Recently I took part in a roundtable discussion at the Alban Institute about secular and spiritual narrative. We were talking about technology as a means of telling one’s story and the conversation drifted to Facebook. A boomer-aged male said, “At least with blogs you do have some narrative element, but Facebook is for people who just can’t be bothered to go into that much depth about their lives.”
I instantly blurted out, “Wow, that’s really pejorative!” and then stammered out something incoherent. Because apparently I’m enough of an introvert that I need time to think through my comments, but enough of an extrovert that my mouth engages before my mind can say Stop.
What I intended to say is that some people point to Facebook as a sign of some catastrophic cultural decline, but I don’t think FB users have any illusions about it being some deep interaction. It’s a great strawman, allowing people to tut-tut the shallow kids and their quote-unquote relationships with their quote-unquote friends, when I really don’t think anyone’s claiming it as anything particularly deep. (Are they?)
At the same time, you better believe that a person’s Facebook profile offers a narrative about his or her life.
And finally, what a strange thing for a pastor to say. Let’s not accept uncritically the ways that people try to make sense of the world, but let’s not be insulting either. Do we love the people God loves or not?
Too often I am the only person under the age of 50 at these things, so I end up having to defend stuff that I normally would take a more nuanced position on. I use Facebook, like many of you do, and it is a handy tool, but there are undeniable limitations to social networking. But unless I say something, and say it more emphatically than I might normally be inclined, the strawman stands.
It happens around blogging too. I feel really betwixt and between in terms of “publishing” on a blog vs. publishing in a book or magazine, but I’m one of the few bloggers I know in my social circle. If I don’t speak up for it, nobody will.
Is there a lot of crap out there in the blogosphere? Would lots of bloggers benefit from a good editor? Is there a lot of chaff on this here blog? Yes, yes and *cough* yes. But there is also a lot of great writing on blogs. Good bloggers find an audience. There is this great democratizing thing about blogging. I don’t need an agent or a publisher. I just hang out my shingle and if people come, they come. And they tell their friends, or forward links to their students or parishioners, and boom, I have an audience. You’re not likely to find War and Peace; on the other hand, I don’t know any blogger who claimed to be Tolstoy. And if writers don’t make much money, why not put stuff out there and see who bothers to show up and read it?
On a personal note, there’s also something theological about all this. I really do understand people who want to protect their words, and I know firsthand that once your stuff’s out on the net, it’s out there—stuff you spent a lot of time crafting, stuff that should be your intellectual property. And if you are making money off it, even if it’s not enough to live on, that’s a big deal. But lots of us blog for our own amusement and for the building up of the church. I have to let it out of my control for the Spirit to have her way with it.
4 Responses to “a tech apologist?”
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I think too that this boomer-aged male might be unclear on the purpose of facebook. It’s not the same as blogging, putting yourself out there and seeing what happens. I tend to think of facebook as being for short quick interaction with people I don’t see every day–some of whom I haven’t seen in years, actually. It provides a place for the quick “how are you?” and for information sharing (”don’t forget about the youth group trip to six flags on tuesday!”). It also provides a place for non-real-time conversation and play. I’ve had plenty of “real” conversations on facebook, but they look different than on a blog or in person. Social networking isn’t the same as sharing your life story, it’s about being connected in an age of disconnection. (which sounds weird since we’re more “connected” than ever, but I suspect you know what I mean.)
That was all rambly too, sorry. I’m off to get my still-hurty wisdom teeth holes checked out. Maybe they’ll give me new drugs that will make me both pain-free and coherent!
I’m so glad you were there. And I doubt you were incoherent.
I don’t think you were incoherent at all…even thoguh I was not there!
Facebook does provide teh tiem for play stuff, cute games, and trivia, but also mini-conversations (not to different from e-mail for me, really).
I did a facebook page after realizing it would be a great wway to connect with youth (and others).
I even had some churches request access (in call process)! I did worry about this because I figured that was their first idea of who I am. Would it be a turnoff?
I read Harry Potter, i am liberal politically, I am single adult nearing 40. Concerns were for the 1st impression I gave them, but then it is who I am.
I like Harry Potter, but respect thsoe who do not. I am liberal, but called to minister to everyone nad respect the differences there. I am single and nearing 40, but does not mean that I can’t relate to youth, married and divorced adults of all ages, and senior adult members.
If the differences matter to a church then I may not need to go there.
Facebook in general can be deep, it can be shallow, can be good, and can be really bad…watch news stuff. But, thsi is true of any communciation device (or tool) out there. Even the good ole telephone and the ever trusty pen and paper.
There is totally a sermon out there with Facebook in general. I was intrigued with the idea of “friends” or the upgraded top friends or invites, etc.
Lots of stuff there.
Agree with the first comment - many many many people who don’t use facebook do not understand the “point” of it (at least for those of us who are on there) People try to read too much into it - but to me its kind of like a combo of a dorm room door and I guess a blog or some other place for more information… Parts of it are very shallow (pieces of flair anyone? this is what reminds me of college and decorating our doors and walls with pics and quotes) and parts of it are rather deep (a lot of my friends post some very deep theological discussions on their facebook pages actually). Our lives are not lived on all one level, and neither are our facebook interactions…