Facebook, Part 3 - Our Family

In previous posts, I discussed how I think facebook has influenced the church environment. I also commented on how I've chosen to reconnect with people from the past specifically through this medium. In this post, I want to discuss how this crazy social networking arena has affected our family (or really, how my family has chosen to use facebook)...and to wrap this into the two previous posts.

In the past few decades, we've seen technology and communication amp up. Think about it...we've used couriers, the postal system, the telegraph, the telephone, the fax machine, the cell phone, the internet, email, blogs(like this one!), message boards and now MySpace and facebook. We've gone from face-to-face communication to text-messaging and now constant updates/tweets with a maximum of 140 characters. Positive? Negative? Regardless, we are definitely progressing and quickly.

I understand that not everyone will use every aspect of technology. For example, if I want to reach my dad (age 79) I don't email him, because that is not the world that he lives in. He is still a telephone guy (and a land-line at that!) On the other hand, if I want to reach my niece (age 19) I don't email her either. Her world uses text-messaging and facebook. She's in a generation that thrives on the latest and greatest (and fastest!). What does that mean? Well, if I want to remain engaged in my dad's life or in the life of my niece, I need to be willing to enter and communicate in their world. Likewise, facebook is changing the way we interact with others, it is a "world" of sorts and one needs to enter that world to move around. For our family, that means that we are willing to engage people in this new environment (more on that below).

CAUTION!
Anytime you enter a new environment care should be taken. Whether it's a macro-environment, like visiting a new country or a micro-environment, like a dark hotel room that you are trying to navigate in the middle of the night. Either way, it would behoove you to learn your surroundings. Afterall, learning about the Maori hongi(left) prior to experiencing this wonderful greeting will help to make your New Zealand visit less startling. And, at a bare minimum, knowing how the furniture in a dark room is laid out will at least prevent a stubbed toe!

The same is true for the "world of facebook." One must practice caution prior to diving into the social network. It's good to understand or at least have answers for what you will post, why you will post, how often you will post, and what will you do to avoid or handle the inevitable conflict you will experience when exposed to alternate philosophies or ideologies.

For our family, only Kendra and I have joined. We've seen that facebook and/or Twitter can both create an addiction to self-promotion. In our family, we are training from the cradle to "put others first," and facebook is a hot-spot for pointing the world to your self. For our family, this just is not the best playground for our teenagers to roam. These tools can also be socially addictive and even I have found myself wasting more time than I want on a silly set of photos or comments. Again, I'm not sure I want to give my kids this social candy.

However, we have decided to use facebook with our family in other ways. As mentioned in earlier posts, we have found this to be a tremendous way to share who we are and what we believe. The great testimony of Mighty Joe, our love for God and His Word, the simple Gospel message...we've used facebook to proclaim the Glory of God multiple times. I've found that just posting photos of my family "doing what we do" is a testimony to God's grace. A video of our "home-schooled kids" has spoken volumes to old friends, classmates, and colleagues that may have negative opinions on home-education. I have found that just being honest about who we are is enough to start conversations, provide encouragement, or minister to those that are without hope. Again, these are just a few of the ways we've allowed our family to be involved.

I realize that facebook is not for everyone. That point has been made crystal clear by a few readers and lurkers of theMT. I really do understand the criticism people have for facebook and I'm not here to wave it in your face and say, "Hey be a joiner!" It's a virtual world. There is no face-to-face communication, but that doesn't mean that there can't be. Facebook may just open the door for old or new friends or people that you sit next to in church every week to actually get to know one another. I know that people waste a ton of time playing games, loading photos and friending whoever shows up in their inbox. These folks don't need facebook, but I'm pretty certain they will waste just as much time with or without a facebook membership.

So, take it or leave it, I don't really care, but the world of social networking is here (for now!). Something new will be coming and there will be more "uncharted" territory to navigate. For now, this is my experience with facebook.

Fletch is Quietly Making Noise

To read this entire series of posts:
Part One - Facebook, Part 1 - The Church
Part Two - Facebook, Part 2 - The Past
Part Three - Facebook Part 3 - Our Family
Part Four - Facebook Part 4 - The Phenomenon

Comments

[theMangoTimes » Facebook]

[...] Andy is quietly making noise, Fletch To read this entire series of posts: Part One - Facebook, Part 1 - The Church Part Two - Facebook, Part 2 - The Past Part Three - Facebook Part 3 - Our Family [...]

[theMangoTimes » Facebook]

[...] Andy is quietly making noise, Fletch To read this entire series of posts: Part One - Facebook, Part 1 - The Church Part Two - Facebook, Part 2 - The Past Part Three - Facebook Part 3 - Our Family [...]

[Cheryl (Copper's Wife)]

"Well, if I want to remain engaged in my dad’s life or in the life of my niece, I need to be willing to enter and communicate in their world."

This, my friend, says it well and says it all.

[rebecca m]

"We’ve seen that facebook and/or Twitter can both create an addiction to self-promotion."

Very good food for thought, Fletch, for us as adult Facebook users, as well as for parents considering the wisdom of Facebook use for the younger members of our families.