It's a Very Small World After All

image from:  wikimotive.com

"One love.  One heart.  Let's get together and feel all right."  -Bob Marley

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     I think we'll look back and see the development of Facebook as a turning point in civilization.  The nay-sayers might see it as self-aggrandizing and time-wasting, but I see it as generous.

     ...not to mention FUN.  I see it as LIFE...on acid.  Life...squared!  Life expanded out beyond our own experience.

     And what's cooler than that?



     In grade school we were assigned reports on the climate and culture of Peru, Morocco, or South Dakota.  We went to our trusty World Book encyclopedias and read about their average rain fall, what kind of plants grew there, what religion the people practiced, what their major industries were...  We looked at pictures of the scenery or native dress...and it was fascinating.  We wondered if we might, someday, meet someone from that country.  We thought that, maybe, we'd like to go there someday.

     We also studied biographies.  We might have had a sinking feeling when we were given Quincy Adams to research.  What did we know about Quincy Adams?  But, then we read a story about his life, and we related to him.  We identified with his trials and challenges.  We were thrilled for his triumphs.  We love biographies because we learn about how others live and the inspiring things they've achieved.

     We watch the news to hear about the weather, what's going on around the world, and how our favorite teams are playing.
   
     Through Facebook we get real-time snapshots into the lives of others.  As my neighbor, Cerelle, said:  "we have a lot of plots going."  We have to keep checking in on everyone's stories.  Sometimes we really get into the nitty gritty of their days.  We hear about sidewalks being shoveled in Toledo, and tornado warnings in Fort Worth.  We learn about basements being cleaned out in Washington, D.C. and chicken houses being built in Washington State.  We may not have an interest in soccer, but can still be fascinated by someone following Arsenal all over England.

     We get to see everything from the mundane to the amazing; the trials and triumphs of our friends, family, and acquaintances.  These are our fellow travelers.  We get to learn so much and grow in our understanding of what others are going through.  A lot of people get into watching 'reality' TV...but this is the actual reality.  This is real people leading real lives.

     I get to experience different religions, lifestyles, ethnicities, and nationalities (though I'd like more of these).  I know fellow flight attendants and pilots, scientists, and psychologists, caregivers to loved ones, teachers for everything from pre-K to post-grad., doctors, electricians, architects, nurses, IT specialists, social workers, ministers, artists, students, and musicians.

     I have friends running marathons, and friends doing chemo.  Friends in the Carolinas, and friends in Ohio.  Friends living in Europe, and Mexico, and friends right next door.  I get to see all of our differences...and, more importantly, that we are all facing the same challenges and joys when it comes down to it.

     My friend, Mark, put it like this:  "It feels very self-indulgent to me to have the opportunity to share life's journeys with so many people at the same time.  Joy, sadness, successes and failures.  For better or worse."

     Really, we get to live as many lives as we have friends on Facebook.

     I'm only surprised there's not more diversity.  I ran a Facebook stats app and found that, though I have friends from 16 to 83, the majority of my friends are within ten years of my age.  Though I have friends in every relationship category from militantly single to together for 40 plus years...still, 58% are married like me.  (That one, truly, surprised me.)  But, unsurprisingly, more than a third of my friends 'Like' The Beatles.

      Still, I see Facebook as a forum to reach out, one new friend at a time, to people all over the globe.
I think when we say 'it's a small world' we will mean it more every day.  I think more connections will lead to more understanding.

     I also suspect that, if all of these diverse people had an opportunity to try it, a huge percentage of them will say that they 'Like' pie...just like me.  Because we really do have a lot in common.

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And now for an ear worm to divide us (hee hee):

"It's a world of laughter, a world of tears
It's a world of hopes, and a world of fears,

there's so much that we share

that it's time we're aware

It's a Small World After All"

-Robert and Richard Sherman