Comments on: How Social Media May Be Stealing Your Best Work

By: Dan Cumberland

Dan Cumberland — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 22:11:12 +0000

In reply to Anna Hamberg. Thanks Anna!

By: Anna Hamberg

Anna Hamberg — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 20:50:03 +0000

How very true-sometimes it seems like some things didn’t really happen if not paraded on FB. I also recognize how I can turn to social media when sad/ feeling unaccomplished but not to look what others are up to, but rather that they would see me, regardless of how uterly invisible I am behind my screen not coming up with anything witty to post.

I guess what we do want is to have someone be a witness to our lives.

I’ve come to be rather suspicious of people who claim everything is so great all the time. Now, I’m a true optimist and heartily applaud my friends when they tell me of their joys and achievements- yet if I never hear the sad stories or about struggles I begin to feel detached from the person in question. Nor can I be a witness if I only see the polished slightly angled result. The faster the pace in life, the less we think we have time to simply sit down hear each other out.

Interesting article on how distracted we are and how social media really doesn’t help (however, who is to blame is not something I like to make a judgement on personally):
http://www.salon.com/2014/01/04/how_baby_boomers_screwed_their_kids_—_and_created_millennial_impatience/

By: Dan Cumberland

Dan Cumberland — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 18:51:06 +0000

In reply to Lindsey. I think you're on to something here, Lindsey. I'm also very interested in what we give up by distracting ourselves from boredom and bad feelings with technology. And I love that you've deleted social media apps from your phone! Way to make space for yourself. Thanks so much for sharing!

By: Lindsey

Lindsey — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 22:56:49 +0000

I completely resonate with this. I had instagram, twitter, and facebook on my phone for a good while and anytime I was bored, lonely, or sad, I’d turn to my phone for a ‘relief’ that always made me feel more frantic and scattered than when I had started. So many ideas for places to go, things to do, what to make! I’ve heard it said that instragram in particular is a way to document what people are grateful for, and while I think that’s a beautiful sentiment, my relationship to those platforms isn’t beautiful right now. Maybe someday, but I’ve experienced the beginnings of freedom deleting those accounts and forcing myself to stay with my feelings when I feel them.

By: Dan Cumberland

Dan Cumberland — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 20:39:52 +0000

In reply to Tracy. Thanks Tracy! I'm with you as we try to compliment, support, and learn from others successes. Thanks for reading!

By: Tracy

Tracy — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 20:34:36 +0000

This message had perfect timing! I just ran across a new blogger who almost identically used what I thought was going to be my new concept. At first, I was upset but I know it’s just opening an opportunity for me to do something better than my original plan. It’s hard not to be jealous but I really try to praise others in similar work and learn from their successes! Thank you for writing!