Home : Blogs : Lola Audu~Real Estate Broker/Owner Grand Rapids, Michigan Real Estate : All About Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate Blog

Values Based Thinking in A Social Media Crazed World...

dinner setting Dinner parties are one of my guilty pleasures. I enoy them for all sorts of reasons. For starters, they engage my creativity in planning a menu, figuring out who to invite and making a meal.

They also stimulate great conversation. I recall one dinner during which one of the guests at the table made an interesting remark during a lively discussion on social trends which went something like this..." I wonder what this all means? Are we changing in ways that we don't really understand? is there more to what's happening than what we physically see?"

None of us could coherently answer the question. The truth was we didn't know. I still don't know, but I'm clearer on one thing...there is a fundamental shift occuring in our system of values on a multiplicity of levels.

Favorite as Opposed to New...

While browsing online today, I come across the "Conversation Group" and this post entitled "Favorite as Opposed to New"about the changing nature of what has Value today. The author, a prominent social media strategist reflects about his journey in defining personal values.

It's interesting that the blog post begins with the statement about the re-evaluation of the VALUE of homeownership. I wonder if we recognize how much this current housing crisis is changing the dynamics of how individuals view the essential benefits or liabilities of owning a home. We're in the process of a paradigm shift which has the power to transform our society and profession in some startling ways. And it all starts with WHAT WE CHOOSE TO VALUE.

A couple of items mentioned in the blog post catch my attention:

The search for authentic simplicity...the author's joy in the simple pleasure of gardening where one can see and touch the results of a simple labor

Clothes which actually get better with age and the dissonance that emerges when things which don't wear out are at odds with a society which values constantly updating to acquire the next new thing.

Relationships which are renewed after decades on social media sites when life has separated us by our personal successes and failures...but why do we persist in describing our 'friends' as 'contacts'?

sparkling wine This got my thinking about what I value personally and professionally. Looking over my list, it seems pretty traditional. But, Social Media is changing what we all value by virtue of increasing our exposure to ideas and shaping the context and manner in which we discuss them.

This online world is where I work and spend a lot of my time. That choice is a statement of Value too. While, I don't sense that the online world will have the same sort of substance that my more traditional values in a physical world will, I know my engagment in this new frontier will not be inconsequential.

Questions remain about the values which will define this new age. "Will these connections continue to age like good friendships which easily reignite with the full flavor of a well aged wine even after many years of separation?

The online world is changing our relationships with the world of substance. The challenge is to discover exactly what this means.

Lola Audu, CRS, GRI e-Pro ~ Audu Real Estate

Lola Audu, is the Designated Broker & Owner of Audu Real Estate. Our company specializes in helping people buy and sell homes in the greater Grand Rapids, West Michigan area. We've had the privilege of helping hundreds of clients succeed in their goals of purchasing and selling property including demonstrated success in the negotiation of Short Sale Transactions. You can contact us via e-mail @ info@auduhomes.com or by phone at 616-791-0511.

Posted by Lola Audu~Real Estate Broker/Owner Grand Rapids, Michigan Real Estate on 11/29/2008 05:36 PM

Comments (18)

what it means series, social networks

Post is included in group: e-PRO Internet Technology
Post is included in group: AR Networking
Post is included in group: Fraiche Aire
Post is included in group: Real Estate Trends

18 Comments on Values Based Thinking in A Social Media Crazed World...

NOV

2008

Lola,

You've nailed it...It is a challenge...and a tough one to boot!!! Thanks, Fran

Lola - perhaps the greatest value is where we have a convergence of online and offline.

We all have a task to adjust to the new way of communication and also a new way of meeting and maintaining friends.

Fran, it's a challenge and a unique opportunity.

Sharon, I agree with you. When you connect offline with a online friend, it is special.

Terry, More and more of us understanding that the future is now and we must respond to it.

NOV

2008

Lola - What an awesome post! I agree with Sharon in that the convergence of online and offline is the best scenerio! What I have enjoyed is the opportunity to stay in touch with my client/friends on Facebook. It seems so easy when compared to other ways! By the way, I have a hard time with the word "clients" it always seems so formal because it just doesn't seem like it is very long and they are more of a "friend/client"!

Lola, I have to say I'd agree with the above. I can keep in touch easily (and at all hours) online with my friend/clients as we often miss eachother. Often times I don't get to my emails until late but I'll get to them--and can answer a question or just keep the firendships going until we can meet.

While I totally agree with you about the 'value' of the online world verses the physical world...I could not help but think of those people who dismiss the value of the online world...calling it 'imaginary' or 'unreal'. When I've referred to my friends online...I sometimes see THAT look in peoples eyes...like 'friends'??? The online world is just as real as the physical world...and just as important (in many ways). Like everything...the power a thing possesses is really determined by how we use it. In essence, I create the value of my online experience by what I put into it...and what I choose to take from it.

EXAMPLE: On Thanksgiving Day....Carol Smith (who I met online), her family and my family...spent the morning and afternoon serving the homeless. THAT was very real and tangible and so very full of value. THAT experience (which was so precious to me) would never have been possible had I not met her here at AR.

ABSOLUTELY GREAT and TIMELY POST!! GBU~

DEC

2008

Lola, I spend an enormous amount of time on line too. It has afforded me great friends and relationships. But...............it has limited my time with local friends. It is so much easier to get your social needs met online in your PJ's than dress up, put on make-up, go out, come home etc... am I lazy or bored.

Who knows?

But, this is very satisfying and I can keep up with my kids by being here.

Meet computer friends in real life is so much fun and engaging.

I find this area of thought interesting. I think we are seeing a major shift in how we interact with people, and I think there may be major changes that we don't anticipate in the future. I first became conscious of this new reality 13 years ago while doing research for college. The on-line bulletin board was then the primary social media. Instead of just reading journal articles, I'd contact the professionals by e-mail and get the inside scoop on the research and get new information on what was about to be revealed. There was a huge sense of optimism as we realized that we could collaboarate between patients and professionals and get immediate feedback online. In many cases on-line activity was directing real-time reasearch, creating new ideas and finding problems that we didn't know existed.

However, over time there were changes. People with grudges or people who enjoyed disrupting, posted under multiple aliases, sometimes calling and threatening people over the phone. People of knowledge and influence stopped using their real names or stopped contributing altogether. Professional bulletin boards in which patients, doctors, or interested people could post either closed or went private. People also began to realize that this new on-line reality wasn't going to solve all the research problems, and some professionals (and patients) would be influenced by either their own need for aggrandizment, greed, or just by their own biases. (This also led to a real-time stalking, lawsuits, and fraud)

Facebook has opened up a new world as there is some pretense of privacy. I think its use will balloon in the coming years, but I also anticipate a backlash as well.

I struggle with what I reveal on-line as I wish to increase my business, but at the same time I have many worlds colliding. Perhaps I am unique in my wide ranging interests, but I doubt it. My worlds collide in vastly different groups, religions, races, interests, and personal problems. How do I keep these world separate? What if one area reflects badly on another? What if someone from one area of my life gets angry with me and tries to disrupt my business? Or what if they try to ruin my personal reputation? More and more there are opportunities to have your say, and this is not always a good thing, at the same time, it is unstoppable. I think maintaining your honesty and integrity are extremely important, you are like never before being scrutinized and your smallest failing will be pointed out and amplified.

Lola - a fascinating topic, and one I suspect we will be hearing more about. It reminds me of the trend of cocooning that was first coined by Faith Popcorn back in the 1990s as a reflection of societal change that was occurring. The Internet world and the rapidly growing power and influence of social media are having an impact I think we have yet to truly understand.

Jeff

Hi Tami, thanks for stopping here to read and comment. It will be interesting to see what the 'convergence of offline and online' ends up looking like. I suspect that it will be different for each individual, but I wonder if the overall trend will be to create more engaging relationships or if the contacts conceived online will generally prove to be more transient...jury is still out on this I think.

Carole, that is the great thing about electronic medium...the ability to touch base more easily with friends & associates. And that may prove to be more important than we really understand. Knowing what is going on in people's lives allows you to be more connected.

Elizabeth, the myth that the online world is 'unreal' was shattered for me when I met individuals from Active Rain who I connected with in person with ease and real enjoyment. Prior to those experiences, I would probably have been more a skeptic.

I understand how profound connections online can be & your experience with Carol is a great example. The other important issue is that the barriers of location with regards to the creation of relationships are lowered...this expands our world and possibilities.

Missy, You know, you've made a very important point. We only have 24 hours in a day. When vast portions of it are spent online, it's impossible to have time to engage in real life in the same way we would without that investment.

I was watchinga TV Broadcast on religion & ethics yesterday, and one individual made a comment about the fact that she prefers to participate in church online because she was so hurt by her contacts with members of her local congregation.

I suspect that there is a lot more of this going on than we admit. It is easier and safer to engage online sometimes, but are we sacrificing the building of character and the rough and tumble of life that can only occur when we meet in flesh and blood. I think that this is why it's good to actually meet people...

Anon...thank you for contributing to this discussion. My discussions with IT professionals indicate that nothing is truly private online. 'Facebook has opened up a new world as there is some pretense of privacy" And yet, I think that many who are using this medium with an unrestrained abandon are not really aware of the fact that information is ubiquitous and can be used in ways that were wholly unintended. I find your thoughts about 'world colliding' deeply insightful. All of us have areas of our lives in which the 'corners don't quite match' which makes the challenge of authentic communication across the different communities within our lives challenging on multiple levels...

Jeff, I agree. Texting has already changed the way we spell. What's next? :)

Lola - you have brought up a valid point and you are right. I have changed my thinking since becoming involved with blogging and facebook and twitter a few months ago. It's like a whole new world has opened up and - like Missy - I can now better keep up with my kids but also I have all these new friends and if you talk about your internet friends to someone who has no clue, well, you've opened yourself up for some strange looks...you know, we all know. I met some of those friends at NAR and it was great. It will take a visionary person like you who think of these things or Seth or @domus or @trulia to tell us what this might mean for us in the future.

DEC

2008

Talking about what has value, and what I value, or each of us values is incredibly fascinating. It helps me know myself better to see what I agree with, or disagree with - as it adds clarity to my inner dialogue. I love the phrase -- the search for authentic simplicity -- authenticity has always been significant to me. Wanting to be as authentic as I can be is an ongoing challenge! PS -- I too love to garden, and eating my own tomatoes, lettuce, green peas is a joy! Not to mention sharing the harvest!

Leave a response…

Name:

Email:
(optional)

Comment:

What does the graphic say?