I hate to be the one to break it to you, but social media is neither. Just a bunch of electrons excited by fingers on plastic keys.
Oh, don’t get me wrong here. It’s truly amazing how many folks we can contact with it. It’s just that I’m old enough to have lived a great deal of time without it. It was a time when “social” was a handshake, the meeting of eyes, a voice. That touch, emotion, and audible expression of care should not be minimized, you know. As we collectively move deeper and deeper into the world of electronic communications, most of us hunger dearly for those things. Sigh.
So, what to do? Join a local group where people actually sit down with each other. Volunteer. Or, the next time you’re checking out your groceries somewhere, thank the cash register person. When you do this, look them in the eyes, and shake their hand. You’ll be surprised by the response. Who knows? Could be contagious. Could actually return a bit of civility and humanity to a place that needs it.
Let me know how it works out. Until then, here’s a handshake, a look in the eyes, and a voice for you.
Hal