Will Social Media Become a Greek Tragedy?

July 5th, 2007 | blogging, drama, publishing

Blogs are toddlers now. Have you noticed?Some of us have been weaned. Others are starting to give up our pacifiers. A few are potty trained and using complex sentences and obeying the rules of the house.Of course, we all still pull the dog’s tail on occasion. And we still find ourselves sitting in the time out chair a lot.

But soon, very soon, Mommy and Daddy Media are going to have to acknowledge our existence.

Or like Oedipus we’re going to tear them pieces one day in a rage when they refuse to let us share the road. Or likeÂ Orestes, we’re going to pull out a sword and chop mom up.

Nothing like declaringÂ intentions to commit matricide and patricide against the institutions of tradition, right?But we shouldn’t be too quick to kill the folks. Don’t forget the fallout both men faced.

Oedipus married his mom (ewwww), had some kids (double ewwww), and ended up poking out his eyes with really long pins so that he could roam the earth in exile without having to see his own disgustingÂ reflection in the mirror.

Orestes just went nuts for awhile.

So Mommy and Daddy Media, pay attention to your kid here. Social Media may be the love child you never expected, but you gave birth to us whether you intended to or not. Help us grow up, Please.Â Teach us what we need to know. Show up at our soccer games. Put ourÂ finger paintings on the fridge. Sign our report cards and tell us yourÂ proud.

Or we’re going to turn on you. If that happens, no one wins.

Viewing 4 Comments

Susan 1 year ago 1 point
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Now young social media, I have warned you that speaking disrespectfully to your elders will stunt your growth. Please do go to your room and think about the real attitude of your heart before you join the family for dinner!

Now on a nearly serious note - if a blogger switches to your site, can you transfer all your past files here - and merge them from two different blogs? Are you that powerful? You did say it was a much more powerful site!

Hope you enjoyed vacation! I'm still up to my ears in grant writing.

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http://susanakahalfmom.blogspot.com/

Eve 1 year ago 1 point
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"Orestes just went nuts for awhile."

And Oedipus wasn't?!

Major Ewww!

Funny comparison, though. :)

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http://questwriter.blogspot.com

Craver-VII 1 year ago 1 point
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Or if we toddlers get REALLY mad, we will fling poopy diapers and wake people up at all hours of the night.

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http://craver-vii.blogspot.com

Real Live Preacher 1 year ago 1 point
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My thought: There's nothing any of us can do. There isn't anyone making these decisions. The analogy is a good one - very good. BUT, we should remember that there is no mommy and daddy out there to make the decisions. It's not as if traditional media have some kind of get together to discuss what is to be done with the love child.

So, the analogy is good, as long as we remember that what we are describing are social movements with vast intertia behind them. Things are shaking out, developing, changing, etc. And things are going to be whatever they are going to be.

Funny, we do the same thing with "the rich" and "the poor." We talk about them as if they were organized like a union. "Well, if only 'the rich' would stop doing..." or "If 'the poor' would just get off their..."

This is giving me an idea. I'm going to have to write about it. ;-)

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