What's This All About?

I have to admit that right off, I was concerned with what I could come up with for a topic to blog about for this class all semester. I drew a complete blank and doubted myself. Thinking back to my classes last year though, I remembered how curious I was about how we are communicating now - Facebook, texting, emailing, blogging, the list goes on - will effect our social skills in life. I recall wondering this in two classes, so certainly, it coming to mind for the third time, I had to look into it more.

For now, I don't think I have one particular technology in mind to target. I want to keep it broad, however, I feel I will be concentrating more on how we communicate online. Much of the information I have found in an initial search is how the way we network online should be added to connecting face to face (F2F). It will enhance relationships if used in addition to F2F contact (Netting Scholars: Online and Offline). Honestly though, that made me think, well duh! As I kept digging, I realized the world is on the right track for the most part. Physcial space and Cyberspace need to be interrelated (Valerie Goby, PhD).

I wasn't satisfied though - and I know because of that this could be controversial. Perhaps it's because I look at a lot of things in life through jaded eyes, but will we always realize this importance of connecting F2F and in the cyber world? Once I finally searched the right terms online, the barrage of articles on this overwhelmed me. Finally, the bad I was seeking. The first article I decided to take a glance at confirmed that there is going to be some ugliness in this. The study, The Impact of Home Computer Use on Children's Activities and Development opened with a quote. For me, it confirmed my blog will be good, bad and ugly, just what I was shooting for all along:

“I really want to move to Antarctica—I’d want my cat and Internet access and I’d be happy.”
—16-year-old HomeNet participant (1995)

Personally, I myself would be content in Antarctica, however, I'd take both of my two cats, my hubby and Internet access. But I have learned though through life and interacting with people, that socializing in person is necessary. What about those who don't have that life experience and are growing up connected to many by a screen name only? What impact will that have on how our social skill sets are learned?

On the other end of the spectrum, these new ways to communicate could be an outing many people need. One of my classes last spring was completely online. While at first I was unsure as to how I was doing in the class, I quickly became at ease in the class and not concerned about expressing myself. No one knew who I was. They only knew me online and would likely never meet me on the street. For me, I could be more of myself, not consumed in the social anxiety I sometimes fight.

So, in these weeks of blogging, I want to look at all the sides of how faceless ways to meet, talk, learn and share impact how we socialize. I want to try to remain open to both the good and the bad in hopes that somehow the middle ground prevails. I know I need to interact with others both in person and online, but will that be the norm in the years to come? Or will we live in bomb shelters with our fingers furiously typing to make sure we're in the world without being in it?