Are we but lab rats? Wandering and wondering, who are our Facebook friends, really.
Today as I scrolled through my brain for blog post ideas I simultaneously scrolled around on Facebook. What came to me when snooping through friends’ lists of friends was this: does the social networking phenomenon blow apart the myth of writer as introvert, recluse or anti-social? Or even better, does social networking grow personalities where personalities lay dormant?
I’m sure that the online networking craze is building new curricula at community colleges as fast as I can type this. The field of psychology is probably right now planning certifications for the study of its effect on human behavior.
We are all but lab rats.
But what about the author? Not the marketing savvy, seminar-going, field-guide-toting, part time author- part time motivational speaker brand (that I know and love). I’m talking about the old fashioned, lock-yourself-in-the-woodshed-until-it’s done creators of novels, mysteries, histories and even academic books. Although there’s exceptions to everything, these people categorically isolate themselves from fellow humans through most of their writing processes. Meals slid under their doors. Beards down to there and/or some other bodily hair neglect. Or, so the story goes.
Maybe shy as children, bookish, you know what I’m talking about.
I’m only setting up this stereotypical personality as I’m truly curious about how virtually bonding with a ton of strangers and a few real friends feels to a person like this. Is it liberating? Is it awkwardly gratifying? Gratifyingly awkward? Like online dating (how would I know?) do they present a persona that would never occur across a table in person?
After all, these are masters of the imagination that we’re talking about here.
The topic might seem silly but I’d love to know if the online friendships have blossomed at all to real life ones and if any of this nonsense has stimulated new facets of personality for the once isolated author. Maybe the opposite is true and they experience shell shock or some other emotional damage. Let’s hope not.
From someone who’s taken the leap from online chatting to in-person contact, I want to advise you innocent authors out there are rules to abide by. Protect yourself. Always meet in daylight. Make sure someone close to you knows what you’re up to. And, don’t give out a traceable phone number upon your first meeting for starters.
I think I know the real answer to the questions I have about writers and their online socializing.
It’s really not them at all.
It’s the assistant they hired from the local college writing program.
Perhaps that’s one of the assignments of the new college and night school classes on social networking.
Note to self: gotta get one of these for myself. Call FAU next week.
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It’s not silly, it’s fascinating! I think social media makes it easier for shy writers to be brave. We’re in our element in the text based worlds of Facebook, Twitter and our blogs. On the other hand, I can’t wait until I can afford to hire that magical assistant of which you speak.
Found your blog because one of your earlier posts got tweeted today. It’s great!