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SOCIAL NETWORKING OR SOCIAL DISORDER

By Ken Tracy

Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential

October 26, 2008 02:46 AM

I wonder how many of us who spend time twittering, tweeting, facebooking, linkedining, blogging, etc., could be clinically diagnosed with a social disorder.

I am just scratching the surface with social networking. I am obviously blogging right now. I know it's potential and am excited about it. But sometimes I wonder...

Is it a problem?

This morning I received an email from one of my cyberfriends:

Come join me on Utterli! We can have multimedia discussions from our mobile phone.

Utterli?? Multimedia discussions from our mobile phone? Do we need that?

I think there is a fine line between social networking and social disorder. Many out there in cyberspace have probably crossed that line.

I enjoy facebook. I love writing my posts here on Active Rain.

But I also realize the world is outside. Not in my laptop.

I am fortunate to have my family to keep me grounded...

I can imagine that those without a foundation could be sucked online, never to be seen from again.

Make sure it doesn't happen to you.

Ken

A Realtor you can trust.

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James Cain

RealestatePointe - Canfield, OH

Hi Ken. New to Active Rain so yours is my first blog response! The Twitter comment was interesting - Allowing people to stay in contact with you "in between emails, calls, forum postings, blogs, etc.". Sounds like just another social networking intrusion. However, I just started using it and it's pretty neat. As indicated in most responses here, balance is the key! Although a focus here on AR is to promote a local presence and allow for a discourse of local real estate expertise, we are increasingly becoming a more national and global nation. Technology allows us to interact in ways never before possible - Like me replying to your blog post, for instance! It also allows for things like professional promotion, staying current with active and future trends, and social recreation. All good things to be sure. What an amazing world we live in!

However, the impact of all these new communication mediums has on us is probably not currently known in total. There is research out there that all this computer interaction is actively affecting our brains! What to take from all of this is that there exists two forms of social behavior - our online presence and our real-life social presence. Like exercising or learning how to play an instument, they both require work to get good at and see results. However, as the vblog above points out, one probably adversely affects the other. So, it seems, balance truly is the most important aspect. There appears to be some negative side effects of being too 'plugged in'.

Be glad and thankful you have your family to ground you - As a single person, that balance is a daily battle.

Oct 29, 2008 05:34 AM

Debbie Atwood

Century 21 Real Estate Center Everett, WA - Everett, WA

Real Estate Broker

I too am new to AR and to networking online really. I just recently got involved in linkedin, facebook and now activerain. It really can be overwhelming just getting started. I agree completely with you and with the post by James above. Balance is a good thing!

Oct 31, 2008 05:19 AM

Ken Tracy

Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL

Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi James and Debbie. Thanks for reading.

Having family helps me. I am a bit OCD, so I would be sucked in otherwise.

Stay even you two!:)

Ken

Oct 31, 2008 05:35 AM

PropertyMinder (AccelerAgent)

PropertyMinder, Inc. - San Jose, CA

Modern Tools for the Modern Agent

Very true. I teach classes on social networking via our TechMar Clinic at PropertyMinder. I do tell agents to join social networks but I only give them the professional ones such as ActiveRain and LinkedIn. I admire you for saying "But I also realize the world is outside. Not in my laptop." I wish you well!

~ Melvie, PropertyMinder Inc.

Nov 03, 2008 10:37 AM

Kerry Lucasse

eXp Realty - Urban Nest Real Estate Group - Atlanta, GA

Your Urban Nest Atlanta Real Estate Consultant

I'm with you, Ken! I really enjoy Facebook and ActiveRain and dabble on a few other sites, but I have to keep myself grounded and know that I need to be making contact with previous clients, calling expires,and sending personal notes to my sphere. The social networking can sometimes be a distraction from all of the critical things you need to do to keep your business alive and well.

Nov 12, 2008 01:53 AM

Ken Tracy

Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL

Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Kerry and Melvie. They are both fun. Mix with social activities is a deadly combo!

Ken

Nov 12, 2008 10:57 AM

Anonymous

Hi Ken - I enjoyed your post - You raise some good points! I love AR and I'm also on Twitter. I have resisted Facebook....

Nov 12, 2008 11:29 AM

#38

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Ken - I got an invite like that as well, and the last thing I really want is multi-media discussions on my cell phone. I'm sure it's great for others, but not for me. I belong to several other social networking sites, and I'm quite happy with those without involving more stuff on my cell phone.

Ann

Nov 12, 2008 11:30 AM

Aaron Auxier - "Hollywood's Connection to Vegas"®

Realty ONE Group - Las Vegas, NV

Ken,

This is a great post on a subject that I have been fairly vocal on as of late. Aside from potential legal issues, blogging also can lead to health issues. While there is no doubt that the Internet is essential to the future of real estate, I think there will be a day where real estate blogging becomes somewhat played out or mainly done by those not truly out selling real estate. I already see where many agent are turning more into SEO junkies and spam bots.

Nov 12, 2008 11:36 AM

Anonymous

Pat Skow

Ken,

I agree, I sometimes get obsessed with blogging, facebook and my laptop in general. It's easy to get caught up in all of that. More power to those that can balance all things.

Nov 12, 2008 11:44 AM

#41

Teresa K. Nelson

Compass - Woodinville, WA

Your Trusted Real Estate Advisor

Hi Ken.

Today I received a listing lead and an invitation to a networking event at a local winery, Both from Twitter. Thanks to your lead, my friend on Active Rain - I now have a marketing plan. It's not so bad here! :)

Nov 12, 2008 11:56 AM

Benjamin Clark

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - Salt Lake City, UT

Buyer's Agent - Certified Negotiation Expert

I try and stick with the main 5 suggested by the panel: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and ActiveRain/Localism

My social disorder seems to have turned into a sleeping disorder!

Nov 12, 2008 05:48 PM

Anonymous

George Behrs Fortipton

Ken, You are right. It is easy to spot some real personality problems in the posts of the addicted. Posting for points have taken away their drive to do real estate. What's that old saying? "Those that can, do. Those that can't teach."

Nov 12, 2008 06:28 PM

#44

Ken Tracy

Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL

Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi George, Benjamin, Teresa, Pat, Aaron, Ann, and___. Thanks so much for reading.

I don't want to be a hypocrite. I am online a whole bunch. Sometimes too much.

Don't resist facebook, it is probably my most valuable internet tool.

Thanks again,

Ken

Nov 13, 2008 12:19 AM

Anonymous

Angela Sadat

Ken, you are right on... Keeping grounded is certainly something we all have to consider in this "cyberage." I find that time blocking helps to keep the balance a bit better, as I am certain I could spend hours upon hours staring into my computer screen, creating all sorts of cyber friends who will never do business with me because I could not simply pick up the phone!! Thanks for the post!

Nov 13, 2008 01:51 AM

#46

Anonymous

Mike Parker

Right on, Ken! I'm sure you notice that on many blogs, it's the same folks endlessly posting conversations that have little or anything to do with selling houses.

When I first became familiar with blogging, I was excited for the potential it possessed. Then, I noticed the same 30 people making about 80% of the postings on the particular network I had discovered. That put it all in perspective for me: there are some VERY profesional and informative blogs available, but the majority of them are devices designed for something other than they are being used for, in my opinion. Likewise, when the blogger stops, it all drops.

I guess it is like everything else: blogging is great for some, not so great for others. As such, it is hardly a panacea and I sincerely doubt if blogs sell as many homes as regular websites. But, that's a whole different post all together.

Nov 13, 2008 02:34 AM

#47

Ken Tracy

Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL

Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Angela and Mike. Thanks for reading.

I still greatly enjoy working online. Technology allows me to "touch" so many people, even while I am watching Erin.

It does feel good to shut it off from time to time.

Thanks again,

Ken

Nov 13, 2008 05:07 AM

Mark Tillett

Asset Realty Group - Seattle, WA

Ken,

I couldn't agree more. Nothing compares to meeting people in the "physical world"....

Speaking of Facebook, I just send you a friend invite.

Lake Forest Mark

Nov 17, 2008 05:16 AM

Ken Tracy

Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL

Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Mark. Thanks.

We can be addicted together!

Ken

Nov 17, 2008 07:38 AM

Scott Hendrix

Century 21 Select Properties - Knoxville, TN

Realtor, Historic Home Specialist

I totally agree with you. We need not to get sucked into the vacuum of cyberspace! Everything in moderation, right?!

Nov 18, 2008 09:41 AM

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