© 2007 - 2010 Allan Cockerill All Rights Reserved
I’m totally amazed at how many people have added me as a friend on Facebook, from Phillip Adams, who I’ve known offline for years, and Ric Raftis, master php, xhtml and css programmer, to Dave Webb in the US, and to Christine Larcombe and Oza Milleur, a pair of lively French Canadienne ladies!
The list goes on, and of course, if I were to list them all, I’d be here all day, and still get nothing done.
When my wife Suzanne and I first got engaged, I moved from the western plains city of Dubbo in NSW to Sydney to work and save money. I found that writing everyday actually enhanced the relationship, as it gave one a chance to communicate, rather than get caught up in the daily rush of doing stuff.
The local post office staff soon got to know us, especially as I ended up simply addressing cards and letters to Princess Suzanne of Dubbo, and they seemed to get more upset than her when I missed a card or letter!
I’m finding the same thing with Facebook – that communication via the written word, though now virtually instant, builds stronger friendships. The main things that one must keep in mind when communicating this way though are cultural differences, and the inability of the other person to see one’s eye’s and body language.
A joke shared with Alastair Mclea in New Zealand may not go over as well with someone in the US, because while our nations share a lot in common, there are some quite profound differences as well. If there are differences between the ‘Anglicized’ nations of the world, it is quite obvious that making friends with people of other cultures requires even more sensitivity.
I also find the variation in the groups that I have joined intriguing. Starting with one, business centered group, I am a member of groups that center on Faith, Writing, Business, Travel, Politics and so on.
The arrival of this group supporting students and monks protesting for freedom from oppression in Burma almost overnight shows the power of social media. This group sprung up like a mushroom, and already has over 68,000 members! Please note that you need to be signed into ‘FB’ to access the group!
Incidentally, if your own freedom means anything to you, you really owe it both to your self, and these oppressed people to at least boycott products from Burma, and email the companies that import them as well, and tell them that you are organizing a boycott!
With a Japanese citizen being killed there today, along with at least 8 Burmese nationals, I believe that a worldwide citizens’ protest will be of far more value than any number of weak kneed resolutions from the UN, and banning of diplomats from travel ever will. The Latest Updates Here!
Back on topic, I have met people from Greece, Britain, Finland, South Africa, Brazil, and the list goes on, all through this medium called Facebook.
While social media sites such as Facebook, Myspace, Bebo and so on, will continue to flourish, they can’t replace that day by day human contact that is so vital to all our lives! While this is certainly the case, I am really enjoying the chance to network with others while getting poked and prodded, and having the occasional sheep thrown my way…
© 2007 - 2010 Allan Cockerill All Rights Reserved
