Just showing up.
written by Julie R. Neidlinger 2 comments link this post"Showing up is half the battle"
-- An overused quote from a source I can't locate. Sorry.
-- An overused quote from a source I can't locate. Sorry.
I'd hate to think everything is a battle, but the part about showing up is where I'm going with this post.
On my list of highlights when I go to Nicaragua is listening to Cecil. This year, he repeated a couple of things he's said in past years that, like all things worth noting, carry over into all areas of life. Part A: Giving that is impersonal corrupts. Part B: Being there in person carries a strong message.
For all the glories of the Internet, it is impersonal.
To head off the "yeah, but" chorus, yes; I can and do have great discussions and have made many friends with real people all over the world.*
In theory, it should not matter where people live. With the Internet, any and all topics should be possible with any and all people, and nearly instantaneous at that. If I crave a rousing discussion, I should be able to find a place where it is happening.
I know, then, that I can, if so led, find a forum, a discussion, or a blog dedicated to whatever book or idea or subject I want to talk about somewhere on the Internet. The Internet should be the great leveler, the great way of communicating ideas, of sharing and interacting everywhere on the planet.
Mainly, it shuttles porn back and forth. From what I hear.
I suppose it would be selfish to admit that in my list of reasons for the actions I take (like going to Nicaragua), there is a section entitled "talking to people, in person." I find myself frantically picking the brains of everyone so I have something to take back home and chew on over the next months. If you're thirsty, you're drawn to water. Being there in person is a huge part of it.
You can't underestimate the importance of just being there.**
Looking into another person's eyes, seeing their body language, picking up on all the non-verbal communication; restraining yourself from leaping out of your chair and wrapping your hands around their throat and strangling them because they are so obviously wrong. The tension breakers of laughter, the instantaneous play on words as everyone lobs into the discussion, the moments of silence where everyone just sits back and considers what has been said.
You can't deny the importance of just showing up, in person, to communicate.
When I get irritated or passionate about an Internet discussion, I end up yelling at my Dell computer monitor -- as if I need more reasons to channel irritation towards my Dell machine. It's just not the same as sitting across from a live human being.
In person, I don't insult so readily. In person, I am more willing to consider another's ideas instead of just throwing sarcasm and logging out. In person, I see a real human and understand what he or she is saying in terms of the whole person instead of just the words. In person, I am less lazy. In person, my tongue is less sharp and cutting.
While I make a fair effort at using the Internet the best I can (online book blog/club, my blogs, etc.) I know it is lacking. I miss talking with real people who are right in front of me, watching me squirm.
Being there, in person, for discussion does carry a strong message. It's a way of giving that is most easily corrupted when it happens from a distance, filtered through one's and zero's. Unless you're a 40 year-old guy playing Doom in your parent's basement with a complete set of Ewok memorabilia on the shelf, I can't see how you could disagree that in communicating in person is so much better.
If you have Ewok toys and/or an Arwen figurine, and are an adult, I never want to meet you.
----------
*The following is important to note:
- I do not use "chat" systems, because I hate them. Chat sucks, unless you know the person from real life. It sucks because it devolves into bad grammer and lower case "i" and hideous NASCAR NASA BRB LOL ROTFLMAO methods of saying, basically, that we have nothing to say to each other and no, I won't describe what I'm wearing. I only chat with friends and family I know in person. Smilies. Animated GIFs. I could just scream.
- Forums drive me crazy because they are too information- and graphic-laden and I can't concentrate and focus. They also frequently use Comic Sans font and too often have the same kind of people populating them.
**Being There was a good movie.
Copyright (c) Julie R. Neidlinger 3/14/2007 12:58:00 PM
Like this post? Subscribe to the feed.
Help support this site.
Facebook |
Stumble It! |
Del.icio.us |
DiggIt! |
Technorati |
Blinklist |
Furl |
reddit |
Newsvine
2 Comments:
"Eighty percent of success is showing up." -- Woody Allen
By 
MichaelBates, at
14/3/07 15:24
See, now you've proven how lazy the internet makes me by finding a quote, with attribute, that fits.
Thanks, Michael.
Mr. Allen seems to disagree with the 50 percent categorization of my anonymous opening quote...
By Julie, at
14/3/07 18:17
