Online Networking

I believe there are some serious issues to consider before throwing myself headlong into all the different networking opportunities available to date. i.e. myspace, facebook, podcasts, blogs, etc.

Privacy is probably the most immanent concern and the inherent danger of making personal information public. New tools used for networking online (e.g. Facebook) can make personal information public. And it can happen with and without my control when I use online networking tools.

Addiction is another concern. Many people that I've come into contact have actually said they are "addicted" and can't wait to receive their new podcast downloads. Likewise, with the Blogs service that sends me emails to tell me when I receive a post and Facebooks that send messages to a cell phone creating an anticipation that has been expressed as addiction! They are teasers prompting me to stop what I'm doing and "connect" to their service while also connecting me to my personal contact.
I have worked diligently in my lifetime to overcome my addictions. I'm not looking to cultivate any new ones!

Quality of Time is another significant issue for me. While connecting to others is of great importance, and while email has certainly helped me to accomplish that goal, ties to my computer and the internet have also hindered my socialization.
More than seeking connection to family and friends I am seeking time spent with an inner connection to my Spirit.

It's wonderful that we are looking and listening to young people who teach about these many tools of e-communication. It is important to remember that teaching and learning is a dynamic exchange. It's best when we are able to likewise, teach young people how to respect our current and future selves by maintaining our privacy, our dignity and our safety.

Letting go of addictions has taught me to cultivate moderation and balance in my life. I can help young people learn by setting limits and boundaries to online and e-communication while working to maintain a healthy dose of physical socialization and development of effective interpersonal skills.

In conclusion, I believe that too much of any one thing (old or new) may not be good. Caution and balance need to be cultivated.