Social reading?

[hrosvit]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

RE Social Networking sites: I figure if I can't manage to stay in touch with someone in the real world... we must not really need/like each other all that much.

"Telephone?!? If I can't bother myself to get in my horse-drawn carriage and drive across town to talk to Aunt Bessie in person, then whatever I have to say must not be too darned important!"

[hrosvit]

Originally Posted by VaporPunk

Generally speaking, a valid point. Unless you live on the other side of the real world from some of them.

As to the OP, I'm sure you'll find some readers that will enjoy your site. Good luck with it.

My 2 cents, let them's what wanna be social, be social. And leave the others alone. By the way, isn't MR a form of social networking? What are all of us introverts doing here?

These are exactly the things I was thinking as I was reading this thread, and I don't even particularly care for social networking sites.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by hrosvit

"Telephone?!? If I can't bother myself to get in my horse-drawn carriage and drive across town to talk to Aunt Bessie in person, then whatever I have to say must not be too darned important!"

Exactly! Although you're being sarcastic... you've still managed to capture the essence of my sentiments. My phone conversations have always been along the lines of; "You're home? Mind if I stop over? Alright, see you in a bit."

Technology's great, but I tend to use it to arrange a face-to-face... not to replace one. And if a face-to-face becomes logistically harder because of physical distances?? Well... then... we're just probably not going to remain "close." Sorry.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

We aren't a hive, but we aren't alligators either. The complete hermit is a true rarity. Reading has always had a social element, to some extent or another. If it didn't, this website and others like it wouldn't exist. But when it gets down to the actual task of reading, that's solitary. People will often be eager to discuss the book, but I don't think reading itself is likely to change.

I use Facebook, but I use to keep connected with actual friends - people I actually know - rather than with so-called Facebook friends. Social networking often isn't very social at all. Being in the same room, sitting at the same table, that's social. Having on-line friends that you've never met and never will, not as much.

Obviously, the world is a smaller, more connected place than back "in the day".

Depending on your views, that can be a good or bad thing.

For me, Facebook is another 'hive' thing. I've tried it, disabled, tried again and disabled.

But thats just me.

I'm a dinosaur. If I can't email you, or call you, or text you, maybe I don't need to communicate with you.

And man, have I come a long ways since my "texting? I don't need no stinkin' "texting!" days.........

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

And if a face-to-face becomes logistically harder because of physical distances?? Well... then... we're just probably not going to remain "close."

Most of the time that's true. But for the closest people in our lives, electronic mediated communications is often the only way to stay in touch when the world pulls us apart.

[QuantumIguana]

Originally Posted by BWinmill

Most of the time that's true. But for the closest people in our lives, electronic mediated communications is often the only way to stay in touch when the world pulls us apart.

What has changed is the speed of communication. People used to keep in contact with people over long distances, they used letters. When travel was difficult and expensive, siblings might never see each other again, but they could write, and often corresponded regularly for the rest of their lives.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by BWinmill

Most of the time that's true. But for the closest people in our lives, electronic mediated communications is often the only way to stay in touch when the world pulls us apart.

It is my contention that those people with whom electronically mediated communication is the only way to "stay in touch," simply cannot be the "closest people in our lives" anymore. *shrugs*

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

It is my contention that those people with whom electronically mediated communication is the only way to "stay in touch," simply cannot be the "closest people in our lives" anymore. *shrugs*

They can still be close, it just takes more effort. Move two continents and an ocean away from your parents and siblings, and you'll find out.

[hrosvit]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

It is my contention that those people with whom electronically mediated communication is the only way to "stay in touch," simply cannot be the "closest people in our lives" anymore. *shrugs*

I'll be sure to tell my mother, who lives 1500 miles away, that she's out. "I know you carried me for nine months and supported me for 18 years, but when dad's job took him to Louisiana, and mine took me to Pennsylvania...well, we're just not that close anymore. Your grandsons said to tell you 'goodbye'.".

And it's not the only way to keep in touch. It's merely the most convenient. I don't need a food processor; I could chop all that stuff by hand. But it makes my life easier. That's kind of what technology is for.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

They can still be close, it just takes more effort. Move two continents and an ocean away from your parents and siblings, and you'll find out.

My siblings all live several states away from me... and we're no longer "close." I love them dearly, and we have no trouble shooting the breeze and otherwise having a grand old time whenever we do manage to get together every couple of years, but we're simply no longer a part of each other's day-to-day (or even month-to-month) lives. Guess I'm just different.

*POST EDITED*
A no longer relevant (or existing) quote—and my response to it—was removed to avoid confusion.

[QuantumIguana]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

My siblings all live several states away from me... and we're no longer "close." I love them dearly, and we have no trouble shooting the breeze and otherwise having a grand old time whenever we do manage to get together every couple of years, but we're simply no longer a part of each other's day-to-day (or even month-to-month) lives. Guess I'm just different.

Not everyone is the same, of course. In the days when letters were the only way to communicate, some people corresponded on a regular basis for the rest of their lives. Other people would move away, and never communicate with their family again. It is very possible to remain close to people over a distance. If people would do it when they had to use a quill and paper, people can do it when communications are instant.

[VaporPunk]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

My siblings all live several states away from me... and we're no longer "close." I love them dearly, and we have no trouble shooting the breeze and otherwise having a grand old time whenever we do manage to get together every couple of years, but we're simply no longer a part of each other's day-to-day (or even month-to-month) lives. Guess I'm just different.

*POST EDITED*
A no longer relevant (or existing) quote—and my response to it—was removed to avoid confusion.

Different is unacceptable. Please conform.

Originally Posted by BWinmill

MR is a bit of a paradox: a bunch of people socializing to figure out how to make the world a more antisocial place ... at least judging from this thread.

MR is a weird site...
much tech geekiness + much love of books + much "social" introvertism + much wit = MR

It is a good place, though.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by VaporPunk

Different is unacceptable. Please conform.

I tried once. Chaos ensued. It was very frightening. So I quit.

[Fluribus]

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

We need an antisocial network where people can ignore each other.

Wrong! I need an antisocial network with which to crush my legions of enemies.

I don't really care what eleventy thousand other people are reading and hi-lighting. Unless they have similar tastes, I don't care what my acquaintances are reading.

On the other hand...were I the Fourth Marketeer... The extended access into the very minds, as weak as they are, of the people would be invaluable. I would sell to them. I would control them. I would bend the world to my iron will.

On second thought, I love social media.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

...
And man, have I come a long ways since my "texting? I don't need no stinkin' "texting!" days.........

Me too. I just had to increase my minimum (e.g. the smallest/lowest cost I could get) to the next level up ..