What on earth is becoming of us?

(Click on image to make it larger, and read it!)

As much as I try to embrace our social networking world I still really struggle with it. Yes, it's amazingly cool to re-connect with old friends through Facebook--and turn acquaintances into friendships. Yes, there are some sightings that are confusing or unnerving (Who-are-you-why-do-you-want-to-be-my-friend-no-I-do-not-remember-you-please-go-away). But Twitter, I just don't get. I can't get past the Who-gives-a-shit/Get-a-life bias. But I'm sure it's all in the writing and if it was great I'd read it. Maybe.

But what happens to humans when they get exponential levels of communication, e.g.: Well, I could wait to see [Insert Name Here] and bave a discussion in-person but also if I drop something in Twitter about how I'm ripping out all the "G's" in my address book and then send a short email that says maybe I'll sell my belongings and move to Peru, then leave a phone message by "replying" to an old voice mail rather than putting in a fresh call--because God forbid I actually have to talk to a live person who could have a say in the conversation--and then I can post that photo on Facebook and change my status to, "[Insert Name Here] is really mad at someone right now"... that should say everything that needs to be said... right?

If I sound resentful it's more that I'm overwhelmed and a bit worried we're going to lose the art of conversation and relating in person. Have you noticed how some people who are introverts are social-network extroverts?

So here I am on my blog having it out with Facebook status reports and loving the Future Man spoof above. Sometimes I see a plane in the sky and wonder what someone like Leonardo DaVinci or George Washington would think if they were on the ground looking up at a metal carcas flying through the air. That, combined with a tour of Facebook and Twitter and they'd combust before returning to their Time Machine.

Thanks to Bill R for the Future Man cartoon.