Rumination on New Media

Just come back from my outing with my mum and the two kids before I officially start work for my new job on next Wednesday. Nowadays, the weather in Singapore is really erratic as if the weather is suffering from PMS. Many people around me are falling sick. As for me, I try to drink more water, eat an apple daily and rest well so that I will not fall sick when I start work. I am very happy today. Why? I had the most wonderful dream last night. I saw myself in a European country with nice scenic view which I have never seen in my life, not even in my dreams, before. The water was clear and blue which allowed me to see through it into the marine beauty beneath. I saw myself enrolled in a school with elaborate Renaissance painting and ornaments, staying in a hostel. Though only a dream which I can never fulfil due to my financial situation, I am happy enough to have such dream. The dream was so real that the residue of the happiness was carried from the dream into reality upon waking up. I thank God for such wonderful dream. Anyway, dreams do not cost a single cent. I can have dreams as grandeur as I would like them to be without a hole in my pocket.


Since I will be holding a position in the Corporate Communications department in a Japanese MNC, I have been reading materials about communication, especially on new media. I even touched on Sociology and new media. Many questions do come up in my mind as usual whenever I touch on the articles. One thing does cross my mind is whether new media which causes annihilation of time and space also causes annihilation of truth, personal touch and warmth at the same time. One aspect of annihilation of time and space means that through the new media like the Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc., we connect with our loved ones and people we are interested to have updates on instantly no matter where we are in real time. We can even chat with them and post updates about ourselves, interest or any other information for other people to have access to. Of course, platform like Facebook allows privacy to be set such as who can gain access to our information and updates, the level of privacy set against specific people to have access only to certain information that we post, etc. We can easily form interest, religious or other groups to share our common goals, areas of interest, updates, etc. A wealth of information can be easily accessible online for our knowledge and upkeeping with latest news of issues, happening and other matters that interest globally.

My question is the authenticity of the information posted online. How much truth is there in every posting? On Facebook, some people do not post true stuffs about themselves. In fact, some posted traits and updates about their idealistic images. In that case, are we drifting away from who we are as unique children of God created by God? Are we deceiving ourselves and others through such virtual platform? How true can the friendships be when all we are befriending are the imagined images of those people? When left alone at night with the true selves, are these people feeling more miserable as they know very well they are not who they claim to be online? Will they loathe their true selves? When we know who they are eventually, will we feel cheated or devastated when we find out they are not the images that they have created in the virtual world?

The other question is who regulate the materials posted online and how true they can be. People or groups who have the authority to censor parts of every information may present the information what they think are right. What they think are right may not be right with God at times. Sometimes, such censorship is a form of manipulation to distort the perception of the target audience for their own self centred benefits or political motives. For instance, a leader who has gone wayward may report on certain information about certain people whom he wants to get rid of for the fear that they may hinder him from attaining certain amount of money, fame or higher position. Half truth presented is still not true. Truth means utter honesty in confession of facts without any taint of lies or hidden facts or distortion or ambiguity of the original information at all. Everyone may claim that his truth is true. My question is based on whose perspective. My so called truth may not be what you claim to be true, resulting in conflicts. If such conflicts blow out of proportion involving more people with personal attacks or accusations on a greater scale, they may lead to wars.

New media may cause loneliness in some people, lacking in personal touch and warmth. They may have many friends online. In reality, they hide within their virtual worlds without going out to meet people face to face for personal touch and warmth. Words or messages online are abstract afterall. They can never be compared to meeting others face to face. You can never see body languages or hear the tone of messages online which form parts of effective communication. Therefore, it is easy to lie online without such subtle body languages and tone of speech which can only be observed through meeting with the people face to face. Sometimes, I wonder if one’s sensitivity or reading of the body language or cues in reality may weaken with the fact that he is hidden within his virtual world. Even if videos are posted online for one to view body languages, only part of the reality can be recorded for view and the deliberate presentation of only certain parts of the video may distort the information about the incidents or people involved to convey one’s intended message which may not be true to the target audience due to biases.

Sometimes, I see that virtual platforms like the Facebook, Twitter or blogs cause one to be narcissistic. Instead of using them as platforms for contacting with friends sincerely, they become platforms for adding as many friends as possible to show one’s popularity on Facebook, deliberately posting certain information to give people the impression that one is knowledgeable, smart or wise, providing updates on many activities to show that one is attractive and well sought after. It is indeed fine to want to show one’s positive traits to others, wanting to be seen as good. However, overdoing it only emphasizes on one’s insecurity and low self esteem. Sometimes, it brings mockery from sharper and experienced people who see through the veil of narcissism to self. This may also blow one’s flaws out of proportion through such exaggeration on certain self proclaimed positive traits and praises. He may be seen as a virtual jest at worst.

New media, itself, is neutral. It depends on our purposes and approach. If it is used for the service of people, spreading good news, proclaiming truth out of Love with sensitivity to others’ feelings and culture, it is a powerful good tool to reach out to many people. If it is for self serving intention with hidden agendas or biases or ill political motives, it is destructive tool that ruins many lives, leading to conflicts and wars. When new media is used with the Spirit of Love, it will never be abused for self centered uses. It seeks harmony and spread the good news to improve the quality of life of others and self. It promotes goodness. Basically, the ten commandments can be applied not just in real life but also in the virtual world. Nowadays, crimes can be committed online like cyber sex, cyber rape, intellectual theft, etc. What we think will translate into action most of the time, even online. If we allow the Holy Spirit out of Love to guide us with the choice of our words and materials that we post online, they should result in peace, building and improving lives, strengthening communities and bonds, extending mercy for forgiveness again and again. If the words or materials are not posted with the Spirit of Love, we will see biases, discrimination, harsh languages used, disrespect for others’ privacy, discordance, division among people, fights and wars, narcissism or distortion of self which drift away from the true self, scandals, smearing others’ reputation, revenge. Thus, commandments carried out with the Spirit of Love will guide us our behaviour and choice of materials to be posted and languages used in the virtual world. Beside, one must be reminded that the virtual world can never replace the reality that we live in. We are living in the tangible world created by God. Many things can never be done online such as having quiet time with God through the nature surrounded by the flora and fauna by using our five senses to experience them. New media is not accessible to many people in the world, such as the poor in the developing countries or in certain areas within developed countries. We still have to step out of our virtual world to reach out to these people. New media can also never replace our face to face meeting with our loved ones and friends. The materials and words we post online only help us to connect with people instantly out of convenience. They are abstract afterall. Love can truly be translated from being abstract to real and tangible through our bodies. Language of Love can be expressed effectively in many ways other than words, such as spending quality time together, purchasing gifts, doing something for loved ones and friends, etc. The body is the temple for the Spirit. If virtual world is adequate to share Love, what is the point of having the body? We are still human beings with five senses and we still need to experience the abstract Love through using our bodies to express this abstract Love into tangible expression of Love for us to experience it to be more real through our five senses with personal warmth and touch. Virtual world confines within the cold gadgets or hardwares. How warm can it be without touching a real tangible person with bodily temperature and touch? We are still social animals who need touch and warmth.

If you have been hiding in the virtual world for too long, time to get out of it for some sunshine and warmth with your loved ones and friends in the real world which is part of God’s creation. If not, you may end up as cold as the hardware or gadgets that you are using for communication. The social skills will deteriorate in the real world if they are not used often. Also, be careful with how we use the new media. Are we connecting with others or disconnecting from the others through escapism from the real world into the virtual world? Do our choice of materials and worlds posted online build and improve life or destroy life? That’s all for my sharing. Have a great weekend ahead! I am going to have my great weekend away from my virtual world to the real world with a movie with my friend tomorrow and my exploration of the nature at Pulau Ubin with my hiking kaki. I am also very delighted to win the lucky draw for the first time throughout my life so far. That is a pair of tickets to Marvel- The Avengers. That is a little miracle from God as a gift of Love to me. Hurray! More good things are coming!! Have a blessed weekend!

With Love,
Elena