Friday Five: Social Media

Kathrynzj is thinking about "the pros and cons of these relatively new means of communication and interconnecting," and so gives us this Friday Five:

1) What have been the benefits for you of social networking (blog, twitter, facebook, etc...)
When I started blogging (Holy Carp-- almost 5 years ago!) I knew almost no women in ministry. I was starting my own discernment process, and it was tremendously helpful to learn from those who went before me. It's also been a great forum to try to untangle my own voice.

2) Which medium do you use the most? Or if you use them all, for what do you use each of them?
I'm blogging a little more again these days, but I use Facebook a lot more. It's nice to be back in touch with some people-- even better that I've been able to get together (IRL) with them since we've reconnected (or connected for the first time, as with some RevGals). There are people from college that I just adored, and I'm just about buzzing with happiness being back in touch.

3) If you could invent a networking site (with no limits on your imagination), what would it provide? What would it not provide?
I think it would be something that beamed us up-- so instead of commenting on your blog/status, I could have tea with you. More a logistics/transportation thing, I suppose.

4) Who have you met that you would not have met if it were not for the 'miracle' of social networking?
Oooo, I have lots of good ones. Charlotte and Nancy, also LadyBurg. I've talked to a couple of wonderful RevGals on the phone-- does that count as meeting? And there are a handful that I'm just absolutely convinced I'll be able to hug at some point.

5) Who do you secretly pray does not one day try to 'friend/follow' you?
Well, there are a few of those. *sigh* But a couple of years ago when a darling anonymous blogger was outed to her congregation, I un-anonymoused myself and decided I didn't care who read me (because someday they might). That pretty much stands. (Having said that, there are friend requests I haven't accepted-- and a couple I wish I hadn't.)

BONUS: What was the most random/weird/unsettling/wonderful connection you made that would not have happened if it were not for the ease of which we can find each other in the computer realm?
Well, this is more than a little weird. My father (known widely for being absent and prolific) has a tendancy not to tell his current wife/girlfriend about previous families. (I know this, because I'm the one who told my stepmom about his sons from his marriage before my mom-- oops.) Well, Facebook introduced me to his first (?) son, from before his first marriage.

Yes, that's weird.