50+ Lifestyles

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

By Eloise Graham

New Year, New Beginnings, New Ideas

Well, here we are in a new year. Maybe it is time to reflect on some old ideas about the new way of communicating.

Whenever a new idea or invention is introduced, there are many that will say it is evil and has no use in our society. Many of us feel that way about Facebook and Twitter and other forms of social media. 

But hasn’t society always thought that way about new things?

Some of our ancestors didn’t like the new-fangled thing that Alexander Graham Bell invented. That thing with all of its party lines and nosey operators could spread gossip and lies faster than a raging prairie fire. Surely it was evil!!! But it could also bring good news, tell of a celebration of birth, call for a doctor or invite a friend over. Maybe the phone wasn’t such a bad thing after all. We all have one now and use it daily.

The radio must be evil. All of that wasted time listening to soap operas that were played during the afternoon. Nothing could be much worse than that. Wait, that squawking box brought people together. Families would sit around listening to the news. They were able to find out what was going on in other parts of the country and the world.  It kept families informed about the war; its battles and outcomes.

And so it goes. Every new idea or invention seems to be a concern to the people. Now we have social media. Some of you are on Facebook. It is a way to see and share pictures of the family, the children and grandchildren. A way to share travel experiences and good times with friends. A way to connect with friends and classmates from our youth. All good things.

One must be a savvy user, though. Being on social media can consume a lot of time. It can also be a screen to hide behind while being a bully or spreading rumors. Like the party line of years gone by, it can spread hate, lies and prejudice faster than the raging prairie fires; faster than the present fires in California.

I have a friend that was totally convinced that Faebook was evil – something he would never do. His wife is on Facebook and is a friend of mine on Facebook, but he
wouldn’t have anything to do with it. There was an incident that changed his mind.

Well, I’ll let him tell his story. This is from Jim Tiedje of Davenport:

“Facebook – Not for Me!

Most of us feel that change can be a difficult thing. I often look to my 97 year-old and think, ‘It must have been so difficult to handle the changes of the last century.’ I’m sure that when the telephone came on the scene, and was available to folks on the farm when Mom was just a little babe, that some were skeptical of the evil that might come about and they avoided purchasing this new-fangled device. Those were my sentiments about social media until something happened to change my attitude. You might ask me why it took so long to get on Facebook just like my mom, who over a year ago had become a user. Well, here is my story!

My wife and many of our friends and acquaintances have been on Facebook for years. I watched as many became what I believed to be ‘consumed’ by it all. I thought it crazy that people would spend so much precious time reading gibberish. I was concerned that some were posting things that could be harmful to others, especially as to relationships in family matters. Therefore, I wanted to have nothing at all to do with it. I still have concerns about what some people chose to post, but something happened recently in my life that changed my thinking to realize the good that can occur using social media tools.

On a recent trip to Barcelona, Spain, my wife and I were touring the city and enjoyed a day at Las Ramblas. For those who have visited there, you will likely remember the huge market where some of the world’s most fresh and delectable fruits, vegetables and meats are displayed. After a long day of touring, we walked back to our rental apartment. I discovered my passport was missing. Yes!!! I had carelessly lost the passport. I became frantic as to what to do. My wife and our traveling friend were both searching the internet on their iPads for options for replacing a passport. Suddenly, they both received a ‘friend request’ from a user looking for a James Tiedje who may be visiting in Barcelona. They were skeptical about replying, but then a picture of my passport sent via Facebook Messenger was displayed. It was apparent someone wanted to help me. The ‘friend request’ was accepted and soon we were making plans to meet the finders near the marketplace so that they could return the passport to me. Ironically, our granddaughter in school at Iowa State was also in on the communication. She was writing to her mother to find out if Grandpa had lost his passport. Within 4 hours of my losing my passport, I met five wonderful young women from Great Britain who were celebrating a birthday. They handed me my passport and we toasted the grand event at a nearby pub with a shot and a beer, a meager price to pay for such a find. Then we were on our separate ways. I think my wife and friend are still communicating via Facebook with the new friends from Great Britain. And that is how I came to embrace Facebook!”

Yes, like all new-fangled inventions, Facebook can be evil or a tool for good. So as you enter a new year, keep an open mind to new ideas! Be savvy about what you see, hear or read, but embrace the knowledge that can come from it. Have a great 2018!