Less is better or tool fatigue

I'm noticing something. Having gone through the whirl thrills of tools and learning it now feels like a time for consolidation.

Cut down on "friends", cut down on online spaces, cut down on people who write too much and look for more granular, deeper experiences that carry more meaning.

I don't really know what I mean by that!

But I do know that I'm not the only one. I have met a number of people recently who are in a phase change and looking to other parts of their life  ...a better integration of online and face-to-face activities and experiences, a smoother transition of history and future, and perhaps a better understanding of the ecology of it all.

Maybe it's just my age.

Or is it just a realisation that if you are not blogging, twittering or hanging out in Facebook that you don't actually miss much? Like an adolescent who catches on that there's something beyond the right parties and being seen in the right places.

At the same time there is still the tug of people who are still waiting to experience online stuff and get into social networking for the first time.

I'm ever more convinced that in my designing of bridges between different social practices, relationship and "languages" (online and face-to-face)  a focus on tools is a futile path for most contexts.

Still working it out.

Comments

[lucy]

less is definitely better, if you ask me. one or two places on the web, and a real life to live.
but then I would say that wouldn't I?

[Joao Dias]

When I was a kid, I got a small flower in a small vase and assumed the commitment to take care of it...
so.. has flowers need of lots of air, sun and watter, each time I passed by the flower I would arranje the vase so it would get better sun, and would pour some water...

I really don't know if she died because the roots got rotten from too much water, or too much sun...

too much is worst than too much... but even worst is trying too hard and not have a sense of when we are overdoing whatever we are doing...

[Robin Yap]

I was inspired to write a blog post from your comment Bev. http://tinyurl.com/2ebsln

How are you? Happy New Year! I actually took a week for the holidays without a computer and I survived and enjoyed the time away. My online friends greeted me back with welcoming arms when I twittered back.

[Beverly Trayner]

Yes LP ... I'm learning from you!

[Beverly Trayner]

the overcared-for flower is a great image, João. And yes, I have to develop a better sense of being able to step outside myself and make an assessment of where the too much is going.

[Beverly Trayner]

I loved your post Robin. And Happy New Year to you too! A great start if you managed it without the computer. And hooray for twitter friends, regardless of whether less is better.