As I wrestled with the marketing aspect of publishing this week, I found this fascinating video.
I found it through Twitter, so the likelihood is that you've seen it as well.
But if you haven't, you should. It's fascinating, scary, exciting, bewildering, astonishing.
Watch it and tell me: does this scare you even a little, or is it breathtakingly exciting? Or somewhere in between?
I'm somewhere in the middle.
ReplyDeleteIt is exciting that this whole new things is upon us.
It is scary how little we communicate face to face anymore. We don't mail letters anymore, we email. We don't send announcements, we tweet.
And while all this technology is good and well, as time passes and we are a part of history, what do we leave behind? Museums are filled with books, letters and papers that are hundreds of years old. What will I leave? An obsolete hard drive with blogs and tweets? What "hard copy" will we leave? I fear we won't leave one at all.
Well, here I am sitting on my couch, just feet from my son who is playing with his toys. And yet, I'm connected. And I like that. I like where the world is heading with social media. But there is opposition in all things. I don't like how easily BAD media can be brought into my home to influence my children and my family. Also, I see Brit's point. I think it is scary that we may not leave so much behind. I saw a recent documentary about the world without people, and it was speculated the Romans will have left a far greater legacy than we will leave in artifacts. Yet, look at how far more advanced we are.
ReplyDeleteThat's really interesting, exciting, and like you said a little frightening.
ReplyDeleteI saw a video on someone's blog about someone going to an author's book signing with their kindle. Brit is right, what kind of footprint are we going to leave behind.
Technology is good and bad. I'm very reluctant to tweet, mostly because I don't have a good cell phone and I already spend a lot of my time on blogs. Although for you tweeting got you a book deal. Hard to know what to do.
Intriguing video.
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings about this.
As a journalist, I think it's wonderful how the new media allow us to communicate around the world. And what a boon for shy people and shut-ins.
On the other hand, I agree with Brit. It seems like we're losing some important people skills, which is ironic considering the "social" tag given this new technology.
I was at a recent dinner with a young twenty-something musician who said he and his friends rarely go out; they get together and tweet or text or surf the web. Not much talking.
The discussion following that remark lasted for a good hour! And I wondered, are we looking at a generation that will never learn the art of conversation? That's sad.
As a former teacher, I'm also concerned with how social media impact the writing skills of students. It's not pretty.
It's a compelling subject and you've given me ideas for new posts on my blog. Thanks.
I was gone most of the day and didn't get a chance to reply!
ReplyDeleteBrit - such an interesting comment!! Man, now I'm really thinking... you know I've wondered what happens in the future when all these photos I've taken but not printed can't be read because they are such old technology. I miss those old black and whites.. the ones that last forever because they are printed with copper or something.
Jessie - I agree with you in the amazement of being able to sit on my couch and yet be connected to all these great writers I would never meet in real life. Perhaps our legacy will be something that can't be touched, but is still important none the less.
Patti - a kindle? can you sign that?? I don't have a cell phone with internet technology Okay, i do, but I don't have it because I don't want to pay that fee... and because I'm afraid I'll be totally addicted to the internet all the time... sometimes I need to be away. But I still don't get twitter.
Kathryn - welcome to the blog!!Great points! I stopped teaching before all this internet craze happened, but I can imagine the inability of kids to communicate in writing!
I've wrestled with the loss of personal mail. Occasionally I do write a "real" letter so someone will have something I've written in my own handwriting. I love the fastness of email, but I do miss the identification that comes with handwriting.
Interestingly, one of my very close friends, who lives 3000 miles away, I still don't email. I only call and send cards. I think I want to keep her as my "real" flesh and blood friend??