Vibrant Nation

Social networking as spiritual school As I approach my one-year anniversary as an active participant and moderator of two groups on a large Boomer site, I feel compelled to share a small window on my experience – as we all grapple with this enormously powerful phenomenon – social networking.

I started two groups: one of an inspirational nature, and a second for the exchange of ideas about news and current events. The former was begun because I use the internet as a daily source for inspiration; the latter was precipitated by the first news of Michael Vick’s arrest for animal cruelty. My outrage was so deep, I actually turned to the internet to seek a like-minded forum for exchange and constructive action. What I found, at first, was mutual comfort, and support for the point-of-view that Vick be held accountable for his egregious behavior. Both groups grew quickly and easily, and I found myself ‘drinking from a fire hose’ as I learned the ropes of manager. It became a daily task of a few hours - sifting through posts, welcoming new members, adjudicating when necessary, and generally hosting the ‘party’ I had created.

At first, it was like giving a dinner party – planning the invite, choosing the menu, setting the table – then opening the doors – not sure who might show up. I used this metaphor when trying to explain to friends why I would bother spending time and energy on a social networking site. It was an experiment in mass community.The internet has become our ‘modern pulpit.’ In fact, daily participation in my two online groups began to feel somewhat like going to church; a group of disparate but like-minded people – sharing a focus and motivated enough to participate. The dinner party had morphed into something more serious as the two communities grew.The inspirational group became a heavenly feast. Each day, poems, quotations, and personal experiences poured in over the virtual transom. The sum total was awe-inspiring, moving, and restorative…the sharing of virtual manna.

But in the second group, as the issues of Michael Vick’s NFL status, gambling, and million-dollar endorsements surfaced, the consensus quickly dissipated – replaced by provocative and dissenting new voices. At first, the disagreement and baiting were welcome. It was never boring, and a potent reminder of the broad range of human wills and values. If you’re going to hang out a shingle, better be ready to ply your trade. And then – it all began to unravel. The topics changed to gun-control, Iraq, Healthcare, the Constitution, and ultimately – Freedom of Speech. The posts became increasingly polarized, the disagreements personal, and the ‘church/party’ began to divide according to political labels: Right versus Left, Liberal versus Conservative, neo-con versus Leftist. It was a power struggle for attention and the voices grew more aggressive.

The Internet is an unprecedented, unmediated extension of the human experience…and we are just beginning to comprehend the power of being a full-on participant. It’s like being back on the playground, our first attempts at socialization – but with enormously powerful communication tools. There is no turning back what the internet hath wrought. The attacks in the group became personal, and members I respected left. And then, those most vocal few, accused the rest of us – singling me out as manager, of being opposed to Free Speech. Labels of czarina, Stalinist, and even Nazi – were bandied about without restraint. But beyond labels - the tone of the discussion had become mean-spirited and disrespectful.

What happened in my small corner of the web was surprising, and caught me off balance. Our little group’s democracy verged on anarchy. Against my deepest desires, I had to begin deleting posts and blocking members from the group, as any good from the discourse was outweighed by personal attack. I also discovered that this kind of dysfunctional dialogue was happening in various other places on the site – in fact, anywhere serious ideas were being exchanged. I’ve thought of closing this group down. Ironically-–once the tension and disagreement goes, the dialogue becomes tepid. There must be a way to have lively, provocative, diverse dialogue in online communities without degenerating into personal attack – but it’s an unprecedented model we all need to keep molding.

A recent blog post used the term, ‘the socialization of presence.’ Deepak Chopra speaks of the ‘emerging planetary mind.’ Mary Baker Eddy, always prescient, best encapsulated ‘internet hosting rules’ long before the web even existed in her essay, ‘Taking Offense.’ (1883-1896)'We should remember that the world is wide; that there are a thousand million different human wills, opinions, ambitions, tastes, and loves; that each person has a different history, constitution, culture, character, from all the rest; that human life is the work, the play, the ceaseless action and reaction upon each other of these different atoms. Then, we should go forth into life with the smallest expectations, but with the largest patience; with a keen relish for and appreciation of everything beautiful, great, and good, but with a temper so genial that the friction of the world shall not wear upon our sensibilities.’ (Prose Works, Miscellaneous Writings, p.223.) I feel like I have just graduated kindergarten in the spiritual school of social networking. Hopefully, I am ready for 1st grade, and new hosting opportunities – but with greater poise.

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