social media & sociometry

[Jen W]

I agree that social networking contacts can be superficial, and it's possible that the illusion of having a connection may provide enough false security that perhaps a person does not feel pushed to seek actual contacts.

 

It could it also be argued that even superficial contacts can sustain a person who has wounds that is keeping him or her isolated.

 

I also find that facebook can provide a spark that can be followed up on in person.  For instance, I found that an acquantance had some of the same taste in music.  We exchanged music recommendations and ended up making CD mixes for each other and we ended up sharing our interest in greater depth outside of facebook.

 

I guess most relationships start off superficial, as there is no instant intimacy of the real time.  People may or may not choose to fan the flames of intimacy.  And maybe their choice to be intimate or not be intimate is not entirely due to the existence of facebook.



Jen


 



From: anathga at hotmail.com
To: adam at blatner.com; list at grouptalkweb.org
Subject: RE: social media & sociometry
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:54:58 +0000





 how true...yet there is something as an oveload of superficial contacts,leaving one weary  and in want of time to cultivate the kind of relationships that need time and energy investment to give us back the same.
 


From: ablatner at verizon.net
To: list at grouptalkweb.org
Subject: social media & sociometry
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:38:54 -0600




Dear All, Speaking of our dialogue about facebook  and other social media, I've heard that institutions are using these to connect with younger people. They have found that fewer and fewer of them are using email. In fact, I understand that there are even some colleges that no longer giving their undergrads email accounts but are communicating with them through social networking sites!  It relates to the nature of sociometric connections, the types, etc. Social media indeed introduces a type of "reach out and touch someone" in ways that are different. I'm not interested in making a value judgment of better or worse, only different, and for me I find it interesting to contemplate and identify the role components of such relationships. 
 
Indeed, what would Moreno make of our listserve, as an international network, and of the quality of the relationships thereby constructed?    As imperfect as this may be compared to a full face-to-face encounter, it's better than nothing (i.e. relative alienation, lack of networking). And even at conferences, the schedule is often tight enough and the settings diffuse enough with conflicting agendas that true encounter often doesn't happen, even though people meet superficially face-to-face. There isn't enough sustained time for warming up, much less the degree of time it takes to work out misleading impressions, misunderstandings, etc. 
 
Warmly, Adam Blatner


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