Categories: uncategorized
Date: 19 February 2010 10:20:06
Yesterday I was in one of those spaces where I was explaining abit about the Wibsite and how we are a community of people who share our lives and support each other via the internet. Within this, though, I also highlighted the importance of face to face contact aswell and how the fact many of us had met in person actually mattered aswell. Within the conversation I became aware of the way different medium mix andmatch.
In the example I was giving I explained because I'd had dinner once with an online friend in real life, when he was in the country, I was able to read between the lines of a post and then contact him by Facebook to have a further private conversation. This isn't unusual, and there have been times I have been very greatful when people have done similar with me.
Facebook gives the medium for those of us who meet via blogging to have a private forum, via messaging, to discuss things without having to get into giving e-mail addresses and stuff if we don't want to. There are different levels of involvement there. However, too often I think we can get hooked into thinking electronically and forget the importance of more traditional methods of communication. Occassional face to face contact is important, if it can be facilitated and we know exactly who we are in relationship with - one of the reasons I love Greenbelt because lots of online peeps suddenly get a face and an additional dimension. However, remembering the role about things like the postal service if you know people / a community well enough to give an address is also important.
Had a wonderful suprise this week when a friend who I know from a discussion board, who I've met on a retreat and who sometimes chat to via FB messaging sent me and TOH a copy of Selah, the Sacred Pause: A Lenten Journey through the Akathist to Jesus, Light to those in Darkness through the post.
My point with this is that it is only through using a variety of communication forms, some of which allow for more personal and private contact can we really build up relationship and truly use these types of communication to support each other.
Yet within this we all have to operate common sense. Who are we communicating with? How do we know them? If we meet them are other people aware? What boundaries do we put in place when we are sharing information on line? What issues are there about presentation of the professional self when in public or semi-public spaces? How do we operate trust in these environments? These are all questions many of us naturally work with and have thought through.
I know in some ways I may appear too open sometimes, and have shared personal information that others may have wondered about the appropriateness of sharing on line, (particularly in relation to my previous depression and sexuality). However when blogging whilst I do think about what to include and what to hold back I think about other issues aswell like the value of integrity, vulnerability and availability. I know through some feedback I've got from various people at differnet times some of my more personal sharing on this site has been of use. That said I am equally aware of the need to protect oneself and others and the balance to be achieved. Would be interested to know how others approach these issues aswell. I think discussion on these things is vital if we are to help others learn appropriate internet safety and boundary setting, but without fear or undue paranoia.