Friday, January 29, 2010

Friday Five: Social Media Edition

Kathrynzj from RevGalBlogPals writes:

I had the joy of spending time with Songbird last weekend, someone I would have never met had it not been for the blogosphere. Now we keep in touch using a large variety of methods: blog (hers a lot, mine not so much lately), FaceBook, twitter, text messaging, chat and email. So far there has been no Skype.

It got me to thinking of the pros and cons of these relatively new means of communication and interconnecting and so I ask you the following:



1) What have been the benefits for you of social networking (blog, twitter, facebook, etc...)

First of all, I discovered the RevGals when I was a newbie in seminary and wondering if I was the only (a) 3rd career pastor-in-training (b) woman in seminary (c) secret feminist (d) person trying to serve God and walking that line between "the 2 R's" (Rush Limbaugh and Roger Moore!)  To my delight, I discovered I had a plethora of cyber-friends and encouragers waiting to be found!

2) Which medium do you use the most? Or if you use them all, for what do you use each of them?I use them all!I have blogged since 2004 and have a family website (sadly unedited at the moment!) The blog and website are more oriented towards practical, thoughtful and usually whimsical writing. Facebook and Twitter and Skype are quick, easy ways to keep in touch with family and friends. Facebook has become a great way to connect in "the the real world" as I'm working on networking and preparing to find a job (August-September 2010, in case you are hiring!) Twitter is an easy way to update my Facebook and Blog "status bar" in one fell swoop, particularly via my cell phone.

3) If you could invent a networking site (with no limits on your imagination), what would it provide? What would it not provide?

Some kind of "speed dial" that would let me voice-activate update my status... ?

4) Who have you met that you would not have met if it were not for the 'miracle' of social networking?Back when I was trying to be more "whole foods" oriented, I met a bunch of women through a digest/email list. Some of them were pretty "out there" ("sugar causes cancer" etc) but we got to know a great family through that list. DebD and I are very different, but there is a kindred Spirit that makes us friends. We keep in touch via the web; her blog/Facebook is one of the ones I follow pretty faithfully.

5) Who do you secretly pray does not one day try to 'friend/follow' you?SNORT. Like I'm going to publicly write that here? Use your imagination.

BONUS: What was the most random/weird/unsettling/wonderful connection you made that would not have happened if it were not for the ease of which we can find each other in the computer realm?
The day that I found out I was going to be ordained, I managed to contact Mary Beth via phone, who was here in the DC area for a convention. My fellow ordinand and I had just decided that we were going to have a luau celebration theme, and she had just found a beautiful flower lei on the street! What a God connection! :)

12 comments:

altar ego said...

Love your bonus story! What a delightful way to kick a celebration up a notch!

kathrynzj said...

LOVE the God connection in your bonus answer. Great stuff here. Thank you for playing.

Di said...

I like the speed dial idea!

Jan said...

Love the cartoon! So glad Mary Beth could be there for you. I also appreciated your snort!

MumPastor said...

LOVE the cartoon and the story at the end...great play!

Sue said...

Love the cartoon! Great play!

zorra said...

Great cartoon!

Auntie Knickers said...

Great story and great cartoon!

Princess of Everything (and then some) said...

Love your bonus play!

Muthah+ said...

love the cartoon, Deb. I sometimes feel that ya'll are imaginary friends.

Mary Beth said...

That was THE AWESOMEST thing, Deb. You called and I walked outside of the hotel bar to get some quiet...onto the street...and saw this gorgeous plumeria lei hanging over a brass fire hydrant. As I put it on, you told me your news...I still have big shivers thinking of it!

Tricia said...

Whenever i see a Speed Bump cartoon, I have to brag that the cartoonist lives in my neighborhood, not far from our closest park. My middle son broke his arm almost right outside their house (crashed his scooter going down the hill to aforementioned park). Old school social media - the park bench! :^)