Comments on: More blah-blah: new comment management http://kelleyeskridge.com/more-blah-blah-new-comment-management/ Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:54:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kelley http://kelleyeskridge.com/more-blah-blah-new-comment-management/comment-page-1/#comment-5180 Kelley Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:54:58 +0000 http://kelleyeskridge.com/?p=360#comment-5180 It's true that there is less direct connection in the casual world than there once was. I've tried the eye contact thing before, and no bets (grin) -- I already know how it plays out. I remember living in Chicago in the 80's, walking in the Loop and having people smile and say hello as we passed each other. That doesn't happen so much anymore in the cities, although it's still the default behavior in my little neighborhood. Maybe that's what's happening. Maybe we are becoming physically more local, smaller-focused, and saving our expansiveness for the virtual world, where it is just as easy to connect (or brush past) someone on the other side of the planet as someone in your own city. Easier, really, since you can connect to the other side of the world without leaving your desk. Is it fear? Maybe. Certainly sometimes. But for me it can also be "people fatigue." I do so much interacting in this online way, and the thing it, it takes energy. I take it seriously, and it feels real to me, and sometimes I leave my computer feeling the need to recharge in the same way I would if I were leaving a dinner or a party. And so when I go to the park, I go to recharge, not to socialize. I don't mind sharing the park with other folks, and I don't mind smiling and meeting their gaze, but neither do I seek it out. There are so many of us in the world now. We're so crowded up against one another all the time. I think people fall upon internet technology with glee because it gives us all a little more space, a little more control over when and how we choose to interact. It’s true that there is less direct connection in the casual world than there once was. I’ve tried the eye contact thing before, and no bets (grin) — I already know how it plays out. I remember living in Chicago in the 80′s, walking in the Loop and having people smile and say hello as we passed each other. That doesn’t happen so much anymore in the cities, although it’s still the default behavior in my little neighborhood.

Maybe that’s what’s happening. Maybe we are becoming physically more local, smaller-focused, and saving our expansiveness for the virtual world, where it is just as easy to connect (or brush past) someone on the other side of the planet as someone in your own city. Easier, really, since you can connect to the other side of the world without leaving your desk.

Is it fear? Maybe. Certainly sometimes. But for me it can also be “people fatigue.” I do so much interacting in this online way, and the thing it, it takes energy. I take it seriously, and it feels real to me, and sometimes I leave my computer feeling the need to recharge in the same way I would if I were leaving a dinner or a party.

And so when I go to the park, I go to recharge, not to socialize. I don’t mind sharing the park with other folks, and I don’t mind smiling and meeting their gaze, but neither do I seek it out.

There are so many of us in the world now. We’re so crowded up against one another all the time. I think people fall upon internet technology with glee because it gives us all a little more space, a little more control over when and how we choose to interact.

]]> By: Jan August http://kelleyeskridge.com/more-blah-blah-new-comment-management/comment-page-1/#comment-5176 Jan August Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:50:14 +0000 http://kelleyeskridge.com/?p=360#comment-5176 I wonder at this technology sometimes. It is supposed to bring us together faster, easier, but I am not so certain we are connecting. There is so much we could learn but it seems as though we are brushing up against one another. Here's an experiment, Kelley. Next time you and Nicola go to the park, watch and see who is willing to make prolonged eye contact with you. I'll bet you a Guinness it will be children and old people. So what's going on with the rest of us? I don't think it's just naked people we are afraid of. I wonder at this technology sometimes. It is supposed to bring us together faster, easier, but I am not so certain we are connecting. There is so much we could learn but it seems as though we are brushing up against one another.

Here’s an experiment, Kelley. Next time you and Nicola go to the park, watch and see who is willing to make prolonged eye contact with you. I’ll bet you a Guinness it will be children and old people. So what’s going on with the rest of us? I don’t think it’s just naked people we are afraid of.

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