The world really is changing, I think. Lots of people are talking about how kids these days spend more and more time in front of a screen and less time out in “the real world” doing “real life things”. For the most part, I get it. I’m no big fan of watching our world get fatter and fatter as we eschew exercise and fresh air for a computer or TV screen. (As I sit here on a sunny saturday, not outside…but that’s another issue, I swear).
I think there’s a flaw in some peoples’ thinking, though. Sometimes, I find that people devalue a friendship with an online friend – as if it’s less of a relationship than someone who calls you on the phone, or someone you see in person. Here’s the trouble, though: these days, (and especially with kids) seeing a friend online is one of the only ways I see some people! If we didn’t maintain our friendhip using the Internet, we’d lose any semblance of daily or weekly contact. If I were to follow the lead of people who don’t value online communication, like social networking or chatting, I’d be less involved in my friends’ lives, plain and simple. At least – I THINK — I’m not trading screen time for outdoors/face to face time .. I add it to my day. If anything, screen time contributes to a dustier, less organized house.
And who should we value more? The person on the other end of the phone? The person we’re talking to online? The person in the room with us? I’d rather think of it like this: whoever we choose to give our attention to – that’s who we value. It’s not the MEANS of giving attention that’s important here … it’s whether we are doing it at all. That’s where my two grandmothers really shine. When they email or intant message me, they put their full attention into it. The messages are always fully thought out and communicated, and they anitcipate my response. Just like in person or on the phone.
Sure, communicating online can result in multi-tasking. And when it happens, we’re not giving our attention to the person we’re apparently talking to. And on that note, I’m signing off. It’s time to give my full attention to Andre.