Sending Signals – ‘Appear’ to ‘Become’

The majority of our understanding of those around us does not come from what people say, but rather from the signals they give off. Its not what they say, but the way its said, it’s the actions, the body language. For online networks this isn’t any less true.

You are judged by who and what you are associated with.

You can have the most uplifting post on your Facebook, Myspace, or Bebo page, but if the majority of your links, videos and music are dark or violent people will eventually, or sometimes immediately associate you with those attributes.

Then again, many people have learned to play this wave with much skill and thought. If an individual is considered popular based on the number of friends one has, then increasing your friends seems the thing to do if popularity is your goal. If a person is seen to have friends with important or well known persons, then that person must also be of ‘value’ in such a category.

Individuals have learned to ‘appear’ to ‘become’.

However, has the internet and social networking really created this? Definitely not. People have always tried to associate themselves with certain individuals, crowds, fashions, etc in order to be perceived in a certain way and reap the benefits, be they financial, emotional, or egocentric. However by having profiles online for others to view at any time, it has made this aspect of humanity even more clear, because we can map it, see it, and analyze it in ways not done before.

Perhaps the way people interact today is different than it has been in the past…but the reasons why people interact has changed very little.

Love, happiness, power, fame. You name it, the reasons behind action seldom change.