Every year in New York, we pop out from our apartments like ground squirrels at the first sign that temperatures might be warming up. A few false starts leave overeager revelers shivering on the streets, but this seldom serves as much of a deterrent. You see, we just can’t wait to get out and start enjoying lazy afternoons in the park and brunches at sidewalk cafés with our friends.
Lately, I’ve started to feel that some of us are so busy exploring what we can do with social networking online that we forget to really enjoy social networking offline. Some of my favorite places to share thoughts and experiences are outdoor beer gardens and café bars with communal tables. They provide a setting that makes it easy to connect with other people in a casual, non-imposing way. And the unspoken rules of being polite, respectful, and silent (should the other party appear disinterested) are typically understood and honored. I have met some really interesting people and had some great personal and professional conversations this way. And the interactions have come with the added bonus of allowing me to observe and interpret not only words, but also facial expressions and hand gestures.
I enjoy my social interactions online as much as the next person, but I do consider them to be just one part of my social life. Social networking is a way for me to connect with people I might otherwise not have encountered due to geographical distance, conflicting offline schedules, or absence of mutual acquaintances. It is nothing more. But it is certainly nothing less.
And what is social networking to you? How does it fit into your life?
Photo credit: Marlie Kanoi
