The Joy of Social Media.

Social medias. I remember when I had my first encounter with social media, we just didn't know that was what it was. I came across an online chat, by chance, and got in touch with a shy and modest journalist in the USA, with a remarkable sense of telling a story, and a generous attitude towards my petty English.

One of the many exciting and thrilling things about social media is how we connect, how consistently we are in touch with friends, friends' friends, relatives we never met in real life, family and others we may have some sort of relationship with, or have mutual interests with.
We have such a strong bond to these online friends, that we tend to ignore those we talk to face to face once the phone beeps. If polite they say "Right, just a sec, I just have to check my phone". Most often they just don't bother to say, they just disconnect from the conversation to stay instantly updated with their online happenings.

It is common knowledge how protective we get about our social media life, and I know of many employers who would really like to make meetings mobile free zone. They just haven't built up enough courage to announce the demand... as of yet.

Once upon a time people were able to go to bed without their phones and tablets. Those days are long gone. And we complain about not getting enough sleep, while paying attention to the different sounds each notification will make as soon as another sleepless virtual, online friend posts another posting about the agony it causes that he or she just can't sleep.

Communicating with friends and family used to be a time consuming chore.
It is possible to do without social media at hand, but if there is a distance, you can hook up without getting expencive phone bills. Because it's free! At least to create a profile.

And the best part: you can respond or react to whatever approach they make, when it feels convenient.
I mean... come on, family and true friends will always be there, right? There is no reason to put them on the priority list as "Get-Back-To-ASAP!" You get back to them as soon as you have "liked" your neighbor's sister's new purse, which she posted a picture of 3 minutes ago, on snapchat, facebook, instagram, flickr and twitter.

·You can be updated on news in general from papers and other newsagents, but there's no need to cut down a tree to let me read the headlines in 9 different newspapers. There is no need to remember when radio or TV broadcast their news either. I get to see whatever news I like at any time; The latest news from Syriah, or the reality show currently the talk of the town.

You can easily send documents, pictures and video clips to friends…. Classmates even. Always online, and ready to open whatever shortcut to wisdom of life you sent their way. A quote, a picture or a spark to the inherent curiosity we have in people. When we are lucky, we receive a legal reason to spy and gossip. Some times scandals are revealed, other times we get to see happiness and beauty displayed, like only social media can.

Or, you can do what I do: reach out to people writing about your life, your opinions and how you see the world.
The only thing is: These days, writing from your heart, the original text, with your thoughts put into words is probably the most personal thing you can do.
No nude picture leaves you standing there exposed to the same degree as your version of the truth does.

· .

Listen to him telling

At work we some times get the pleasure of listening to lectures, held by very competent people. They tell, update and demonstrate the art of telling a story.

We do have expectations to most things, and people, we relate to. The things we see, hear, feel and experience. Teachers can be a demanding audience, not many get away with their performance getting a heartfelt applauce.

Some time back we were given a lecture by a famous writer, artist, humorist, stand up comedian. He is also an actor and cabaret performer.

He was talking about classic literature and sense of humor.
Views were presented which introduced us to new and different perspectives on pulp literature, politicians, humorists, authors, culture and other so called high end cultural performances and publications.

It's funny how we really thought we had curriculum under control, and it turns out there is an important side to it all, the aspect which we discovered ourselves, but which we need to introduce to our students because that aspect is what makes culture entertaining. Some where along the way we forgot how outrageous, scandalous and still valid good literature is. And since we, who are experienced, skilled and fast readers take all of this for granted, we totally forgot it's not self evident to young teens.

Imagine to be so well-informed and reflected that you still remember what it was like to still be in the process of discovering the world and everything in it. How great it must be to be both conscious and confident about what you are saying, and then present it so effortlessly.

The way he read, in his tone, accent and stress was such an inspiration. And while he read, lectured, talked and made comments upon seriousness in a flourishing language, without belittleing it by using four-letter words, he awoke an understanding and associations I had long forgotten about.

At one point during his captivating loquaciousness it hit me how hard it must be to be a true humorist. I don't think humorists really want to be humorists. I think they would really like to be artists or authors.
True humorists master the art of Shakespearean insults: Insults disguised as poetic wordings, but with a solid core of harsh truth; When you can say anything without attacking people at a personal level, and yet there is a reprimand picked up by who ever the shoe fits.

It's the art the skalds and court jesters mastered. We tend to think about them as foolish and ridiculous, but the truth is they guided their chief or king in ways, and in matters, noone else dared.

I believe anything can be said, to just about anybody, as long as you say it the right way.
I am not good at talking. It doesn't come naturally to me to captivate an audience by the sole force of my storytelling skills.
However; being aware of this I can prepare to give good lectures and hold good meetings.

Funny how I am said to be an excellent people person in spite of this, but I think that is because I know the art of listening.




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Older Ladies by Donnalou Stevens

Have to love this one: