Comments on: Unplugging from the social networks http://jstahl.org/archives/2010/01/12/unplugging-from-the-social-networks/ Politics, the environment, technology, activism. And stuff. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:00:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: carmenta http://jstahl.org/archives/2010/01/12/unplugging-from-the-social-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-398085 carmenta Mon, 18 Oct 2010 12:47:14 +0000 http://jstahl.org/?p=2080#comment-398085 <p>Jon, I don't know you but it is good to know there are more of us day by day. A few of my most powerful friends, interestingly, have declined the facebook way of life. The rest of my international sprawl I do miss staying in touch with a little, but overall I am quite happy with my decision to leave Facebook, simply because the contact I had with many 'friends' was shallow / superficial contact, as opposed to the real contact and connection I value. It's a quality over quantity sort of thing. Mostly, I think the 'rich' developed world is slipping into a kind of matrix-metaphor, virtual reality coma about the things that really matter. It might be different if people really did live in small communities where they grew their own food - if your life is actually sustainable - go ahead, indulge in cyber-chat! If not - stay away! You are in danger of living in a rapidly disappearing world...gone from under your feet whilst you 'poke'...</p> Jon, I don’t know you but it is good to know there are more of us day by day. A few of my most powerful friends, interestingly, have declined the facebook way of life. The rest of my international sprawl I do miss staying in touch with a little, but overall I am quite happy with my decision to leave Facebook, simply because the contact I had with many ‘friends’ was shallow / superficial contact, as opposed to the real contact and connection I value. It’s a quality over quantity sort of thing. Mostly, I think the ‘rich’ developed world is slipping into a kind of matrix-metaphor, virtual reality coma about the things that really matter. It might be different if people really did live in small communities where they grew their own food – if your life is actually sustainable – go ahead, indulge in cyber-chat! If not – stay away! You are in danger of living in a rapidly disappearing world…gone from under your feet whilst you ‘poke’…

]]> By: Mark W Schumann http://jstahl.org/archives/2010/01/12/unplugging-from-the-social-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-395635 Mark W Schumann Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:29:45 +0000 http://jstahl.org/?p=2080#comment-395635 <p>It's a week later and I just realized you're not the same Jon Stahl as the one I know on Facebook and in real life. <em>facepalm</em></p> It’s a week later and I just realized you’re not the same Jon Stahl as the one I know on Facebook and in real life. facepalm

]]> By: Mark W Schumann http://jstahl.org/archives/2010/01/12/unplugging-from-the-social-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-395561 Mark W Schumann Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:13:38 +0000 http://jstahl.org/?p=2080#comment-395561 <p>I can't help thinking it's really because I never got around to accepting Jon's friend request on Facebook. Sorry about that.</p> I can’t help thinking it’s really because I never got around to accepting Jon’s friend request on Facebook. Sorry about that.

]]> By: External, alienated, busy-busy http://jstahl.org/archives/2010/01/12/unplugging-from-the-social-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-395549 External, alienated, busy-busy Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:18:37 +0000 http://jstahl.org/?p=2080#comment-395549 <p>[...] I have taken the next step, and made somewhat of a momentous decision. I’m not alone – Jon Stahl did this before me, and I know there are others. There are plenty of people who never entered these [...]</p> [...] I have taken the next step, and made somewhat of a momentous decision. I’m not alone – Jon Stahl did this before me, and I know there are others. There are plenty of people who never entered these [...]

]]> By: Jon Stahl http://jstahl.org/archives/2010/01/12/unplugging-from-the-social-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-394949 Jon Stahl Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:09:31 +0000 http://jstahl.org/?p=2080#comment-394949 <p>Barbara- You misunderstand the thrust of my argument -- it's not that the "chit-chat" is bad -- quite the opposite! "Phatic" communication like this is super important, and is actually one of the things I value. I also don't think it's all bad for society, for all the reasons you mention.<br /> What I do think, though, is that the extremely short, random reward loops (the "skinner box" aspect) are very dangerous to us cognitively. Short version: easy to tip over into very addictive behaviors.<br /> And don't worry, you will like what I have to say on Monday, I'm sure of it! :-)</p> Barbara-
You misunderstand the thrust of my argument — it’s not that the “chit-chat” is bad — quite the opposite! “Phatic” communication like this is super important, and is actually one of the things I value.
I also don’t think it’s all bad for society, for all the reasons you mention.
What I do think, though, is that the extremely short, random reward loops (the “skinner box” aspect) are very dangerous to us cognitively. Short version: easy to tip over into very addictive behaviors.
And don’t worry, you will like what I have to say on Monday, I’m sure of it! :-)

]]> By: Barbara Christensen http://jstahl.org/archives/2010/01/12/unplugging-from-the-social-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-394948 Barbara Christensen Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:02:39 +0000 http://jstahl.org/?p=2080#comment-394948 <p>Jon, it sounds like a good decision for you and I too need to often moderate my use of it, but I don't agree wholeheartedly that it may be bad for society. Like society, there are higher purposes and drivel in social media, and like society, the latter is often the majority. Things like FB connect me more to than just people--I get updates and easy involvement in causes I care about, groups that I interact with, etc. I have learned about movements that I never see in the news, made connections with mentors and people I mentor on issues/work/life.</p> <p>Yes, a great deal of the content is self-absorbed chit-chat, but honestly, is that really any different than your average cocktail party or trip to the pub after work? At least with FB, I don't have to get dressed up or get cornered by someone i don't even really like to hear about their latest medical procedure. And people who don't want to hear me blather on about chickens and organic gardening can tune me out, too (Like YOU :p ) As someone who doesn't thrive off of a lot of human interaction, I like being able to pick and choose, something the real world doesn't always afford one. Probably anti-social, but, well, you know...</p> <p>Thanks for your insight--good stuff, as always. See you Monday night! Hope you don't tell all of us FB is awful, or I will be out of a job!</p> Jon, it sounds like a good decision for you and I too need to often moderate my use of it, but I don’t agree wholeheartedly that it may be bad for society. Like society, there are higher purposes and drivel in social media, and like society, the latter is often the majority. Things like FB connect me more to than just people–I get updates and easy involvement in causes I care about, groups that I interact with, etc. I have learned about movements that I never see in the news, made connections with mentors and people I mentor on issues/work/life.

Yes, a great deal of the content is self-absorbed chit-chat, but honestly, is that really any different than your average cocktail party or trip to the pub after work? At least with FB, I don’t have to get dressed up or get cornered by someone i don’t even really like to hear about their latest medical procedure. And people who don’t want to hear me blather on about chickens and organic gardening can tune me out, too (Like YOU :p ) As someone who doesn’t thrive off of a lot of human interaction, I like being able to pick and choose, something the real world doesn’t always afford one. Probably anti-social, but, well, you know…

Thanks for your insight–good stuff, as always. See you Monday night! Hope you don’t tell all of us FB is awful, or I will be out of a job!

]]> By: Andreas Zeidler http://jstahl.org/archives/2010/01/12/unplugging-from-the-social-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-394899 Andreas Zeidler Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:59:49 +0000 http://jstahl.org/?p=2080#comment-394899 <p>congrats jon! i wish it'd be easier to go for a walk with you. or a pint, for that matter... :)</p> congrats jon! i wish it’d be easier to go for a walk with you. or a pint, for that matter… :)

]]> By: David Averill http://jstahl.org/archives/2010/01/12/unplugging-from-the-social-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-394897 David Averill Fri, 15 Jan 2010 01:56:06 +0000 http://jstahl.org/?p=2080#comment-394897 <p>To counter your move Jon, I will never talk to you using more than 140 characters.</p> To counter your move Jon, I will never talk to you using more than 140 characters.

]]> By: Alex Clark http://jstahl.org/archives/2010/01/12/unplugging-from-the-social-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-394892 Alex Clark Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:26:20 +0000 http://jstahl.org/?p=2080#comment-394892 <p>Good luck! Please let us all know how it goes. There is absolutely something to be said for unplugging, when it all gets to be too much. And I believe that you are right about humans not being particularly good at managing numerous "feeds", especially in the context of wanting to, you know, stay healthy and live a well balanced life ;-)</p> <p>Bottom line: it never hurts to do what you are doing, and it may just help a tremendous amount. If nothing else, you may come back to it one day with a much better sense of how to enjoy the positives, and not be overwhelmed by the negatives.</p> <p>For my part, I'm deleting my boxcar app right now. It's important to set boundaries ;-)</p> Good luck! Please let us all know how it goes. There is absolutely something to be said for unplugging, when it all gets to be too much. And I believe that you are right about humans not being particularly good at managing numerous “feeds”, especially in the context of wanting to, you know, stay healthy and live a well balanced life ;-)

Bottom line: it never hurts to do what you are doing, and it may just help a tremendous amount. If nothing else, you may come back to it one day with a much better sense of how to enjoy the positives, and not be overwhelmed by the negatives.

For my part, I’m deleting my boxcar app right now. It’s important to set boundaries ;-)

]]> By: Jon Stahl http://jstahl.org/archives/2010/01/12/unplugging-from-the-social-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-394889 Jon Stahl Thu, 14 Jan 2010 02:38:54 +0000 http://jstahl.org/?p=2080#comment-394889 <p>@DJ -- yeah, in retrospect, I definitely should have done this <em>before</em> sabbatical, not 3 months after. Guess that makes me "not really that smart, but does learn slowly boy." ;-)</p> <p>@Dean, @DJ, @Sonny, others who made this point, yep -- I do think there is some value in Facebook as an efficient tool for maintaining your "family ties"... and I'll probably continue to use it for that. So, I suppose I'm technically moderating, not abstaining.</p> <p>@Sonny -- you're hitting on the issues I've wrestled with as well, and one of the hardest parts of this is doing that "personal/professional" divide, especially when I have such strong personal relationships with so many of the folks I know professionally (like you!). As Denise says, so many of you are in fact "family" and I'll almost certainly keep those folks on Facebook, as long as your content is more personal than professional. ;-)</p> <p>@Sophia -- thanks.</p> @DJ — yeah, in retrospect, I definitely should have done this before sabbatical, not 3 months after. Guess that makes me “not really that smart, but does learn slowly boy.” ;-)

@Dean, @DJ, @Sonny, others who made this point, yep — I do think there is some value in Facebook as an efficient tool for maintaining your “family ties”… and I’ll probably continue to use it for that. So, I suppose I’m technically moderating, not abstaining.

@Sonny — you’re hitting on the issues I’ve wrestled with as well, and one of the hardest parts of this is doing that “personal/professional” divide, especially when I have such strong personal relationships with so many of the folks I know professionally (like you!). As Denise says, so many of you are in fact “family” and I’ll almost certainly keep those folks on Facebook, as long as your content is more personal than professional. ;-)

@Sophia — thanks.

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