Here is my observation.
In too many cases it easier for “friends” to observe your life from afar via social networks than take the time to call or even email you. This is especially true if you actively talk about what’s going on in your life on these social networks. Of course, the reciprocal is true if these friends also post about current events in their lives.
However, if one party isn’t actively updating their social networks it becomes a one way street and while they know the status of you, their “friend”, unfortunately you may be left in the dark.
Text messaging and to an extent email has replaced phone calls and visits between friends. Now social networking is adding isolation to the mix. It’s just too easy to look on Facebook or Twitter to see what your friends have been up to. Why bother to call or stop by for a visit? Accomplishments, births, deaths, happiness, sadness, it’s all there, just a click away. Why waste time on a phone call?
I have one long time childhood friend with whom I have fairly regular phone conversations. If we are ever in the same area of the country a visit always takes place. These long conversations serve to refresh memories about things otherwise buried under the layers of here and now. It refreshes, reinforces and simply makes one feel good to talk to friends.
Oops, I think I’ve overrun my digital social quota for the morning. Catch me on Facebook, Twitter or some other seedy dark corner of the internet
Ciao.