( continues...) not.

I’m not arguing that the prevalence of social media usage doesn’t spark some trivialities; we’ve all known the person who constantly posts on Facebook or Twitter about nothing more meaningful than what sandwich they ate for lunch or how very much they like their new boyfriend; you know, the third one they’ve had this month.

But most people I know intersperse these casual daily observations with meaningful conversations —observations on politics, social issues, personal issues, work, the arts — and I would argue that even seemingly trivial bits of information promote a greater sense of connectedness. That great sandwich your friend had? Maybe someone will respond to it and set up a lunch date at that restaurant with a friend. That Tweet about how someone hates Mondays? Could be that a friend will respond to it, and it will spark an email or phone call about a personal problem or a work issue that helps that Monday-hatin’ person to resolve a problem – or just feel better.

So people can argue as much as they like about how the evil Internet has contributed to the death of community and is a horrible invention which keeps people in their houses, away from real connections with real people. I know better. Sure, I sit in my house and have Internet conversations on boards and variety of social media platforms – but thanks to the Internet, I’ve met – face to face! – with people from all over the country and the world.

I’ve gone to Chicago and Los Angeles to hang out with people I’ve met online. I have standing invites to stay with people in San Francisco, Seattle, New York, New Orleans, Texas. If I got stranded in Australia, London, Ireland, Scotland, Thailand or Israel, I could get a place to stay within an hour. I’ve had dinner and drinks with people who were in my city on business or family vacations.
Heck, without my internet friends – and yes, they are real friends – I never would have had the guts, the know-how, the connections or the support to quit my full-time job and become a successful freelance writer and editor. They were my first clients. They even bought my husband and me a TV when I got married! And they do not detract from engagement with my long-term friends who live in my city and with whom I also have satisfying relationships – to the contrary, they add more value, meaning, knowledge and love to my life.

And isn’t that ultimately a good thing?

Thumbs up from over here.

Also, so very much that.

That's a wonderful piece, and so very true.

Do you want a line reading? I found a few things that bug.

Yeah, me too. It's my RD, so please, feel free!

And, thank you for the kind feedback, Debet and Bev.

Sounds good. I would make sure to check specifically with Shir about the phrasing of her sentence.

That's a good idea. Will do.

Lovely, Erin.

Back to your owltet addy, Erin. Fingers crossed it raises some awareness, wins you some new clients, *and* possibly earns a little money.

That was really awesome. The next time a shrink tries to tell me that I need more meat space friends, I'll hand him a copy of this.

I know that my social workers think I made y'all up.