Before
I became a netizen, I was a library-goer. My huge shoulder bag used
to contain a pencil case with different colored gel pens, a pocketbook to read
in the subway, and a cute phonebook that was made in Taiwan. I also kept a diary
with a planner at the back where the birthdays of my close friends and
relatives were marked. Playing games for me then involved huddling up with my
cousins in our living room to play Scrabble or Pictionary or a trip to the
nearest arcade. To call for pizza deliveries or plumbing services, we would use
the very handy Yellow Pages.
And
then internet happened. Everything can now be done in the world of triple w.
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| Image from dvdactive.com |
I
don’t know if you guys are familiar with the movie, Electric Dreams. I was one year old when it was released. I'm not really sure how I can connect it to this blog post but I think it's cute so I put it up anyway. The movie was
about a love triangle between an architect (Lenny Von Dohlen), a home computer and a pretty
cellist (Virgina Madsen). In contrast to the film’s poster, the home computer
was actually the one responsible for sort of bringing Dohlen and Madsen together.
In a recent article I read from RelevantMagazine, the writer
suggested ways on how we can use our Internet pursuits to add meaning and
richness to our offline life. And this inspired me to come up with my own. We don't have to be tuned in to various social networks just to gain 'likes' and look cool, and get addicted to the point that what we consider our important relationships start becoming shallow online connections.
Facebook
Aside from checking in at every posh place every time I have the very rare opportunity to, and aside from posting several variations of my angled head shots, I think I can do more with it by engaging my spheres of influence to be involved in something radical and purposeful. Some call this "very brave and selfless" act of sharing information with a mere click of the computer mouse as slacktivism which may seem a semi-passive and lazy way of being involved with advocacy issues, but didn't the Kony Rally start this way? The viral video that the NGO, Invisible Children spread made all of us become aware (and uncomfortable) to the extent that it urged us to do something about it. And what about how Daphne Oseña used Twitter and Facebook to obtain support from Canadian volunteers of Global Medic to supply and restore clean water for the province of Cagayan de Oro, Philippines after the devastation brought by typhoon Sendong?
Let's use this social network to create groups and communities of people and spur them into positive action. Let's leverage on it to encourage, uplift, inform and innovate. I know Facebook is meant for us to have fun, but 'meaningful' can also ride along with it, right?
Pinterest
I use Pinterest to compile images of places I'd like to visit someday and to share photos of other people's dream destinations, most of which I'd tag as eye candies cause these places are too sweet for me to afford. But perhaps, instead of just re-pinning the bytes, why don't we use Pinterest to connect to people who'd like to travel to the same places and organize an à la gapyear.com tour with travel buddies (potential friends) all over the world? Travel is more fun, not to mention cheaper and safer when done in groups, and like-minded 'pinners' can use this network to gain not only cheaper hotel rates but more culturally-enriching travel experience.
Instagram
Girls like me love taking photos - not just of our own pretty faces but also of every single meal we're about to partake in a day. Sushi and wasabi? Click! Cheese sandwich and orange juice? Click! Green leaves? Click! Why don't we use Instagram then to gather friends and colleagues in a food-tasting (with photography, of course) party? Host a costume party at your place and make a DIY photo booth. While you're at it, why not youtube some songs you've been wanting to learn with your guitar or piano and host a jamming session with friends?
Let us not only be digitally wired but let us also be plugged in to a community of sociable people thriving in healthy, solid and deep relationships.
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| Photo taken from aljazeera.com |
I use Pinterest to compile images of places I'd like to visit someday and to share photos of other people's dream destinations, most of which I'd tag as eye candies cause these places are too sweet for me to afford. But perhaps, instead of just re-pinning the bytes, why don't we use Pinterest to connect to people who'd like to travel to the same places and organize an à la gapyear.com tour with travel buddies (potential friends) all over the world? Travel is more fun, not to mention cheaper and safer when done in groups, and like-minded 'pinners' can use this network to gain not only cheaper hotel rates but more culturally-enriching travel experience.
Girls like me love taking photos - not just of our own pretty faces but also of every single meal we're about to partake in a day. Sushi and wasabi? Click! Cheese sandwich and orange juice? Click! Green leaves? Click! Why don't we use Instagram then to gather friends and colleagues in a food-tasting (with photography, of course) party? Host a costume party at your place and make a DIY photo booth. While you're at it, why not youtube some songs you've been wanting to learn with your guitar or piano and host a jamming session with friends?
Let us not only be digitally wired but let us also be plugged in to a community of sociable people thriving in healthy, solid and deep relationships.
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