Per Wikipedia:
The Oxford English Dictionary defines grok as “to understand intuitively or by empathy; to establish rapport with” and “to empathize or communicate sympathetically (with); also, to experience enjoyment”.
I’m not a Facebook junkie. I tend to go in cycles where I binge out on it. I don’t get the stalker thing a lot of people do. I have personal photos on Facebook, but nothing lewd that I’d be afraid to put online. That being said, it’s a little odd when you have an acquaintance comment on a photo of your summer vacation a few years back. When such a moment happened to yours truly, I was a bit taken back. But then I calmed down and we had an interesting discussion about the matter. But in many instances, I can do the same thing. The point being, don’t put something online if you don’t want people looking at it.
Another interesting trend I’ve noticed is that on some of my friend’s walls, I’d say something lewd, but often humorous, and get reprimanded or even have my comment deleted. Why? Because some of my friends have co-workers, bosses, and even their grandparents on Facebook. While not entirely new, the real purpose of Facebook, at least as I saw it, was lost. It was a means to share additional information with friends. But it’s become more than that. Facebook, Twitter, even Google Plus – these platforms of information are becoming integrated in our lives, like it or not. Underlining it all however, is the choice for people to participate. You don’t have to upload photos. You don’t have to accept strangers, co-workers, or acquaintances as “friends.”
For me though, the aforementioned social platforms are a way to keep in touch with various acquaintances, meet new people, and network. I’ve always tried to hold my tongue and watch what I say online, and with the changing nature of these platforms and more transparency among users (i.e., a decreased sense of anonymity), what we’re seeing here is a huge change in how we speak to one another via digital means. You have to watch what you say and try to think before you speak (just like real life)! I’ve always enjoyed forums. As many of you know, I love Evil Avatar. They’re a place where the most hardcore of enthusiasts for all things geek go to duke it out in a war of words. I relish a well-thought conversation or rebuttal. And when you want to reply in kind, you have to think about what you say.
With all these platforms readily available and easily integrated in our lives, I think we’re seeing a loss of anonymity. And to be honest, I think that’s a good thing. So even though I go by a handle, you can easily find out my real name. But I’ve always been cognizant that what I say can be used against me, in both the real world and digital one.
One of the beautiful things about anonymity is that it can allow a person to express themselves in ways they never thought possible. And while I don’t think it will go away, I feel that people need to be held accountable for what they say.
The greatest gift we’ve been given is the ability to think and reason. With such an amazing trait ingrained into our species, we can not only learn from mistakes, but grow. So even though the freedom of expression is something to possibly be mourned, you can still do it. You just need to be introspective and objective enough to figure out why you feel a certain way.
Some things can’t be changed. And that’s okay. We are who we are, warts and all.
Technology is neither good nor evil. To be honest, seeing it become more deeply rooted in our lives is a bit scary. But technology can also be used for good as we have an ability to connect in ways that’s never been done in the history of the human race. We just have to remember that behind that name, behind those words or images, is a person. And they have dreams and feelings just as you do.
-ty
The post I Grok: The Ever-Changing Sea appeared first on sai tyrus.
