Look At Me

2009 March 05

by Tyler

So often I feel like the social networking and web 2.0 world (Facebook, Twitter, blogging) is all about people shouting at other people to look at them.

You know you’ve thought the same thing at one point or another, come on.

People are always asking readers to subscribe to their blog, follow them on Twitter, and be friends with them on Facebook. And I’m right there too…I get sucked into the idea that if only a few more people read my blog or followed my Twitter, then…THEN I would have it made.

Going with yesterday’s theme of Matthew 6…I was recently reading verses 1-5 in that chapter. You can read them HERE.

I can’t help but wonder what Jesus would think about all this, and if verses 1-5 are any indication I think he would have some concerns. Part of me thinks he would be all for building relationships (and I do believe web friendships are real), but part of me thinks he would say we are all puffing ourselves up.

When Jesus performed a miracle he often told the person to go in secrecy…not to tell anyone.

Jesus told the disciples to go into their rooms and close the door when they prayed because God values what is unseen by the world.

I have a hard time balancing those principles taught by Jesus with how I blog and Twitter.

Do you?

Filed under: the rest... Tags: blogging

http://shapingthespace.net David

Definitely…but I’m not sure I find it any harder than I did in my pre-online life either. It’s just now a lot more public, which I think does two things…
1. helps me stay more accountable – the potential audience is larger
2. makes me go. “look at me”…and yeah, we’re back where we started again.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s still lots of me which doesn’t get involved in web 2.0 stuff…the secret parts. I just need to make sure what’s secret is secret for the right reasons, and what is public is public for the right reasons.
http://ash-nits.blogspot.com ash

soooo….look people start talking b/c they find something interesting…whether it’s their own life or things they stumble across. and as a result others follow that same pattern, so what happens? people connect.

i think the issue of struggle you’re referring to really doesn’t have to do w/ social networking. david is right, this is something i think we struggle w/ whether we’re part of the internet social life or not.

your blog caters to YOU but i still come read…and it’s interesting. i also think you diffuse alot of self glorification when you do things like “fortuitous bouncing”…b/c you’re leading your readers to other people’s blogs or other sites w/ interesting stuff on it.

actually you want to know who i blog for first? me. selfish? i don’t think so, for me it’s disciplining myself to keep up w/ something. do i want others to read and connect w/ me? sure. am i devastated if they don’t? nah. but i do take joy in whatever connection i find…b/c it’s about community and conversation…

my worship and meditation, you’re right, belong in secret. and how do you know i’m not doing so? or how i do i know you’re doing so…if it’s in that quiet place w/ God??
http://mikeymo1741.blogspot.com Mike Mahoney

Most of the people I interact with online aren’t tooting their own horns. Too much, anyway. And certainly not in the way these verses describe. I’ve yet to see a tweet: “I just fed a starving person!” or any stuff like that.

I’ve found there there is much in the way of mutual encouragement, sharing of resources. Yes, some of us, especially musicians, also have a “product” to sell. I’ll admit to using the web to promote our CD, but the web is a tool like any other. Mostly, though, there is a fellowship, and a surprising amount of transparency.

Dave left a good comment. I find for myself a surprising amount of accountability as well, because people in my church and family read my blog and follow me on Twitter/Facebook. So no lying or false exaggeration there! But there is an avenue for expression that I’ve not found anywhere else.
http://mwalcher.auzigog.com Michael W

Yeah I absolutely agree/notice it/contribute.

I remember (last year or something) updating my twitter saying that I was reading some deep dense theological matter, using a few big words that I really didn’t need to use. I made it sound as though I were in a deep study in the library with old dusty books nobody has touched for decades.

…i was reading an ‘out of ur’ blog or something like that, in my pajamas, with a warm cup of coffee next to me.

Coffee with cream…CREAM!
Yonas

Had I not come to your blog regularly, I wouldn’t have not read Ash-nits comments (Ash-nits…you’re da shiz-nits..holla!)…and we would’ve been just strangers rather than be facebook buddies.

I think all is not lost.
http://seekingafter.blogspot.com/ Bubba

I think you’ve hit on the way some folks use social media. The main thing that blogs, FB, twitter and the like bring is instant access to a much larger POTENTIAL audience.

The allure for many folks is the same that draws them into being the center of attention with a small group of friends. The cause of that is varied I’m sure (I am not a psychologist by any stretch of the imagination).

I’ve caught myself being tempted by the “Look at Me!” syndrome both in and out of social media. It’s a me problem and not a technology problem. And Jesus does have a problem with it…

Recognizing it, I have imposed some pretty strict disciplines on my use of facebook and twitter. I’ve all but stopped blogging in favor of private journaling. I’m trying to find that balance between real community online and “Look at Me”.

Like David said above: I need to make sure things are private (or public) for the right reasons. Online and off.

Thanks for the great conversations, Tyler.

Peace.
Yonas

I had a blog once, but it was really boring (how many of you wanted to know what kind of glasses I got last week, and when I turn my head to the left, I feel pain in my neck…ok I rest my case)….plus it’s definitely not elaborate and I couldn’t find the time to fancy it up like Tyler’s or many other blogs I’ve visited.

So now, I just go to people’s blogs and grace them with my presence.

I want to bring out also- if you notice, majority of people even the posters all want to be heard and post their .02 but only a handful really interacted and responded to each other…it’s almost like “I’ve crapped here, given my .02 and leave”

I personally like blogs, facebooks, etc…to be more of a ‘two-way’ street and communication sometimes.

Who wants my soap box now!?
http://manofdepravity.com Tyler

It amazes me how many people follow some “famous” pastors and those same pastors follow like 30 people on Twitter. I think that is exactly the point you were making there. They want to preach, not converse.
Yonas

and that is also why I have un-friended a couple people on facebook too…
http://alongthewayy.wordpress.com alongthewayy

Oh man. I totally post status messages so that people will come look at me. I think I just need to quit facebook.
http://www.jayfriesen.com JR

Hmm…I don’t think I give much thought to WHO follows me so much as who I want to keep in the loop with. Pretty selfish on my part actually
adam

I had a blog once too. When I started I thought that it was to contribute but it quickly became a daily distraction to see who and how many people were reading what I wrote.

I do not think is blogging is evil in and of itself. But I do think that there are some people who blog that really get wrapped up in the possible “celebrity” of it.

I want to tell them, “No. I don’t care you got an iPhone and you think its great.” or “Yes, Starbucks is delicious” or “I’m glad you support all of these causes in Africa and with poverty but actually you should probably look around in your neighborhood before you become this philanthopic globe trotter. After all, Jesus walked everywhere He went. That limits your radius a bit.”

I do like this blog. I like to think that you have the kind of audience that will tell you when you are a bit out of your head.

keep writing tyler.
http://ash-nits.blogspot.com ash

tis true my yon friend yonder…and our exchanges are always so deep and inspiring…that i credit tyler for this beautiful online buddy-ship… ha ha (yes yes, my jokes are lame)
http://manofdepravity.com Tyler

I appreciate the kind words Adam. Thanks man.