Social networking is no longer attending a dinner party. It’s gone viral, if not poisonous. Facebook is the big bruiser of social networking. But there are plenty of others. With great frequency I get some email invitation to a new one – usually sent to me by somebody I’d rather not be connected to. I just delete the emails – because I need to join another Facebook-wannabe like I need $4 a gallon gas.
Yogi Berra, a wordsmith beyond comparison, once voiced his opinion of Rugerio’s, a popular St. Louis restaurant where he had once worked as headwaiter. “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.”
That’s about how it goes with social networking. It’s very crowded, but it seems awfully lonely to me. For example, I know a person who is a member of every social networking and blogging type group on the planet. Xanga. Facebook. Tagged. MySpace. And so many more. Many of us wonder how this person has time to even create a profile on so many sites, much less to post. Regularly. Yes, more than once the phrase, “get a life” has been uttered when this person’s name comes up. I suspect a high level of loneliness.
Crowded lonliness isn’t restricted to the online variety though. The Internet does contribute to it though. I see people unable to peel themselves away from email or an Internet browser. The compelling attraction of the web seems to be much higher than real life human interaction for some people. Forums, email, social networking sites, blogs and all this connectivity has left many people lonely.
If these things really helped whatever it is humans crave and need – real connections – then it seems only a few would be necessary, or succeed. But like alcohol, drugs and pornography – more is better! The lust to have more seems strong. It never cures loneliness, but still people flock to imbibe. I see many of them who are lonely. I know those who sit back watching them connect to a monitor instead of them are lonely.
So here we are in a big crowded virtual room, lonelier than ever and connected more to strangers than those who love us.
