Licking the Razor's Edge (2015)

*Do you ever spend more time interacting with people on social sites than interacting
with people in person?
*Do you ever feel compelled to immediately “correct” the “false statements” that you
read online?
Rest assured that the irony of me first posting this particular essay on Facebook is not lost
on me … I actually did so Purpose-fully, to remind us all to remember that our addictions
are tied not to what actions we choose, but rather why we choose to do them. Logging on
to share a kind word with a Facebook Friend who is “down & out” is one thing, doing so
to assuage your own fear of being alone is another … Posting an uplifting quote to
provide others with a few encouraging words is one thing, doing so to gain the hollow
approval of those others is another … Sending a beautiful image to brighten someone’s
day is one thing, doing so to receive a few compliments is another.
If you engage social media for selfless reasons, then email & Facebook & Twitter (or any
other social media outlet) can actually deepen the quality of your living (not as much as
actively interacting with those in your immediate community, but still).
On the other hand, if you are involved with social media outlets simply to feel better
about yourself or your life, then you are essentially addicted to the same – and that
addiction will ultimately bring you far more suffering than pleasure.
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