Voyeur and Flasher
“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.”
― Benjamin Franklin
Funny thing this blogging and social networking world we now live in. I remember many stories in books and movies whose main plot is the finding of a novel, a journal, a letter that then leads us down the path of a life, love, combination so different that what we thought we knew of the main character. Think Bridges Of Madison County....ok so it's not a literary prize winner but still among one of the books and movies I enjoyed a lot. The romance in that story is sentimental and touching but the discovery of this "other" life that this woman led even for a short while...that is what I think appeals to so many of us. The idea that we are not only what our routines show us to be.
However, the game changer is the digital age. I mean blogging is a little like journal writing, with editing, and aspirations for the writer ; some are accomplished, published, well known figures but most bloggers are people who may not have the time, talent, or ability to actually write more than a blog...and there is so much pleasure in being able to do that for those of us who partake. Facebook is basically your entire life for all to see, what you ate, cooked, did, thought. It is the virtual flasher basically....and for those who are reading boy are we a world of voyeurs. I mean we like to look...to laugh with (ok or sometimes at)....cry....and see what everyone who we know well or peripherally is doing. I think this is why we like reality tv...though deep down we know it is scripted and usually poorly acted...somehow we do like looking in the windows from the hedges.
You could find fault in this or you could find it a way to bind the world. Like any other news, from the Town Crier to Facebook, you could choose to be part of a world that encourages each other, supports friendships and reconnects people. You could also use it to be a hate monger, create groups that spout negative ideology. I find it amazing that people blame the medium not the writer. I choose to use this for a place where I can indulge my love of writing. I choose this as a place to reconnect with friends who I may not get as many chances to see as I can but whose lives I feel a slight part of by what they share. I hope that we use discretion when needed and apologize when we do not.
For now I will embrace this voyeur - flasher relationship and be my usual optimistic self who hopes this will help us unite for a better world. I will always have a secret place in my heart and my thoughts though ....
― Benjamin Franklin
Funny thing this blogging and social networking world we now live in. I remember many stories in books and movies whose main plot is the finding of a novel, a journal, a letter that then leads us down the path of a life, love, combination so different that what we thought we knew of the main character. Think Bridges Of Madison County....ok so it's not a literary prize winner but still among one of the books and movies I enjoyed a lot. The romance in that story is sentimental and touching but the discovery of this "other" life that this woman led even for a short while...that is what I think appeals to so many of us. The idea that we are not only what our routines show us to be.
However, the game changer is the digital age. I mean blogging is a little like journal writing, with editing, and aspirations for the writer ; some are accomplished, published, well known figures but most bloggers are people who may not have the time, talent, or ability to actually write more than a blog...and there is so much pleasure in being able to do that for those of us who partake. Facebook is basically your entire life for all to see, what you ate, cooked, did, thought. It is the virtual flasher basically....and for those who are reading boy are we a world of voyeurs. I mean we like to look...to laugh with (ok or sometimes at)....cry....and see what everyone who we know well or peripherally is doing. I think this is why we like reality tv...though deep down we know it is scripted and usually poorly acted...somehow we do like looking in the windows from the hedges.
You could find fault in this or you could find it a way to bind the world. Like any other news, from the Town Crier to Facebook, you could choose to be part of a world that encourages each other, supports friendships and reconnects people. You could also use it to be a hate monger, create groups that spout negative ideology. I find it amazing that people blame the medium not the writer. I choose to use this for a place where I can indulge my love of writing. I choose this as a place to reconnect with friends who I may not get as many chances to see as I can but whose lives I feel a slight part of by what they share. I hope that we use discretion when needed and apologize when we do not.
For now I will embrace this voyeur - flasher relationship and be my usual optimistic self who hopes this will help us unite for a better world. I will always have a secret place in my heart and my thoughts though ....
Comments
Post a Comment