The Role of Social Media

Graphic Created by: Christian Bell-Young


Where do you stand on Social Media? Years ago, people kept their privacy to themselves and maybe friends and family for insight. Never would one share that they flatulated in public and cleared the theater, or spread untrue gossip to others. Bad example, but you know what I'm talking about. Gone are the days when journals and diaries were the most sacred possession. We are living our own lives yet we broadcast them for everyone to see. We are all guilty of it, myself included. But where do we draw the line? Are we seeking attention or approval?

Should we allow our children to participate? Would you let your child snap photos of themselves and post them on-line? Odds are that you wouldn't and if you would, be prepared for the consequences. I understand that being a cool parent may be treasured by your child, but their best interests will always outweigh being "cool". Sure, social media is meant to be social, but privacy should be top priority as well. I am not saying to regulate what you post, it's your "space". If you want to post a pic of yourself, your food, your outfit, go right ahead. There will always be those who will try to influence you negatively, whether on your post or behind your back.

Let's think back to when we were young. When we did something good, we told every one. Why? To get positive reinforcement and to seek approval and acceptance, depending on who you told. Would you ever tell your child other-wise? Probably not. Why do we do it today when we read someone's post or photo? Perhaps because we have nothing else better to do but criticize. Maybe we are seeing a side of our friends we never knew...

For those who didn't know, Facebook was originally used for college students. It was a great tool to keep in touch and share daily activities. MySpace was more of a social locker, posting your likes and interests. Remember Xanga or Zanga? It was an online diary that quickly faded away.

All of a sudden, we switched from AIM to the new social media because it was something new. Right now G+ is the quickly gaining traction as a true social network because individuals are able to reach across the globe and share insight as well as upcoming trends. Instagram is quickly being taken over by "Beliebers" and "One Directioners". I know because I started the hashtag #Iamabelieber and #I<31D...kidding, but you can tell where I'm going.

It doesn't matter what we do, we want people to know. But we need to be sure that we are willing to accept the reaction from others, good or bad. Be prepared for the worst, and expect the best. It's your "space" and not matter what, you are in control. Don't let others control your life, and never give them the chance to. That's your role in the social media.

Defenseless Driver

Have you ever seen a cop text while driving and felt the urge to place them under citizens arrest?What if we honked at them and pumped our fist in the air symbolizing our disgust? Chances are they wouldn't pull over or we would be the ones swarming the local deputy? I'm sure the photo shown above would eventually be in our near future if we even tried. But if you've seen a cop text and drive, more than likely you've witnessed a lot worse.

What is worse than texting and driving? When that person texting is following the vehicle in front of them too closely... I understand that we are all in a rush to get somewhere. But do we totally disregard safety to make up for us being late? The smart thing to do would be to plan your route accordingly, especially if you are familiar with the usual destination time. Of course if you are new to the area, it is always best to leave earlier just in case. We all know this, or at least we should.

I am all in favor for an "autobahn" type system where the left lane is for race-car drivers, the middle lane is for most drivers, and the far right lane is for the turtles... I know a lot of industries would favor this: oil companies, tire industries, car manufacturers... especially from consumption to maintenance. In fact, if we had an autobahn, we'd have fewer people tailing each other and fewer accidents on the highway. As far as infrastructure... that's another topic.

I strongly advise against following too closely, but if someone cuts you off to tail the person in front of you, they are an a****** and will probably get in an accident in the near future...and that's all we can ask for when we are screaming our brains out and foaming at the mouth.

- Marc Fdz

Where did Earth Come From?

There are many published theories contemplating on how The Earth was made. I must be honest, I do not recall them all. But, I have yet to hear a united consensus that The Earth came from The Sun! It isn't hard to believe if you really think about it. Our center core is made up of magma, or lava when it enters the earth's surface. Is it insane to connect the dots and assume that The Sun was responsible for our initial conception? Perhaps from a solar flare billions of years ago...?

The debate between Religion and Science is a never ending battle. It is ironic that both Science and Religion were taught at a young age, yet mainly one side claims once answer to be the root of it all. God. While the other has many theories, many explanations that require overly qualified people to put it in simple terms for us. Basically, back it up with math instead of faith. I wish I could have a "Sheldon Cooper" moment and write down the formula that explains why I believe the "Sun Conception" theory... I've written to acclaimed Physicist Michio Kaku... I'm still waiting by my inbox. This is my ill attempt to make it to Real Time with Bill Maher in hopes of being a guest and debate real issues that are always circling my mind. Trust me, there isn't enough time in the day to debate politics and religion. My wise grandmother now makes it a point to say "No Politics, No Religion" at the dinner table. Funny. That sounds like a great book to write if it isn't already taken...

If you have yet to see the movie "Zeitgeist", I highly recommend it. To me it is more of a documentary because they actually document and explain why "The Greatest Story Ever Told" is just a story, nothing more. We fail to give credit to our Sun for providing us with life. Sadly, we also fail to thank our family as well as ourselves for our accomplishments, but blame ourselves for failure.

- Marc Fdz