January 25, 2009
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The Pope and Real Social Interaction
The Pope said in a message, “”If the desire for virtual connectedness becomes obsessive, it may in fact function to isolate individuals from real social interaction.” Here is the link: Link
I want to take note that he used the term “real social interaction.”
Do you think that myspace, facebook and xanga are “real” social interaction?
Comments (71)
Sometimes.
Kind of funny coming from a guy whose social interaction consists of waving to crowds from a balcony.
This is my social scene, and I’m happy with that. I don’t really care about the pope’s opinions.
@LadyLibellule - Touche.
@LadyLibellule - Right… and he doesn’t speak to anyone else at all. He does his Masses in solitude – heck, he doesn’t even have a close group of colleagues with which he discusses various issues… [/sarcasm]
I think Xanga has more potential for real social interaction than the others mentioned, but only because so many of us are willing to meet up with each other.
edit: well, I guess its not the only reason but its a big one.
Its REAL, just not personal.
i think so. the pope should have an audience with all the married couples who met and fell in love partly through the internet.
Teh interwebs can be a supplement for face-to-face social interaction, but not a replacement.
There’s some truth behind what he says, I think.
But I think there is some “reality” in the way we stay connected.
we interact on those and i dont see anything wrong with it. but i dont think they should completely replace face to face interactions.
I don’t think it is “real social interaction.” The internet is one of my main means of social interaction with all of my friends and family at home. Although it is nice to talk to them or even see them on webcam, it is nowhere near as wonderful as seeing them in real life. There’s something to say about being in the same room as someone you enjoy being with, ya know (whether it be a friend, family member, or love interest)?
No I don’t think any of these sites are real social interaction. If you go into a cafe and see someone on myspace not talking to the people around him or her, that person is choosing an artificial enviroment to be in.
I don’t think there’s anything entirely wrong with that choice. But it is not real like it is when you talk to another person.
I’m surprised I agree with the Pope. Even if I abuse my time on computers lol.
sure, as much as thinking about sex is the same as having sex
Of course not. You can have just as much social interaction over the internet as you can hvae in person!
No.
@JTHJTHJTH - To the pope, they are the same. Adultry-in-his-heart sort of thing.
No but it’s still fun.
I think they’re great ways to communicate and keep in touch, but no, not very “real”.
I think Xanga is real social interaction, and it’s great.
But I also believe that people need to socialize in person as well.Chalk it up to poor wording.
@The44thHour - Precisely. Several good friends have started out on Xanga and migrated over into real life. However, when we finally met up it was like we’d known each other for years, just with the added physical element of being there. This is definitely one way in which Xanga differs from other sites. Sure, there are teen girls and emo boys writing about how much their lives suck. But there are also the adults on here looking to connect on a deeper emotional level with similiar-minded people around the world. Xanga seems to attract those types.
Like any activity, it can become mildly pathological.
No, its not real.
So the pope doesn’t have a MySpace, I take it?
It’s not as real as real social interaction.
@ClockworkBunny - myspace.com/iamthepope
WOAH
That is actually a link. I just sent it for a joke, then I clicked… 0_o
No, I don’t think that social sites are “real” interaction unless it involves webcams, and for the post part they don’t. Unless you are face to face with people, you aren’t really interacting. You are in some ways, but not in others. Most people act differently online then they do in person.
I’ve never met a bigger bunch of phonies than “friends” on a social site … other than a congressman or two.
It helped when I moved away from home for college. No way does it make up for actual interactions. I prefer to have a life outside of the internet.
I think he was talking about face to face interaction.
So i don’t think xanga, myspace, or facebook qualify.
No they are not. Maybe they can help you stay connected to RWF’s but if you use it instead of real contact. It is a problem. It’s not real by itself
Well we do interact with real people by way of those websites…
No, but I love them anyway!
@storiesandsinker - Hahaha, we should see if the pope has a xanga… XD
Yes, they are real to me.
No, it’s make believe.
not really,
I think it depends on the person. Some people do live out a fantasy online that has nothing to do with their “real life,” while others only use it to keep in touch with people they know in real life.
I don’t think socializing sites on the web are as real as actually interacting with people… I mean, let’s face it, if we could all be hanging out and talking face-to-face in restaurant or bar right now, I think most people would rather do that. But you can definitely form real-life social connections through the internet.
Only to a certain extent. Even through web cam and video we can not fully experience communication in as pure a way as face to face.
no
@LadyLibellule - lol. very true
Its as close to real as I want to get with people…
Nope. It’s not face to face, so no. But is it fun? Yes!
that pope watta guy & a reel social animal himself eh personally i think the pope izza butt
Facebook, yes.
The others, no.
Sure, ones just a subcategory.
he has a point- online interactions are not punctuated by the same memory imprints of real experiences.
but then i’ve had some pretty surreal social interactions that the pope might not approve of as well..
no, but the pope does have a very good point. because i talk to my friends online, i never leave my room. i don’t go anywhere with my friends from school. i don’t even really talk to them anymore.
Alienation is for the rich.
Nope, not really.
No. If this is your only medium than it isn’t social. It’s sorta sad. <33
Well, depends. If you’re chatting on AIM and stuff, yeah. Pretty much if it’s live I’d say it’s interaction.
But myspace/facebook etc not so much.
@A_Hero_Falls - i agree!
They certainly aren’t a substitute for face-to-face interaction, but when full sentences and meaningful conversation are involved, online interaction can count as somewhat real social interaction to me. Especially if you know the people in “real” life.
Not really
I think it depends on how you use it and what you talk to other people about.
And if the Facebook chat feature counts – that can definitely be social interaction. But “kipnapping” someone via an application is not real social interaction.
I .. thought… they were?
nope
thats weirdd
You might be interested in, “Why We Hate Us,” by Dick Meyer.
-David
They’re real…just different forms of social interaction. I think if “virtual” interaction is all you do you have problems! But there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it.
It’s real. The internet has allowed me to stay connected to friends and family that I live far away from in a way that snail mail or expensive phone calls wouldn’t.
Not really, but it can help build up real social relationships.
No way. Haha.
it’s very real… reconnecting with so many friends from childhood on Facebook has been awesome. We have even met up and had mini “reunions.” It’s been very good for my social interaction, because without it, I would only have interaction with those in church on Sunday mornings. Sad isn’t it? LOL
No.
I can see what he is saying to be true. But, I would like to think it’s some kind of social interaction. Maybe, not as social when talking face to face in person but, I count on it to connect to my friends when our lives are too busy to meet.
It’s not real because you don’t get to enjoy the other person in the interaction as much (body language, touch, smell, etc.). It doesn’t appeal to all of the senses.
To a point. You just have to know where that point is. Myspace Xanga and Facebook aren’t the only examples. This happens in business communication too…conference calls and the like.
Nope.
No, I don’t. It’s better than nothing, but it’s a really awful substitute. Sociologists consider internet activity an altered state of consciousness; it’s definitely not the real thing.
NO
I think you get generally the same highs and lows that you’d get with real social interaction, just more mildly.