Social avoidance: Using Foursquare as your fortress of solitude.
People love social media for its shrinking abilities. It helps them feel in the know. And to be part of that know.
Foursquare is obviously a great example of this—it tells you where someone is at a given moment. Great! If you’re feeling social.
But people rarely talk about using tools like Foursquare to avoid social situations.
How to avoid people socially
Truth be told, I’ve done this. (Have you?) Maybe it has something to do with living in a city like Milwaukee. It’s not small, but small enough that you’re apt to run into someone you know anytime you leave the house.
Foursquare just exacerbates this.
Say you want to drink a cup coffee quietly, while reading a book. On your way to the coffee shop, someone you know has checks in there.
Crap.
But at the same time, not so crap.
Knowing they’re there helps you plan somewhere else to go in advance, so you don’t have to be swayed away from the alone time you’ve committed yourself to.
The good with the good
Technology hasn’t destroyed the social fabric. There are many ways that it’s closed massive gaps for people who share common interests. Awesome.
Only total weirdos want to always be an active part of what’s going on. Normal people need to turn inward often and reflect. Quiet our minds. Set shit straight. Be alone!
Social media can aid this.
Same media, different contexts
We need to apply different contexts to how we use social media.
- If you’re feeling like being part of things, use it to help you become part.
- If you’re just not up to facing people, use so you don’t have to become part.
Pretty magical, eh?
