So I saw this quote on someone's t-shirt.
Immediately, I thought this is pretty smart and took a mental photo.
World
- Lies
Truth
I suppose the question is how much of the world we live in are lies and fallacies to deceive individuals or the masses.
Lies made up by liars, driven by materialism and greed, by people seeking or taking power, lies to enslave others in thought and deed, lies to get people to do what we want them to or to get them to follow us blindly, lies to get our way or to get others to abandon theirs, lies to cheat, lies to steal, lies to corrupt, lies to control, lies to obscure or cover our tracks, lies to rewrite history, lies to create phony legacies, lies for the sake of lying.
All the rest is the truth. ;-)
(Source Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)
Getting To Truth
This is a new video chat service from Airtime and the music and video make it look pretty good, but I have my sincere reservations.
Airtime connects as an app from Facebook and according to Bloomberg BusinessWeek (11-17 June 2012), "users can then talk to their Facebook friends, search for someone with similar interests, or just hit the 'next' button to find a random chat partner."
While, I find the idea of randomly engaging online with someone intriguing, I also more find it more than a little scary not knowing who they really are--there are plenty of fraudsters, charlatans, and perverts out there that you would not want to be talking to.
The not so funny thing is that the precursor to Airtime called Chatroulette--was truly, as the name implies, a gamble and many times a bad one at that, with some unscrupulous users availing themselves of the video to expose themselves online.
Frankly, it seems that many people may be using these applications more as swingers to hook up, have a fling, and engage in flirtatious or even sexual behavior than for developing any sort of real meaningful relationships.
Furthermore with Airtime, based I assume on people's Facebook profiles, "as two users converse, Airtime suggests interests and common friends they may have in common"--with these actually popping up on your screen!
Whatever happened to any sort of privacy and discretion in sharing and letting conversations and relationships evolve naturally and over time between people rather than forced and in your face!
To me even the concept of having to use video when chatting is over-rated! I think most people do not feel all that comfortable in front of the camera and are actually more at ease talking without being viewed every moment through a lens.
I have seen cameras deployed for desktop computers that were hardly ever used. And even with Apple's Facetime application built right into the iPhone, I rarely ever see anyone actually using this--do you?
I think this is a clear lesson with technology that just because we can do something, doesn't mean we should.
We need to take into account people feelings and their comfort zone, especially when it comes to privacy, and not just put them in front of every camera and float their personal interests and friends randomly or regularly.
"Discretion is the better part of valor" and it's time to appreciate technology and social media companies and applications that recognize this and roll out services that are respectful of people privacy, security, and right to have some control over their lives.
Video Chat TMI
Stage freight (aka "performance anxiety") is one the most common phobias.
While often attributed to children, this is really a fear that everyone experiences--to a greater or lessor extent.
Organizations like Toastmasters help people overcome their fear of public speaking by having them practice regularly in front of the group.
Yet even the most experienced speakers and performers still get that knot in their stomach before a really big performance.
We are all human, and when we go out there and open ourselves up to others, we are vulnerable to ridicule and shame and being seen as shysters and charlatans.
So it really takes great courage to go out there and "do your thing" in front of the world--for better or worse.
As the child poet, Rebecca says, "when I go on stage, it's me, myself, and I."
What a wonderful perspective in being yourself and doing your best.
Here's what she has to say--in a poem called Butterflies.
(Credit Picture: scienceray.com)
________________________________
Butterflies
By Rebecca
Butterflies, that’s what I feel before the poetry slam.
It's 2 minutes before I read my poem.
I feel them tickling around my stomach making me want to puke.
My mom always tells me just imagine the audience in their underwear but it makes me feel even worse.
I told myself when I came up here you’ll do fine but, I know I’ll just stumble on a word.
Buzzing noises start in my ear.
I feel like I want to just go up on the stage and conquer my fear.
I shouldn’t care what people say because it’s my thoughts that matters.
When I go onstage it’s me, myself, and I.
1 minute till showtime.
Finally I hear my name.
I walk up to the stage unsteadily and all the lights are on me.
Everyone’s eyes beam towards me, almost as if they are watching a movie and I’m the show.
I read my poem.
I’m shaking.
I’m sweating like a dog running in the heat of summer.
I stumble upon a few words, but I survive it.
I am almost done. Just be done, already.
I read the last sentence but the time when I’m reading that sentence feels the longest.
My life is not going to end.
I’m done and I feel accomplished.
When Butterflies Sting
