During my inactivity on my computer I discover a new feeling which I now termed as Cyber Guilt. Have you ever heard yourself saying ''I'm worried that I would let down my friends if I am not able to comment or even "like" their links or status updates?"
There is a new expectation that Netizens have to go through each time they enter the cyber space and this is again what I also define as a new Social Demand. Some of these new demands are: Visiting and commenting on Blogs, at least liked one or two post from Facebook friends each day, read and delete emails, watch YouTube for trends, as well as be on the knows who twits what? Plus social games which demand that you take care of your farm or the plants and animals dies...plus birthday greetings and Poke back a friend.
To keep up on what your Online Friends are talking you have to absorb as much information as you can. Here enters the state of having too much information to digest--what is also known as Information Overload. As the amount of data expands, managing the information became more difficult.
Facebook alone shares more that 25 Billion pieces of content (Weblinks, status, notes, photos, ads, etc...) each month. With 400 Million of active users worldwide it is the largest social networking sites.
Internet connection is not the only way this inundation comes to us. According to some experts the last 30 years had produced more information than in all the previous 5,000 years combined. Vying for our attention also includes Cellphone, Televisions, Radio, Prints, MP4, VCD, Billboards, and so on...
The hurdle an internet user must face regarding information are Conflicting Facts from various sources. Around 26 Centuries ago prophet Daniel revealed a defining characteristic of our age via an angelic messenger in Daniel 12:4 "at the time of the end many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."
The prophesy clearly describes two important characteristic of our present generation: Faster Transportation and Information Overloads.
Information overload is a far greater problem today than it ever was. Although it is not totally a new phenomenon ever since the inventions of printing press from the 15th century but this age had easier access to information than going to libraries against the speed of data cyber technologies provides.
The danger I now see is Information Conflict. In the past, we trust our news headlines from Journalist and News Agency, now we had bloggers by the Millions. In the past, we had to go to our Church leaders, priest, or pastors to clarify issue about life and the afterlife, now we had Internet Philosophers expounding on the essence of life. It is easier to spread the gospel via internet now, the question is, are they preaching the True Jesus?
We used to rely on Academic Book Knowledge but now the internet provides Netizen's Free Thinkers. Any one can edit the information, re-send the data, and sometimes even re-write history.
Adding up to the file of info are Urban legends, hearsay, guesses, estimates, surveys, and even prankster or spammer.
It's not at all bad to seek knowledge, in fact, the Bible stresses most of the time the importance of being informed.
"The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge." Proverbs 18:15
In the Bible, man of God are encourage to seek knowledge, secular or spiritual information, men of God strives to learn the truth.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.Because you have rejected knowledge,I also will reject you from being priest for Me;Because you have forgotten the law of your God,I also will forget your children.-- Hosea 4:6
Although there are too many information striking our brain at lightning speed, there is one informative book that we sometimes fail to digest. Hosea 4:6 states that despite all the information, we still lack knowledge.
The Holy Bible is the only search engine data base that can truly answer these questions: How to live, Why We are here? and where we are going?"
Are you so wrapped up in an on-line social life?
The reality is we don't have eternity for all the information this present world is offering. Even if we now have 100s of Cable Channel, we will still want for more shows, we we still hunger for entertainment, we will still hunger for knowledge....
"Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh." -- Ecclesiastes 12:12
Some says, that there is "Lack of time" or we sometimes argue the "endless pursuit of knowledge"...but if we believe both, then we are destine for frustrations.
One of the great lesson that I learn during these past days is the saying: "Choose Your Battle"...well, my laptop have to malfunction so that I will clearly see this lesson.
I don't have to fight every aggression, I don't have to answer or even like all the post, I don't have to read all my friends blog, I don't even have to oblige myself to update my Facebook status.
Not everyone had the skill in effective internet searches. Some of us will end up with tons of duplicating and contradictory data, or you have to go thru pages and pages of search results before we discover something useful....BUT most of the time we set aside one of the most important priority that we should do-- Our Relationship with God.
On you search engine now type: Seek First the Kingdom of God.
It is better to acquire a little more wisdom than a huge load of such knowledge which doesn't help us more than an iota. you are right, instead of wasting pecious time in searching for useless information just to be ' up to date',it would be far better to get connected to the hearts of a few dear friends in such a way that they won't mind your not posting any comments on their blogs or 'likes' on their status-notes!
ReplyDeleteLove you, dear Kuya Po!
-Portia
Well said Fher! I agree there is stress of not finding time for all that we want to do on net. I often find myself promising myself- not more than 20 min on the net and then sitting ducks on it for 3 hours! really so much else I could do, I could paint, I could exercise. SO now I make it a point that at LEAST I will pray before I sit with the comp!!! HA HA
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