They're Not Your Friends or Family!
Digital relationships are not real, and rarely turn into anything real either.
Something that really gets me riled up is the new “digital families” that are everywhere now. The younger generation really thinks these “families” and “friends” are real! It amazes me. Oh yes, the people themselves may be real and a person may develop a real friendship with some of these people you meet online but, in most cases, these people are *not* your real friends and family!
One of my guilty pleasures is a game I play online. You can opt to join a “family” and I join and leave these “families” from time to time. If you are in one of these “families” you can win digital prizes for accomplishing goals. The other day I almost vomited when I saw the first post from a complete stranger in this “family”: “Good Morning my wonderful and caring family!” What? Just because people are nice to you in the digital space does *not* make them a true friend or a family member. We know *nothing* about these people. Just because we see their picture, doesn’t mean we know them. We have no idea what kind of life they lead. Anyone can be *anyone* online.
This does not mean we can’t create real friendships by meeting someone online. I have had pen pals in my life that became decent friendships. I have even met a couple of people in the digital gaming space that *became* my friend after many years of playing, but they are still just more of an good acquaintance, not a true friend.
Why are we are calling complete strangers who can be *anyone* in the digital space our “friend” or “brother” or “sister?” This is a real problem. It’s a sickness actually.
Try this: The next time you need to move or borrow money, reach out to your digital “family” and see how many people actually commit to traveling to your location to help you load the U-haul. See how many of them pony up to wire you a few hundred or a few thousand dollars. You may (in *vary* rare cases) have a taker, but most of the time you will get an emoji of some kind or a “thumbs up” in fake “support” of your plight. Or how about if you are in an accident and break both of your legs and need help? Reach out and see which one of these digital “friends” or “family” members will commit to traveling to your location to help take care of you while you recover.
I could go on and on about his insanity.
Real friends and real family members are there for you. Real friends will help you move. Real friends and family will, in most cases, lend you a bit of money, visit you in the hospital, call you and actually talk with you on the phone, bring you food if you are hungry, wipe your tears when you are crying and rejoice with you when you are celebrating.
We cannot live in a world where all of our so-called “relationships” are in the digital space.
Put down the flipping fondle slab (cell phone), get off of the zoom app and go out and actually meet and talk to people. You may be pleasantly surprised to find *real* friends and family if you do. The ones that actually *will* support you in the real world when your world gets turned upside down.
Well, YEAH. Anyone over the age of maybe 40, *please, God?* knows what you're talking about. This new "family" bullshit is aimed at the YOUTH.
They are coming for the KIDS.
They are pitiless, vile, horrible.
The kids NEED US.
I think we grandparent types need to get together and form groups that will find ways to engage and nurture the young people... Before they are lost to us forever.
The pace of life on Earth has made teaching wisdom difficult if not impossible. The first time I flew on an airplane was to go to basic training (22 yrs old). My kids flew to places for pleasure and my grandkids give flight no more consideration than driving across town. Times and experiences have changed, and the kids adapt as they need to in order to fit into society and not necessarily family. People moved away from family and roots for work opportunities in mass from the 70's forward. New England saw an exodus that tore apart families. I know, I was there, and I was one of them.
For a time when diversity is supposed to be all the rage I see people, including kids, seeking out those of the exact same thinking (at least at the time of the thought) as they have and base their "friendship" on this like mindedness. Fleeting of course but then there are millions of others who will befriend you on your next thought. This leads to broad, shallow friendships that may or may not be helpful beyond the moment.
Patience, kindness and love will, eventually, win out...I hope.