I live in a city where on any given night there are hundreds, if not thousands of cocktail parties I could attend. But even if I had the desire and the invitations to go to every single one, it would be physically impossible.
So I choose where I want to be.
Sometimes it’s to learn something. Sometimes it’s to be social. Other times my interest is to network professionally. Sometimes it’s solely to avoid doing stuff I should otherwise be doing. On occasion, I show up somewhere because there is nothing else to do.
Once I get to where I am going there are more choices to make.
Unless it is a group under ten people, chances are I will not be able to or want to talk to every person in the room.
So I make decisions.
Maybe I’ll seek someone out because I heard something about them that interested me and wanted to meet them.
Perhaps I already know them and want to reconnect.
A conversation could start over a shared like of that last hors d’oeurve tray with the fabulous crab cakes that just went by.
Maybe we’ll start talking because I overheard their conversation and wanted to join in.
Sometimes it’s just a look across the room that tells me I want to meet that person.
Other times that person is the one approaching and making the decision.
But there is a process that involves choice.
The same choices hold true when it comes to online social networks.
Without intention, focus and a set of boundaries, each can be boring and an enormous waste of time. But used properly they both can serve an equally important purpose.
To connect humans with humans.
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