Facebook a Threat, Says Archbishop

Hmmmm. Spoken like an expert on just how many pedophile priests are cruising Facebook at any given moment...

Then, I must ask the Archbishop, what is his definition of a community life? Is it the mere physical being of being in a specific area where it possess a shared government? When contemplating this issue, in my opinion, there is no difference between the community on the net and the community that we all reside in. The only difference is the physical being.

What must be understand is that there are several advances in technology that would debunk his argument, while at the same time, support it. There are several instances, as reported on, where many people have become detached from society, living in their own reality of some sort. Withdrawal, isolation, and lack of human contact. That is possible with the ever advancing technology.

Yet, at the same time, the very technology he critiques are modes of communication. The ability to communicate with a friend in another country, another time zone, and another culture has become easy. The fast-paced texts, emails, messages, etc. has always people to communicate much faster. Also, there is the ability to communicate with other like-minded people, whether that is bad or good is dependent on the situation, ideology, and conversation.

I would have to disagree on his argument that the supposed less human physical contact, as a result of the increase and advancement of communication technology, leads to suicide among teens. He provides no evidences and no viable publication to enforce his argument.

Though his argument is plausible, I need to see hard evidence that there is a correlation between such two factors.

I don't like how people can become fans of companies. Their friends are sent "suggestions" to be fans of that company, too. It is indistinguishable from an advertisement.

Facebook isn't a threat, Myspace is. I watch so much anime there.

"I agree with the Archbishop!" he said, in a post on a website.

For real though. On facebook, corporations like Chase bank are just as human as actual humans.

Meaning, facebook is dehumanizing. It's a chickenwire mother. A substitute for actual human interaction.

I use it as a news aggregator.

"He said skills such as reading a person's mood and body language were in decline, and that exclusive use of electronic information had a "dehumanising" effect on community life."

I definitely agree with this, the most fiendish texters I know have very little personality at all when it comes to body language or affective tone

Are they affraid we might find out there isn't a God.

I figured, I thought the LOL might have meant so. It would be interesting to email the archbishop to get his further thoughts, or at least compile so more research on internet usage and relationships and the very ambiguous term of community.

I understand Adam, just my humble point.

Sharing information is ALWAYS a threat to religion.

Controlling? That really wasn't the point of what the bishop was saying. Or his intent for that matter, at least from the article's tones and his quotes.

LOL! Ya kinda of hard to keep evil control over folks when they have free speech and ways to mass communicate?

Doesn't the Vatican send out texts to try and be hip and connect with younger people?

More contradicting won't hurt I guess.

archbishop should stop touching wrong subjects where is thou shalt not useth the email?

Suck it, archbishop.

and catholic clergy are a threat to little boys...

the computer age as a whole has been a threat to human, face to face interactions... if people DO NOT use them responsibly.

it is an issue of self awareness and getting off "our" ever expanding asses and going out and doing something...

I'd agree with you completely, Current is a great example of positive internet community. Sometimes it gets a little nasty in the political arena, but ever website has it's problems with trolls and flaming.

I haven't seen much data when it comes to suicide and the interweb, but that would be something to look up on the Academic sites. There have been a few very loud cases, but they tend to carry and make us think the problem's bigger than it actual is.

I would say that it does translate to real life, I feel we're trying to figure out is how it translates, or more specifically how well it translates. I think, we're on the same page in this regard. I think in our current world, there needs to be a mix. It's not healthy to only communicate through iChat, there needs to be some element of presence, or a well rounded community to use the archbishop's phrasing.

Before I forget, mazal tov to friends and love, may they never be in short supply..

"people to seek "transient" friendships, with quantity becoming more important than quality. "

That I agree with. I'm always a bit disturbed when I see Facebook peeps (who aren't celebrities or anything) with upwards of 3,000 friends. Kind of irking.

""Among young people often a key factor in their committing suicide is the trauma of transient relationships."

I haven't seen any news or proof of this. Has anyone else?

""It's an all-or-nothing syndrome that you have to have in an attempt to shore up an identity; a collection of friends about whom you can talk and even boast.""

This I think might be rather true. I have noticed some people who judge their self-worth by how many followers they have on Twitter or how often people connect to them.

"encouraged a form of communication that was not in his words "rounded", and would not therefore build rounded communities. "

I think the definition of the word 'community' is evolving. Look here at Current. We have hundreds of people from all over the world sharing our ideas, hopes and dreams. We all know each other by (user)name and remember things about each other, as would happen in the physical world. You might say it doesn't translate to real life, but I disagree. I have met up with 10 other members and made a few friends. I've also found love rather unexpectedly.

So he makes some points and is very good about being modest, but I don't think social networking is the bane of society seeing as society, as well as social norms, changes.

I'd agree with you that there is a certain charm to social networking, but sometimes my well intentions lead to a fueling of my own ego and narcissism.

The ability to text a friend, or chat with them on the internet is a wonderful thing, I think it's when the begin to place flesh and blood is when thing's get a little sour. That what the gist of what the archbishop was saying. I believe he mentioned something about the benefits of online communications but the real need for a support group or tightly knit friendships.

On another note, I too blame the porn. Avenue Q might have been right.

it just makes it easer then going over and saying hello or calling someone. its not exactly imorale. so id have to disagree with the arch bishop. computers in general will have an odd effect on our comming generations. but it wont be social networkings fault.
i blame the porn.