Here is a very interesting post on social media from a mate of ours from Alaska and as we are talking as a club about how we communicate via the Internet I thought that Jon’s words are timely indeed. By the way it is easy to join ROTI or Rotarians On The Internet and a lot of fun as well as a great learning tool for those interested in all things Rotary and sometimes a whole lot more. Here is Jon’s post this morning:
“Hello Folks,
The conversation regarding participating in social medial (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and many others) has crossed our eyes here many times in the past. One can choose to participate or not. As has been mentioned by several of us, social media is where our children and grandchildren are. Email and list serve out-growths are anachronistic, like it or not. We participate here because it’s familiar and many of us are confounded by the technology. But the world has long since moved from that technology to texting, social interfaces, and interactive media. Like it or not. Want to be in touch with your grandkids, that’s where they are. Once connected one can unfriend, delete, cut and run or select the level of involvement with which one is comfortable. The fact remains: You can run, but you cannot hide.
Google Earth can show us your neighborhood complete with your car parked in your driveway: realtime for this is in our future with you waving at us from your patio or lawn and, probably, from the front seat of your car on the freeway. GPS knows exactly where you are whenever you use your phone or car location devises. Facebook can send you, unsolicited or not, the names of your classmates from kindergarten and their contact information. LinkedIn can connect you with colleagues and business connections about which you were not aware, and maybe did not want to be aware. Fine. Welcome to the world today. It matters not what music one preferred during High School or College or what one’s age is today. “Getting it” is a matter of a learning curve or, fowl as it may be, with which one identifies: ostrich or eagle. One can be in the parade or standing on the curb and watch it go by. Your choice.
One needs not participate in social media, but that’s where the world is now. It will move again and we can move with it or not. That’s how it works. Stand on the curb long enough and the parade will be gone and the curb standers will have each other with day old popcorn at their feet.
Onward and upward,
Jon Deisher, PP, MPHF
Anchorage Rotary/D5010
Anchorage, Alaska”
Posted on ROTI Rotarians On The Internet