Having recently gone through a series of breakups both personally and with online services, I’m starting to re-frame how I think of the connections we make online. If there was any way to establish how close you were to someone purely based on your digital traces, what would that look like?
Would you count the amount of @s on Twitter, how many of their pictures you’d favorited? The number of times they called you, texted you? I’m not sure that would make an accurate picture but it would certainly be worth plotting out (maybe something for Stamen).
In times of breakups when people reframe how they think of you, it would equally be worth plotting out how many people keep in touch with you after. Communities and friends aren’t often the same and reconstruct themselves in equally organic ways.
Yes, the @’s are a problem. There are many significant people that I see seldom, talk to seldom, and so wouldn’t turn up as a digital trace.
However, remote friends that do not ‘do email’ are really hard to keep a connection with.
I think (and really that would be totally my personal opinion) you could go without seeing or speaking to friends for years because if its true friendship you will be unconditionally in their heart for the rest of their lives. And at the end all you really want is unconditional friendship ..not some one saying sorry but if you would change this or this…you would make a great friend
Really guys….when you need support, an ear at 3 am or someone to eat chocolate chip cookie ice-cream with, if they gave you there true friendship certificate (at any point in their live) they will be there for you no matter what (even after 5 years of no contact because you where just doing something else
Girl, you are one of my very few but so important unconditional friends …if I would not see you until 5 years from now I could still pick up where we left on I would still laugh at your so dry but crazy humor, I would still be able to listen to you talk about your work and love live …and I would still smile (big time) that I’m sitting next to you eating my sushi… you are inerasable from my heart or mind
in this time of technology it does not matter of we have it or use it or not… because when it comes to friendship no nanochip or 0000 series (and I’m one of alex’s illeteral friends) will make me want to be there when it matters when it matters and she wants me to be there I will be even if I have to take a horse and carriage ;)