pberry

Sometimes the most obvious things are the ones we miss.

If I can’t find my keys, I’ll go from room to room looking under the bed, on the ironing board, inside the fridge, etc. But chances are, they were sitting in plain sight within five feet of the door. I’m sure there’s a psychological phenomena that explains this, but we tend to over look common things in common places, even if they are the most important thing.

Sometimes we forget that social networking should be social.

Duh, right?

Like my keys, the social interaction of social networking manages to elude many people’s sight. Facebook and Twitter can quickly dissolve from a social network to a digital megaphone where shouting individuals have not decibel receptacles for what anyone else is saying. People have always had problems talking past each other. The internet only makes it worse.

On the flip side, Facebook and Myspace are also home to a number of social voyeurs. These folks only get an account to see into others’ lives. When our neighbors do this in real life, we call them stalkers and get restraining orders. And just like in real life, they don’t actually add anything to the community.

Being a good neighbor online means being social. Share your life. Talk about what’s going on. Don’t share things that should stay private, but give something of yourself. Let someone else enjoy your updates the way you enjoy theirs.

And like real life, listen more than you talk. A lot more. You’re following or friends with these people. Read their updates. Look at their pictures. Hit the Like button liberally. Retweet. Respond kindly, even if not always agreeably. Don’t comment on everything, but respond at least twice as much as you update your status. Let your friends know you’re reading.

Put the social in your social networks.