I have been asked by a number of people to start blogging again. Most of these requests have come because I have recently
actively participated on Facebook. I am still trying to figure out what Facebook is all about. At first glance Facebook appears to be an egocentric site
focused upon who can acquire the most friends. I have also found that people I have not seen or spoken to and even have forgotten about for a number of years
have come out of the woodwork with requests to be 'friends' via this Facebook site. Now becoming reacquainted with old friends isn't necessarily a
bad thing and sometimes it is quiet nice. However, I know maybe nothing about 90% of these people other then what they post. There is something that just
doesn't 'feel' right about this. Maybe it is just me, and you can call me old fashion, but I prefer the intimacy of getting to know people in
detail; to build a true relationship as opposed to just peripheral acquaintances. That said the site appears to lack any real depth and in many ways is nothing
more than a cyberspace playground or house party gathering lacking the food and drink.
I know some people use the site to post family pictures and keep in touch with relatives through out the world. Which is fine, I guess, to a point, but in these times in which we live I have to wonder about privacy and the potential danger of putting one's life on the web for everyone to see. Outside of the obvious predator concerns I am also somewhat concerned with government tracking for control purposes. Okay, this may not be a concern of yours at this moment, but I can't help but feel that a day is coming where people will wish they never posted some of the things on the net that they did.
I believe that someday in the not too distant future many of the activities and beliefs that many of us enjoy and practice will become illegal. Although being promoted by the powers that be as necessary measures needed to help establish world peace and harmony these same measures will create a riff between many people throughout the world. Possibly through authoritative incentives and rewards supposed friends and even family members will turnover or report other friends and family members to authorities for continuing to partake in activities and beliefs that will now be considered illegal. The scary thing is people will do this 'rendering to authorities' thinking they are actually doing something beneficial for those they turn in.
This is not science fiction or fantasy; such occurrences already take place throughout other parts of the world and it will only be a matter of time before it comes to the U. S. An example that comes to mind is that of religious freedom or not even 'freedom' but the 'ability to believe' in a god/God that others might not believe in. Recently in Egypt, a woman decided she wanted to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Well, needless to say that because Egypt is a Muslim country such belief is considered wrong and the woman was placed by authorities on a "watch list." When this woman and her family were attempting to leave the country for vacation the authorities there arrested the woman and took her children. The authorities over a number of days deprived (starved) the children of food attempting to get the woman to renounce her belief in Jesus Christ and return to her Muslim beliefs. Does that sound right to you? Authorities telling you what to believe. Twisted? Well, get ready because it is coming this way.
In many ways I would love to remove myself from the grid, but that is almost impossible. Everything in our society is geared around our government tracking our movement, employment, finances, communications and who knows what else. You might be able to succeed to a certain degree as an individual, but as a family unit forget it. The freedom and privacy you think you enjoy is controlled, directed and monitored by the rules of the authorities and is therefore limited. Let me ask you, what will happen when the authorities change the rules? What will you do if you don't agree with the rule changes? Yeah it is twisted, turned upside down and inside out.
Getting back to Facebook, although I enjoy the contact with people I haven't seen for many years and the small glimpse into closer friends lives, if I were to delete my account probably less than 3% (if that) of those on my "friends" list would even attempt to find me and make contact with me though other means. And the others, when the authorities make those currently 'imagined' rule changes? … well I hope the rewards they receive are worth it and what they expected. The deception and delusion will lead many to eternal separation.
I know some people use the site to post family pictures and keep in touch with relatives through out the world. Which is fine, I guess, to a point, but in these times in which we live I have to wonder about privacy and the potential danger of putting one's life on the web for everyone to see. Outside of the obvious predator concerns I am also somewhat concerned with government tracking for control purposes. Okay, this may not be a concern of yours at this moment, but I can't help but feel that a day is coming where people will wish they never posted some of the things on the net that they did.
I believe that someday in the not too distant future many of the activities and beliefs that many of us enjoy and practice will become illegal. Although being promoted by the powers that be as necessary measures needed to help establish world peace and harmony these same measures will create a riff between many people throughout the world. Possibly through authoritative incentives and rewards supposed friends and even family members will turnover or report other friends and family members to authorities for continuing to partake in activities and beliefs that will now be considered illegal. The scary thing is people will do this 'rendering to authorities' thinking they are actually doing something beneficial for those they turn in.
This is not science fiction or fantasy; such occurrences already take place throughout other parts of the world and it will only be a matter of time before it comes to the U. S. An example that comes to mind is that of religious freedom or not even 'freedom' but the 'ability to believe' in a god/God that others might not believe in. Recently in Egypt, a woman decided she wanted to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Well, needless to say that because Egypt is a Muslim country such belief is considered wrong and the woman was placed by authorities on a "watch list." When this woman and her family were attempting to leave the country for vacation the authorities there arrested the woman and took her children. The authorities over a number of days deprived (starved) the children of food attempting to get the woman to renounce her belief in Jesus Christ and return to her Muslim beliefs. Does that sound right to you? Authorities telling you what to believe. Twisted? Well, get ready because it is coming this way.
In many ways I would love to remove myself from the grid, but that is almost impossible. Everything in our society is geared around our government tracking our movement, employment, finances, communications and who knows what else. You might be able to succeed to a certain degree as an individual, but as a family unit forget it. The freedom and privacy you think you enjoy is controlled, directed and monitored by the rules of the authorities and is therefore limited. Let me ask you, what will happen when the authorities change the rules? What will you do if you don't agree with the rule changes? Yeah it is twisted, turned upside down and inside out.
Getting back to Facebook, although I enjoy the contact with people I haven't seen for many years and the small glimpse into closer friends lives, if I were to delete my account probably less than 3% (if that) of those on my "friends" list would even attempt to find me and make contact with me though other means. And the others, when the authorities make those currently 'imagined' rule changes? … well I hope the rewards they receive are worth it and what they expected. The deception and delusion will lead many to eternal separation.
