As scarred as I'm not from this, I am at least sympathetic to the dynamic possibilities of abusive over-sharing - that now as a preacher myself, I've (on occasion) come and apologized to my kids for some momentarily lapse of reason that might view the kids as simply one extended sermon illustration.
With that set-up, let me delve into the heart of my question: Having perused many blogs, websites, lurked on social media sites, read folks postings about their work, their hobbies, I've observed that an all too recurrent theme is one of 'family' - primarily the kids. Now, don't get me wrong; I'm all for sharing about the kids, the fun things they do and great people they are (and the better people they try to become); however, many (a majority?) of the writings, blogs, informative offerings recount less-than-flattering anecdotes about behavior, attitudes, temper-tantrums, potty training, etc.
My curiosity wonders what's the potential when, 5, 10, 15, 2 years from now, while 'googling' their name, a child (no particular child in mind) happens across the blog, the writing, the online diary of their life (though not of their making), and realizes that it's been shared with (not 75-125) millions dare I project billions of people, and that what's been shared is not simply the 'good stuff', the flattering, affirming, fun stuff - but the less than flattering anecdotes about behavior, attitudes, temper-tantrums, potty training etc. - How will the upcoming generation respond to this? Will they see it as an invasion of their privacy? Will they come back to us as parents and exclaim, "How could you?!" Will they subtly decide that the uber-connectivity their parents observed is not gonna work for them? Will they feel betrayed? Or will they be so accustomed to this newly minted social-media world that it won't faze them in the least?
I don't know; I can only speculate based on my own limited experience of life in a fishbowl?
What do you think?
Wow, RevBug, were you writing to ME? My "A Dad's Point-of-View" columns are often about my family members. When they are very specific, I "clear" it with that particular family member directly before it is published. When it's general, I don't.
ReplyDeleteMy boys seem to have completely ignored their presence in my writing, "clear" everything, and don't seem to mind - given they're both teens, that's a bit of a surprise. But, I think it's because none of their friends read or see my stuff.
One of my parenting rules is NEVER to post anything or even admit my presence as their "friend" on Facebook.
As for my wife, she nit-piks details but never objects to any substantive either.
And, most importantly, their actual names are not used. Will this come back to haunt me or them later, as you suggest it could, time will tell.
Ironic postscript to this story is that my younger son now gets completely even by lampooning me in a comic he writes and draws, that I "gave" to him to do, for my website BoomerTechTalk.com. AND, it may be the most popular thing on Boomer Tech Talk!
writing to no one - and yet everyone, myself. I'm writing for those who don't have a voice in whether/not their images are used (with/out names) - writing for those who will never have to suffer through the embarrassing 'infant tush-shot' shared before their Sr. Prom - because it's been broadcast to the 4winds for a decade or more.
ReplyDeleteso, at no one, but yet for everyone (maybe)
I've seen your son's work - he's a great eye/ear for shining light in those shadowy recesses of our reality.
you done something good with him.
blessings,
Rev.