Sunday, October 17, 2010

LjjSpeaks Blogpost: Is Technology Bridging Friendships or Creating Barriers?

Are we 'friendship lite'  or embracing new bridges to friendship?

I read the commentary (link below)  from Neal Gabler.  The statistics reported are valid. Yet all l I want to do after reading the statistics is prove them and Gabler's writing that follows invalid:   "...It is increasingly difficult to find deep social interaction any place but on TV."

In the Commentary "The social networks," Neal Gabler writes that social networking is 'friendship lite.'

Statistics reported: 

"One study found that Americans had one-third fewer nonfamily confidants than they had 20 years earlier, and 25% had no one in whom to confide whatsoever. Another study of 3,000 Americans found that on average they had only four close social contacts, but these included family members like one's own spouse."

While reading the commentary I wondered why:
A  spouse or family member doesn't count as close social contacts
A person we may confide in via new tools of technology isn't counted in social contacts

If we could count them in - would the statistics be different?   

As technology continues to create communication tools that some say cause barriers to each other, I'd like to think they build bridges with each other.  

I'd like to build stories that  validate the bridges in business,  life, communities. Do you have a story to tell?  Or do you think we have become a Nation of "friendship lite?"  

Please share your thoughts!

Posted via email from LJJ Speaks!

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