Forums are a double-edged sword. They give us the instant fix of feeling like we're having a social interaction, but at the same time, in order to have that interaction, we have to be away from people and focused on our computers.
I have personally been making an effort to get out and more and meet new people. I recognize the value of having real friends, real human interaction.
All the conversations we have here... it is really neat because we're all jacked-in to all the knowledge of the world and can link to it, and we can have shouting matches with people on the other side of the planet.
Yet before the web... where would people like us (steve pavlina members) be? We'd have to go to coffee shops or cafes or something like that, which is where we used to seek out these discussions pre-internet. We'd be making eye contact. We'd be forging relationships that could potentially last for a lifetime.
I'm of the last generation who didn't have this. When I was an over-analytical teenager and obsessed with philosophy, I got on my bicycle and rode to coffee shops, every night, and met people that way. That's where all the interesting smart people were. Now we're online, in our homes or offices having these discussions instead.
Blessing and a curse. I use these forums way too much. But at least I am making a conscious effort to go out more. I guess it just depends on how you use it.
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