Social Networks — Alienation or Reconnection?

About Social Networks.

Pablo was leaving a presentation much polemic with respect to the Internet, regarding the behavior of each of us, in the face of social networks. On the one hand, the speaker commented the much lauded network ability to reconnect people, together with approaching actions between company and client, between government and citizen and so on. Pablo was wondering. He, like all his colleagues are hyper-connected. He gets informed, interacts with friends and family, plans events, and gives his views largely through the network. He did not think he met less people and had become an estranged human being as the presenter quoted, showing the human situation of the Wall-E movie, slaves of an alienating world in the future.

But how to diagnose the world at that time, its disparities, populations in war, starvation, and other people with a better situation — at least by the standards he learned to appreciate. Yes, we are heterogeneous people living on the planet.

Pablo thought in talking to his friend, she always had an innovative and critical view of everything, and nonetheless always being very friendly. Pablo was finishing the IT College, while Ludmila was graduating in psychology.

“Pablo, we are all different in nature. This estranged way of living that Wall-E movie depicts, it will not happen. For me, our nature can be constructive or destructive, but we yearn for new activities, non-repetitive, as long as we reached an understanding and evolution at this planet. All of us.”

“Hmm, Ludmila, I don’t know. I see that our views are somewhat convergent according to the social group we belong to. We are patrolled by moving away from a point of view of a group, and like a magnet, a gravitational force, we are pulled into a center. Over time, maybe this center is anesthetizing our creativity.”

It was a beautiful sunset seen from the belvedere in Tecnopolis, and they were waiting the best time to take a break at the chat and admire the scene. Ludmila continued.

“Look, I’ll tell you about a guy I do not know if you heard, is called Erich Fromm. He spoke of a social unconscious, and this has to do with what you have said now. I will read a text from him to you.”

Ludmila opened a tablet and very fast reached a page and read to Pablo:

We absorb our society with the milk of our mother. We forget that society is only one way to deal with the issues of life. We often think that our way of doing things is the only way, the natural way. We learned so well that all of this is located at the called social unconscious. So often we believe that we are acting according to our own will, but we are just following orders that we are so accustomed to and no longer notice.

Pablo liked … “That’s it, this guy would have liked to see Wall-E.”

“But consider this. There are many mansions in this house… there are persons now who engage in social networking to a movement linked to destruction, to violence. There are others who use the network to hide themselves, creating an avatar to pretend to themselves and to others, to present not what they are and thus be disconnected with any approach in real life. There are others who really look to be connected, being closer to others and need to be accepted. There are ones who pass positive messages, others act as a philanthropist, helping those in need, close to where they live or even far.”

“Pablo, the Internet did not create any defect or virtue, but withdrew many obstacles that once stood and as children, we have been living in a contained behavior, falsely. Now our vision had expanded a bit, I see it this way, and the choices are wider and freer. I disagree, therefore, with your pessimistic view.”

“Do you think then, that today we are less alienated than before?”

“Yes, I think, generally yes.”

“What about this author that you spoke. Do you think the future social networks will be like the social unconscious?”

“I believe that in part will do this role. The internet definitely relates to the culture of each place, each people. But you see, Pablo, we are now admiring one going down of the sun, a simple phenomenon of nature that happens all the time everywhere. As much as this phenomenon is described scientifically in the same way, we will react, realize this as a totally personal way, according to what we are feeling, with the day we spent, with who we are, where we want to go, and what we are. We have a tendency to differentiate ourselves in spite of all the culture that surrounds us.”

At this time, Ludmila took a picture of the setting sun, which was approaching, giving a special effect and posted on the Network. Pablo read what she wrote: “How beautiful! What did you think of that?”

Pablo said something that still bothered him: “But imagine as you said, that someone will engage in an attitude of destruction of another group and thinks this is normal, that it is his own will, when in truth is that the social unconscious is controlling and bringing judgment to this center of gravity. Worse, via Internet, with this expanded role of unconscious social networks, let’s call it that. It may end up being harmful.”

“Or be Chubby as in the movie Wall-E, or will be conducted for harmful purposes as you spoke. — Ludmila smiled. — I’ll keep believing in the discernment of individuals in general. Here at this planet, we have all opinions, but I believe this center of gravity to which you refer, is influenced by another higher power. Then we come to the most philosophical, dogmatic or even religious discussions. But this turns to something very personal. Cool. But perhaps this is why I am optimistic. As I talked about the image of the setting sun, I have received the Network some answers all very nice maybe because I gave a positive tone to the interaction. It cannot always be so, but if dominate a positive view of the world, I think there is nothing to fear. I’m just sure there’s a center of gravity with greater power toward the good to others within each of us.”

Pablo decided to also comment on her post: “Ludmila became a poetess today, but really, this sunset is very beautiful!”