The Greatest Story Ever Told
No: 260
In a time past
We looked before we crossed.
We checked our change.
We spent only part of what money we had.
The rest we saved.
In a time past
We read books from cover to cover.
And articles from headline to closing paragraph.
Because most writers were credible.
In a time past
Friends had a vested interest.
They were few but sincere.
Who they were said much about you.
At a drop of a hat they’d come to your rescue.
In a time past
People we knew could get us on the phone.
If they needed a job, they didn’t reach out to our connections.
They called us direct.
Because anything else would be considered rude.
In a time past
When we did something, we just did it.
We didn’t write about it or call friends.
By keeping our thoughts to ourselves we preserved a part of us that made us seem … dignified.
Today
Pedestrians have rights of way
We use credit cards
And spend OPM.
Today
We scan.
And cite opinion as fact.
And get those facts from the greater depths of fiction.
Today
We have a friend named Natasha who attends college in Minsk.
She found us on a social network and thinks we’re hot.
Blake’s a friend too.
He’s friends with 286 of our other friends.
Including Natasha.
She thinks he’s hot too.
Today
We are all connected by six degrees of separation.
But we can only reach them through some third party’s website.
Or pay to get access to these otherwise strangers.
Who will hardly ever hear, feel or care about the drop our of hat.
Today
People do things then run to the computer to publish it for all to read.
Or they write fiction so the world believes they’re doing something they really aren’t.
But what they’re doing (whether they’re really doing it or not) has no impact on our lives.
Going forward
I’m not living in the past. Or knocking the present. But looking forward in the future, I hope we don’t let technology or the euphoria we place on Web 2.0 replace the preciousness of real life or our accountability within it.
Personally, I’ve scaled back on some things. I only LinkIn with people I really know. And accept Facebook friends after we’ve exchange meaningful dialog. I don’t publish what I’m doing right now. Frankly, it’s none of it’s anyone’s business. I will, however, write meaningful missives based on what I’m doing if there is consequential benefit to those who care.
Also:
I started counting change again.
And only spending my money.
And after 8:00pm, I shut down my computer and business phone.
And become available only to my wife, children, business partner and closest friends.
I know:
There’s a place for Web 2.0.
And there’s a way to use it to your advantage.
But, personally, I also believe in Life 1.0.
I think that’s one heck of a killer app.
— Davison