Social media makes us LESS social?? I disagree.

Today I came across this Tweet: "If you think that social media, despite the name, hasn't made us less social than ever... you've got rocks in your head."

I think I get what the Tweeter is saying...that people rely too much on social media to communicate and less on actual face to face conversations and phone calls. But I really and truly think social media has made me closer and more in tune with my friends and family.

First of all....Facebook has allowed me to keep in touch with family members from all over the country...even the world. My cousin's husband was stationed in Germany for three years. Facebook allowed me and my cousin to stay in contact and chat whenever we wanted. It's been a long time since we've lived in the same town and FB made it possible for us to become close. And now that she's in Hawaii for the next 3 years, I can still keep in close contact with her. I am able to be a part of my friend's daily lives who no longer live in this area. It allowed me to get to know a cousin I never really knew because she was born and grew up a few states away. Until FB, I had only even seen her a few times in my life. Now, in our mid 30's, I can finally consider her a real friend.

Secondly, I am a mom with a career and kids with activities who has friends with careers and families and activities. I do not have time to go have coffee with every one of my friends and family members each week to see how they are and catch up on their lives. As much as I would love to. Life is different these days. It's not like the 50's when most moms were home all day and could get together and chat. But you know what? I can hop on Facebook for twenty minutes and be caught up on all my friends and their families and what they're doing, have a few laughs, view some photos.

Third, social media has allowed me the opportunity to make friends all over the country and world, who I never would have had the chance to meet otherwise. Wonderful and amazing people. Sometimes you need to go outside your circle of friends to find the support and camaraderie you need. I am a writer and no one I knew in my day to day life did that. I found a writers group in my city from an online community. And they were great. I adored them. But still, none wrote what I wrote and I really craved kinship with those like me. And I found them. Social media helps people to not feel alone. There are people out there just like you, loving what you love, no matter what it is. And technology has allowed us to connect easily.

So, I don't know what you all think, but I guess I have rocks in my head. I am so so thankful for what social media has done for me. No, it's not perfect and it has its drawbacks, but when used properly, it is amazing. There has to be balance, just like all things in life. It should not replace all human interaction, but it is great for when face to face human interaction just isn't possible. But when you are in the presence of other humans, the phones should be put away.

I'm read all over the world!

I have to say, one of the coolest things about writing this blog is connecting with people from all over the world.

Years ago, before the internet and all it's glory, I NEVER would have thought I'd get the chance to meet and chat with people on the other side of the globe. Well, I guess that's a lie. When I was a kid I had two pen pals. One was from England and the other Italy. It was so so cool to get their letters. I wrote back right away and couldn't wait for the next to come. My penal in England even sent me gifts from time to time. So so cool!! :)

Ever have a penal when you were a kid???

And then the internet made it possible for anyone to make friends with people from any country. Kinda made the earth not seem so big anymore :)

I periodically check out where my blog hits come from and MANY of them come from Russia! Hello friends!!! Thanks for stopping by!!!!

Just because it's cyberspace, doesn't mean you can be nasty

Ug. Nothing makes me more angry than people getting nasty in cyberspace. Can't we all just get along???

I am a member of many online groups and communities, some writing related and for the purpose of networking, some just for fun. Today I was on one of my just for fun communities and answered a post. I got a private message that was kinda nasty. So of course I go back and reread my post...no it was pretty nice...wasn't being nasty...don't think it could have been taken as anything nasty...just a straight up informative comment...sharing what I found on another website. No reason what so ever for this person to reply to me nastily.

So I replied back...taking the high road and kept my reply simple. No point in fueling a fire with some cyber stranger.

Do you often experience this online?? What do you do?

I can’t survive without the internet

Yeah yeah, I know what you’re thinking. This girl is addicted to Facebook, email, blogs, message boards, yadda yadda. Well, yeah, I guess that is sorta true. But I am addicted to the internet for more than just that.

I am so lost without it.

Lately I have been having to do without the internet. For some bizarre reason, my laptop keeps losing its connection with my wireless router. (I will be talking to my computer guy about this asap.) And I can’t tell you how it bothers me when I try to click on a site and I get that “problem loading page” message. I look to the lower right hand corner of my screen…that red “x” glaring at me…laughing and saying “ha ha, no internet for you!”

It’s most frustrating when I am working on my writing. I have become so accustomed to having the internet that I use it everyday while I am working on my current project. I use Dictionary.com for its thesaurus—and it’s so irritating to have a word that I know I want something else for and I can’t look one up. (I have Word’s synonym function as a backup, but it’s not as good.)

And just research in general. Remember when we were kids and doing a report meant spending some time in the library to look up the info you needed? Well now, everything you ever wanted to know is at your fingertips, literally. I hate when I’m working on a project and need to look something up and I just can’t.

I love the internet!

I've got over 100 Followers!!! So Awesome!!!

Wow! I am beyond amazed!!!! And eternally grateful to each and every person who has been following my journey for months and also the new followers who have just joined!

When I started this blog, I planned on doing it to "build my platform" and make a name for myself on the internet. What I hadn't expected were the friendly faces and thoughtful posts I received! I made friends out here in Bloggerland! And you have all given me such wonderful support and advice and hopefully i have enriched your blogging experience too!!

I wish you all the best of luck in your endeavors! Most of you are fellow writers and we're all on this crazy, winding, twisting, uphill path together! It's so nice to have people to share the joys and sorrows with!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

What makes you want to read a blog post???

Are there certain bloggers you read no matter what??? Or do you browse titles and only click if it sounds interesting enough??

I have to say I am mainly guilty of option #2, though there are a few I read no matter what the title says.

I scroll through my blog list and click on the ones with titles that really jump out at me and sound interesting. So in return, I try to come up with titles for my own blogs that will lure someone in...make them just have to read what brilliant thoughts I've come up with that day!!

Hopefully no one is disappointed...though I'm sure they are!! What makes an absolutely captivating blog??? I need to know....I don't want to bore my readers! I'm kinda impressed with my 32 followers! Thanks guys!! I wanna make sure you stick around!!

I blog about my writing and the process and journey to publication. I love commiserating with fellow writers, learning from them. I hope I can help a fellow writer by sharing my experiences. But I do blog about other stuff too...stuff that few people have interest in (like my obsessive love of NKOTB and Disney World!) But I like to think readers can at least identify with me...even if their obsessions are different!!

The internet is a fantastic thing. It amazes me every time I meet and connect with someone knew from some far corner of the country, or planet for that matter...people I would not have met otherwise....people just like me. I rarely feel alone or feel like no one gets me. I know there are poeple out there, writers who feel my pain, who know how insanely crazy and hard this business is and how lucky we are when we actually find some success.

And when we do find success...how sweet it is to share it with so many poeple!! They celebrate with me just as I do when their success comes in.

Amazing little thing we have here...this world wide web.

'Blog'...who came up with that word??? Doesn't matter...whoever invented this way to connect with people is a genius!