part two

I was trying to read but my mind is elsewhere. so I will try to do this instead. On a side note this new St. Vincent album is very pleasant. Anyways, I guess this part is more related to twitter and my roommate. And it is related to a lecture from this lit class I was in last quarter. We are the ipod generation. We were the first ones to really "grow up" with the internet and all this technology that we can't live without now at our disposal. Cell phones, ipods, iphones. Myspace, facebook, twitter.

While most of our generation have embraced these things there are still those who refuse and for good reason. I'm not sure exactly where I stand. I mean its hard, being a computer science major, to even try to say that I don't like all the technology (or hard to make you believe that I don't). This is just my experience. The point of cell phones and social networking sites is to better connect people. And I can see how it does. As I said in part one, staying in touch is hard. And I'm sure before cell phones (or phones for that matter) it was harder. Pretty much you had to go to the person or send them a letter. But was this more meaningful than updating my twitter status or sending someone a text message? Probably yes but you can't do this as often.

We communicate very often throughout the day in many different ways, both direct and indirect. Text messages, gchat, blogging, twitter, facebook, e-mail (almost archaic at this point), etc. And while its great to have all these, they sacrifice genuine, in person, real communication.

Basically I am caught in between. and it may even seem like i am stretching the truth to say "in between." All of these things that sacrifice in person communication, I do them regularly. but at the end of the day, no matter how much I've blogged, gchatted, texted, I feel alone. and it can be so one way. friends of mine are staying updated on me and know everything that is going on with me but I haven't a clue about them. I guess I just do these things in hope that everyone else will. maybe it is just a matter of time. until everyone really catches up and then the new communication will become meaningful.

thats why twitter spawned this and why part 2 relates to part 1. I wanted to resist twitter because i figured it would still leave me disconnected but now I have it. and i want to communicate people when I'm not around them but maybe its better to focus on the now and those that are around you.

I suppose it comes down to being realistic and making an effort. I can't expect to communicate on the internet and be fulfilled. And if I focus too much on updating all my profiles and then feel alone at the end of the day its my fault. I just worry about everyone falling into this because its become so easy. and then not recognizing what's going on.