The Impact of My Garage Door Opener on Social Networks
Oct 12th, 2009 by David Svet
My garage door opener broke. It reminded me of an earlier blog post I wrote about how neighborhoods shape social interaction and consequently social media. Without my door opener or my son, (who is away at college, that I previously forced to open the door for me, and mercilessly called him Stanley after the brand of door opener) I have been stopping the car to open and close the door. It gives me time to look at the grass growing (literally, I’m trying to grow some new grass) and see what’s going on in the neighborhood. I’ve stopped to talk to neighbors. I’ve looked at interesting bugs. I’ve played with the neighbor’s dog. These are all things that I wouldn’t have done or wouldn’t have taken the opportunity to enjoy if the garage door opener still worked.
Don’t misunderstand me. I miss the convenience of the door opener and I’ll miss it even more as winter approaches. But it has afforded me an opportunity for social networking with my neighbors and for social interaction with my neighborhood. It makes me wonder what else I’m missing because of convenience technologies. It also makes me thankful for the convenience of social interaction technologies like this one.
I love the opportunities that social interaction technologies afford. Your blog post today is a great reminder though, to continue to engage in the “real” world outside the computer
Thanks Nancy! Yes! It’s important to remember that social networking started LONNNNG before computing! ;-D
a reflective post on how the old school networking approach doesn’t have to associated with a forced exercise at “♫ getting to know you..getting to know all about you ♫..” unlike some other *habits* i know of (those that are particulary second to..nun)..oops, wait a sec, i hear a knock on my door..looks like flashing lights outside and mustachioed dude with hat and a piece of paper. hmm..
luv your posts dave (and your DMs!) autom