Comments on: I’m not in Kansas anymore

By: Estrella Azul

Estrella Azul — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:27:53 +0000

So true!

The difference between people on the web and in real life is huge and it’s interesting for me.
There are good and bad sides too, like with anything.

As an example I’ll say: writing.
It still amazes me how my real life friends react to my writing as opposed to my online friends. And I never ever thought how much more supportive online friends would be/are and how disinterested to say the least real life friends are.
Like you said in another post, I also know when not to say anything to compromise friendships… but sometimes this difference is more noticeable than at other times making me feel a bit frustrated not being able to share this experience with some of the real life friends too…

By: judy

judy — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:54:24 +0000

Belle, maybe we should say “physical world” or “offline” or “in person.” I hate the “real life” designation too.

Caroline, as long as I’m in the friend category, you can ramble all you want! ;-)

John, “Get the brooms” made me laugh.

Dani, so many people have read my post as suggesting the possibility that online relationships are less “real.” I didn’t mean that at all. I’m only saying that the online world works at a different speed and under different rules than the physical, offline world. And your point is valid too. Balance is hard to achieve.

By: dh127

dh127 — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:44:53 +0000

A very thought-provoking post, J. I am learning that tweets don’t always read the way I mean and that I don’t always read what’s meant. I do feel the affection I’m lucky enough to receive from my Twitter friends is “real” ~ inconsistencies would show up over time. The kindness I’ve received has truly been life-changing. If I could only clone myself or slow down time or find some cool way to have more time for the real world AND the Twitterverse. *sigh*

By: John Pruitt

John Pruitt — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:58:49 +0000

A declaration of iPhone shenannigans has been made and duely approved. Get the brooms!

By: Caroline

Caroline — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:21:40 +0000

Late to the party (as usual) ;o). I just wrote the longest rambling comment, but decided to delete because it’s just me rambling early in the am. What I should say is this. Great post, agree with you, and most of the comments ahead of me. Twitter friends, I forget are not ppl I’ve met in real life, but are real (to me) anyway. I have many connections on Twitter, but I think it’s pretty clear to see who I count as friends (most post here btw) and who are acquaintances, but that’s fine too, it keeps the virtual world interesting. Ok here I go again rambling about nothing. but great post, words to think about for sure, hey that sort of ties in to your next post (guess it pays to be super late to comment huh?) ;o) p.s. LOL (I will use it until someone comes up with an alternative, don’t care how “uncool” it makes me)

By: Belle

Belle — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:56:54 +0000

I enjoy Twitter a lot, but I tend to think of it like a virtual cocktail party that’s always going on. It’s fun to dip in and out and I like that I can be away for a while and when I come back, it’s like I was never gone! I only use Facebook for my “real life” (ha! now there’s a term!) friends.

By: judy

judy — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:39:54 +0000

I love that sentence. I wish I wrote it. I want to be of the “lasting and meaningful” type. #thatisalltoo :-)

By: hippiechick68

hippiechick68 — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:04:21 +0000

J, just to clarify, I didn’t mean to imply that you implied that these connections aren’t real. <—how is that for a confusing sentence. :)

Those were the ruminations of my own mind.

As in life, some connections are fleeting and superficial, in the moment or just for fun. Others, though, are real and meaningful and lasting.

#thatisall <—- obligatory hashtag for my twitter friends :)

By: judy

judy — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:24:01 +0000

HippieChick, I think they’re real – our online friends. I didn’t mean to imply they weren’t. I just meant that it works differently online, and, at least for me, that’s caused some confusion. I’m learning. And sometimes, it’s good to step back into the physical world and be comforted by the slower pace, familiar faces, smiles, touches. Gravity. ;-) There’s room for both worlds, I know!

George, You are one of my online friends I never want to do without. (Glad we’re not friends on FB since I would now be wondering if you liked me.) ;-)

Becky, You’re so sweet. Thank you. And, yeah, communication is hard in person too, it’s just that tone matters and you get that in person a little easier. Thank you for referencing my blog post in your blog post. I loved yours. And I think you are already a superhero.

Karen, Actually, I feel almost the opposite on Twitter. I like it much more and feel I get much more from it, now that I engage in conversations, rather than just tweeting my posts and cool links I find. When I’m down, nothing lifts me as reliably as my Twitter friends. But it’s all about balance. AND…

Boundaries. Yes. I have a little trouble with those. (Everyone I’ve talked to lately seems to. I think we all need to take a class from you!)

Thank you for the “darlin” and the hugs! :-)

By: karen from mentor

karen from mentor — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:37:55 +0000

I love how you open the door and let us look inside.

I enjoy the quick flirt on twitter, and I’ve found it useful for announcing work stuff but I don’t get the “chatting” all day long thing….

And as far as “knowing” people…

I’m pretty sure that a lot of the virtual people I know wouldn’t mesh as well with me in person and vice versa…but the aspects that we care to share virtually work really well together….

I just had both an online and an in person experience that reminded just HOW different people can be when you know them in their work garb…. and suddenly see them in their personal garb…and it’s not always pretty… the experiences did reinforce the idea that I know how to set boundaries for myself now. I make sure that I only let people who are positive and life affirming surround me. I don’t let people into my life who would use or disrespect me. So even though the interactions were less than good, knowing how to experience the after effects and manage both of these individual’s effects on my life and career afterwards really made me happy. [especially the letting go of it and moving on]

I absolutely agree with Joanne that the multi tasking lives most people lead today are changing the way that their brain is wired. But the great thing is with practice and meditation you can rewire it back to a calm centered place.

Love hearing your insights.Keep telling us about your journeys. Keep setting those boundaries and doing what’s best for you darlin.
hugs!

PS I totally knew that you’d swing the door wide for Tricia if she showed up on your doorstep. That’s just so you.