tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603883426306376921.post3170171124407514708..comments2023-05-13T08:06:33.385-04:00Comments on Lilies and Elephants: Social Media and Your Mental Health Maya Northen Augellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02469306092296810650noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603883426306376921.post-78402716917675085022014-02-21T10:31:33.554-05:002014-02-21T10:31:33.554-05:00That's a very good point. I guess we are all s...That's a very good point. I guess we are all starting on the same foot if we know that everyone shows only what they want to show, and that we're just as able to pick and choose as others. I tend to think of it as (and I'm steeling this from somewhere, it just happens to go with the play analogy) I see everyone's grand performance, while they see my dress rehearsal, but really, that's not necessarily the case. And as you said, at least you know it's more of a play, as opposed to in person, where you're more likely to think people are being genuine and honest. I also think groups on Facebook, like the one I run (shameless plug :-) can help because they are closed groups that only members can attend, and for the purpose of people getting away from having to "put on an act" and genuinely open up. Of course you still don't know how accurate things are, but it helps that the purpose of it is to take off the mask, so to speak, so I believe people are more encouraged, and relieved, to do so. Maya Northen Augellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02469306092296810650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603883426306376921.post-61332629717340699802014-02-21T09:05:43.804-05:002014-02-21T09:05:43.804-05:00Great blog, Maya and what it reminds me of is T. S...Great blog, Maya and what it reminds me of is T. S. Eliot's often quoted lines that we "prepare a face to meet the faces that we me." Social media, as every one know is hyper-reality or to be the more quaint, the play within the play. Everyone is an actor. People decide the image they want to project and then work on them. While it can be disheartening to to recognize that none of it is "real", its very artificiality at least provides for some emotional distance. While when you are talking with a person face to face it is always difficult to know what is really going on in their heads - with social media, you know it is all image and that gives a person the option to ignore it or even opt out.EMMLPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13731327600470046504noreply@blogger.com