And I hope that I am (or close) – going along with Ryan’s points – it can become easy to portray who we want to be online. Do I do this? Probably to some degree. I think, though, if I do, it is also helping me to get more toward that point in the offline world as well.

And to your points – Jamie – doing things “right” – I sure hope I am. And I really do believe that you are…

Does that mean you might get “burned” sometimes? Probably. Trust when you shouldn’t? Probably.

In the end, hopefully it all leads to connections that are real, meaningful, honest, authentic.

Lance´s last spectacular blog post..So Much More Than A Football Game

And I hope that I am (or close) – going along with Ryan’s points – it can become easy to portray who we want to be online. Do I do this? Probably to some degree. I think, though, if I do, it is also helping me to get more toward that point in the offline world as well.

And to your points – Jamie – doing things “right” – I sure hope I am. And I really do believe that you are…

Does that mean you might get “burned” sometimes? Probably. Trust when you shouldn’t? Probably.

In the end, hopefully it all leads to connections that are real, meaningful, honest, authentic.

Lance´s last spectacular blog post..So Much More Than A Football Game

I’m often puzzled at the genius of the social internet. It’s appeal is similar to that which the New World had to those traveling to it. We come for freedom, for a new start. It’s lawless and untamed. It’s expansive yet small; people rub shoulders but not all rubs go the right way. That’s life in a wilderness filled with people of different backgrounds.

I, for one, revel in the social media revolution. I find purpose where there was none. I experience freedom when all I knew was oppression. It is my new start, my land of opportunity. Just maybe I can escape the ridicule and rejection only real life can articulate. I can escape that here. I can be me.

Do I try to promote an image that isn’t the complete me? You bet I do. Do I try to hide my undesirable faults and debilitating weaknesses. Of course!

My weakness is that I don’t want to be me. I want to be someone with courage and passion, with talent and energy, with focus and resolve–I want to be someone that never flinches in the face of life.

The online world helps me change my perspective. It gives me pause to make a reply, it gives me information to follow my dreams, it provides testing ground for talents that no one can mock–it gives me a place to be.

Yes, it’s cruel; but even thieves can build walls around themselves to protect what is theirs.

And if everything caves in? We’ve all got real life to go back to

Ryan´s last spectacular blog post..Do all writers eat pancakes the same way?

I’m often puzzled at the genius of the social internet. It’s appeal is similar to that which the New World had to those traveling to it. We come for freedom, for a new start. It’s lawless and untamed. It’s expansive yet small; people rub shoulders but not all rubs go the right way. That’s life in a wilderness filled with people of different backgrounds.

I, for one, revel in the social media revolution. I find purpose where there was none. I experience freedom when all I knew was oppression. It is my new start, my land of opportunity. Just maybe I can escape the ridicule and rejection only real life can articulate. I can escape that here. I can be me.

Do I try to promote an image that isn’t the complete me? You bet I do. Do I try to hide my undesirable faults and debilitating weaknesses. Of course!

My weakness is that I don’t want to be me. I want to be someone with courage and passion, with talent and energy, with focus and resolve–I want to be someone that never flinches in the face of life.

The online world helps me change my perspective. It gives me pause to make a reply, it gives me information to follow my dreams, it provides testing ground for talents that no one can mock–it gives me a place to be.

Yes, it’s cruel; but even thieves can build walls around themselves to protect what is theirs.

And if everything caves in? We’ve all got real life to go back to

Ryan´s last spectacular blog post..Do all writers eat pancakes the same way?