about call? To me, nothing beats a quick phone call to see how people are doing, whats going on and the next time we can hook up for a coffee. Perhaps its me, but I wonder whats the purpose of a poke? I simply gave up that poke warfare after spending more than 5 minutes poking back all the people who did poke me.
I think Entrepeneurs should really take note of what will help and what will hinder them. No matter how many FB pokes, messages you write, or" snowballs" you throw at another persons profile, nothing beats a networking,meeting, drink, coffee and above all connecting with another human being. That means the good old face-to-face meeting. Nothing separates the wheat from the chaff than your ability to say "Hi. I'm Rolo. I'd like to help/work with you. Tell me about you." Scary eh? I think the lack of genuine connection in our communication these days bears a closer look. If I join WAYN I don't think it will bring me closer to anyone. Though I would want to continue to do so.
Sometimes though technology can help.
I do admit that the features of LinkedIn allowed me to do the one thing I enjoy, which is recommend really great people to other people for all to read. That to me is a joy, but it is still secondary to telling a client or friend in need, "hey I know this great person..."
On a whim I joined another eProposal website that is supposed to list your services to clients. There are hundreds if not thousands of businesses listed on it. Not a single tender for proposal or client seeking services has popped up in the two weeks since I signed up for it. Its as barren as a parking lot after the mall closes. Thank god I'm not paying for it.
...
Perhaps the techno-connection glut has to get worse before it gets better.
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