It’s time to admit something. It’s time for therapy. It’s time to let you all know just how disappointed I am in you. Don’t take it personally. It’s my problem. I’m getting help for it. Promise.
When the Internet came along about 10 or so years ago (OK, I was a little slow) I was incredibly intrigued. I thought, “You know, all these people out there – someone might like me.” I also thought, “And a few of them might even share my interest in Edward Abbey.”
Turns out I was wrong. Despite the Internet, almost no one still really likes me. And, almost no one has ever shared their enthusiasm with me for one of the greatest writers of the past decades.
The AOL Years
My first foray into connecting with people online was AOL. They had chat rooms, they had my email and they had free email! Oh my.
My name on AOL? DSolitaire. (I still might be, but I can’t remember how to log in).
Could I have been more transparent? I mean I figured I was waving a red flag that said, “I love Edward Abbey’s great book about the destruction of the American wilderness, Desert Solitaire.” Someone is gonna’ come along and say, “I like him too!” and I’ll have a new friend.
Crushed, I say, crushed. No one ever did. No one caught on. In fact, the main interaction in all those many AOL years was a message sent to me in error. It had been meant for a David Solitare in San Diego.
The Blog Years
Then, after endlessly making fun of the people who would waste their time writing blog articles, I began writing not one, but two blogs.
Again, I figured I’d spend time with some of you. Get to know you. Talk around the campfire, so to speak. But, only a tiny portion of the millions and millions of you out there ever scroll down as far as you now have – and even fewer of you ever comment. Like I said, I’m getting help.
The Facebook Years
Then, along came social networking. I could hardly contain my enthusiasm. Double bubble! What could be better – both “social” and “networking.”
The clincher? I got to tell you who I like on my “Info Page,” which I admit I spent time on. I really thought about it. Not like some of you. NO, you don’t fill out your “Info” page at all. Makes it darn hard to get to know you.
On Facebook I got to tell you that I like Rosanne Cash, Jonathan Yardley, Northern Exposure and A Thousand Clowns – books, music, artists, writers, even baseball players. I could hardly contain my anticipation. The plutillions of Facebook users all over this polluted little globe of ours would know more about me. And, THEN, maybe they’d like me. Nope.
Almost none of you ever fill out your Facebook “Info,” and you never, ever say anything about mine. And, that’s why I’m disappointed in you. And, why I’m picking up the phone to call my therapist.
But, you know what. I’m not gonna’ give up. I’m gonna’ keep trying. Have any of you read Tana French? Amazing mystery writer. The Likeness and Faithful Place are two of the meatiest mysteries I’ve read in years. Anyone? Anyone?!!
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
No. I haven’t read this author. But I HAVE been listening to books on tape recently that are essentially mysteries about a woman forensic doctor in the 1100s. She has to deal with all these different cultures and all their stupid rules not only about women, but about women being doctors. All I want to do is drive around doing errands or taking Bruce to the airport so I can hear the stories. There are only four books (the author recently died) and I’m most of the way through my third one. The title of the first in the series is : Mistress of the Art of Death. And I always liked you.
I should read all of those books! I once had a mentor who sent me amazing literature to read, yet I have never cracked the cover of Desert Solitaire. I shall make a concerted effort to find it. Muses come from the most mysterious places. I’ve had mine, and lost it, and found it again, repeatedly. I think it is part of the process. Life is strange, like that. I hope you keep writing.
Hi Lisa and Lori,
I appreciate both of you taking the time to scroll down and comment. Lisa – thanks for the suggestion of Ariana Franklin’s books. I will have to order them from Audible.com. Back at you for mysteries that take place a while ago – Stefanie Pintoff (one of her books is “In the Shadow of Gotham”). Takes place around 1900 and they’re just beginning to discover things like fingerprinting to help solve crimes. It’s not 1100, but it’s not today. Lori – good point about muses. They come from all over. And, when you think about it, all this social networking ought to help us expand our understanding of the world with new recommendations from people we’ve networked with.
Which, of course, brings me to my apology. I did not mean to target or complain about family and friends. I did mean to object to the people who think social networking is just a way to pump their business. The very best sales people understand that you sell, not by forcing advertisements in front of everyone, but by building relationships and honestly getting to know people.
The hordes of nincompoops and sleaze balls who use and abuse social networking to simply sell their stuff are polluting what otherwise could be a verdant land of growth and new horizons. It’s not – and that’s what I write about. And yes, Lori, I’ll continue to write about it and rant about it. Someone has to. Thanks, both of you.
Well I love Edward Abbey as you know. I guess my social media expectatios are low. Anything I post on facebook, anything I write on my so far one blog blog site are really just for me. Facebook keeps me focused on the fun things in my life, blogs seem to be a good way for me to think through things. Linkedin is, as my Irish friends would say, “shiet.” I stay on Linkedin because friends expect me to be there and write recommendations. I like a little of this social networking contact. It’s light and is something I can do while sipping my morning coffee or trimming my toe nails. The good stuff is when I’m with real people. Good work Michael. After 50 years of friendship you still make me think about thinks. Love you buddy.
Hi Gary,
I love the part about LinkedIn “shiet.” My sentiments entirely. Yup, give me a recommendation. I’ve had several people who asked me after a bunch of years (and no contact whatsoever) to write a LinkedIn testimonial for them. I took time and wrote good stuff. They never offered to respond in kind, and I never heard even a whisper of a thank-you (and never heard from them again in any way). For the scads of folks like this, it’s simply counting testimonial coup. It’s shiet. Has nothing to do with relationships. Relationships need online social media about as much as Libya needed Gaddafi. Now blogs? They need comments, so love you back for commenting, Gary.