How do you count your friends? By the barrel load on Facebook or on your hand based on who would come and get you at the airport in a snowstorm or its equivalent.
What about sharing? Do you merely add to cc lists, friends lists and other community aggregations to let people know that you are walking down the street or eating really crispy pizza – or do you share – give of yourself…your time…your energy…your resources?
One of the truths about the effect of communications technology is that we have redefined friendship and sharing – and maybe not for the better. Perhaps we need a new lexicon to separate the emotional human side from the bits and bytes functional side – what do you think?
In case although we should always be cognizant of need – seems this time of year – no matter if you’re religious or not – whatever your ethnic or other orientation is – there is a heightened and powerful focus on people – real people – not mere ether-based, cloud creatures.
To that end, I thought I’d share two thoughts – one from a master of the Human condition…listen:
If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way. Buddha
What a powerful and provocative thought…
The second quotes another great, Gandhi, but you are going to have to click through to find it – and hopefully use the efficiency and effectiveness of the new technology of sharing – to share in a personal and meaningful manner.
Read the card – from me to you and share your way of sharing by adding it to the list so that others may benefit as well.
With that – I wish you all – whatever you worship; believe or don’t…a joyous New Year and a year where we can use our talents to share for the betterment of us all.
My very best to all my readers and their families.
What’s your view?
Thought-provoking post. Two things come to mind…
First, as with many terms and concepts, I think we use “friend” in the context of Facebook (or “follower” for Twitter) in a metaphorical or symbolic way. Of course my 300 “friends” are simply people I’m connected to, not really people I’m close with — although the new medium has changed the meaning of “close” too. After all, we share some information with Facebook friends that we probably wouldn’t have shared with traditional friends a generation or even a decade ago.
In a way, the advent of Facebook friends has devalued the meaning of “friend.” But I think in another way it’s been a positive development, stripping away a lot of the pretense we used to live with.
Secondly, haven’t we done a little bit of this in direct marketing for a very long time? We talk about building relationships with consumers but are we really? “Relationship” like “friend” suggests something close and personal. But while I may have a connection to Apple or Citibank, isn’t it a bit presumptuous for us to talk about a relationship with a big faceless organization in the traditional sense of the word? After all, I wouldn’t expect Steve Jobs to come pick me at the airport in a snowstorm — although I bet he’s working on an app for that…
Reading your bio, I realize you are dynamite in action, so please forgive me if I digress from your current blog, and suggest something that you, above all others, may be able to pull off….Have the RAISON D’ETRE of Israel hanging in signs and banners above all the thoroughfares and streets of Jerusalem and the the entire country…’LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF’ written in all appropriate languages…what an impression that would make on all the tourists, the citizens of Israel, and the rest of the world.
Another suggestion that you are uniquely qualified to actualize….Have Coca Cola and Pepsi underwrite the USA stamps…and have them given out free to US citizens…. With much admiration….S.
think of all that advertising going around the world on those little stamps that would bear the imprint of Coca Cola and/or Pepsi.
Shelly — Im in!!!
Glad I’m back on line so I could read this!
Thoughtful, thought provoking and uplifting. The recent economic downturn appears to have heightened the human sensitivity for others in need – no matter what their own situation. People are sharing even limited time and resources, helping, actually showing that they care. I’ve been at the receiving and giving end. Initially saddened by the redefinition of friends (maybe I’m a dinosaur) in our social networking era, I’ve reached out and,amazingly, occasionally transformed the “bits and bytes” friends into the real, emotional kind -finding it very gratifying. Technology used properly can build real relationships -the kind that marketers used to dream of. The “give to get” principle from a new perspective.
I will make your holiday thought of “using our talents to share for the betterment of all” my goal for the coming year.
All my best to you and your personal and professional family.
Elli