We Humans Are Back
- photo credit – Flickr: pargon
Move over Hal. Move over R2D2.
When computers first went mainstream there were many who feared that it spelled the end of all humanness. We would lose all identity and all become nothing more than a “number” living in a cold, impersonal, and robotic world. With the introduction of email and the Internet there was concern that all human interaction and personal communication would cease. No more face-to-face meetings. No more phone conversations – only faceless, emotionless email messages.
I still have friends and family who fear computers, the Internet and now social networking. They question the value of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter etc. They see no point or at least little value in knowing what others are up too. “Who cares if you just got up and are having your first cup of coffee?”
I see it differently. The social web has put us humans back in the equation. A few weeks ago a colleague of mine posted a video tribute to his dad on Facebook. The video was very intimate and personal. It traced the life of his dad who had passed away earlier this year. Several months ago a business associate posted a video of him riding on a unicycle. It was creative and funny. I like following friends on Twitter and Facebook and learning what interests them and know what they are doing “real time”. The social web is just that – social. For me, in addition to all the powerful business application of the social web, it is the human component – the personal connection that I value. It just feels good.
