[Air-l] A verb for using social networking sites

[John Veitch]

richard.ling at telenor.com wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
> This is interesting.  The use of these social networking sites has been
> around for a couple of years now and actually they have become quite
> popular.  However, this has not resulted in a verb describing their use.

In business circles the terms "linking" or “contacting” and "connecting" 
are  commonly used.
Linking is especially the terminology of LinkedIn but it's also a term I 
commonly use of Xing, Ryze, Soflow, Viadeo, Facebook and MySpace.

On Ryze there is a term for successful use of Ryze and for wishing 
others success as members of Ryze. It's obvious of course: Ryzing.

The real question is: "What value do these connections have?"
The best answer is: "none at all if they are not used, and sadly that's 
the fate of most connections, they are simply neglected, and they have 
potential value, but no real value."
On the other hand if you show even minimal interest in who these people 
are you learn a great deal about the world. Basic geography for 
instance, you get a feel for both how big and how small the world is. 
You learn about various cities, size, climate, festivals. You learn what 
people do for a living. You learn that these other people have ideas and 
opinions like your own, sometimes very like your own despite different 
culture, country and perhaps religious creed. And then just when you 
think "this person and me share the same wave, they hatch an opinion 
that seems to come from somewhere completely different."

I've learned that people with huge accomplishment in the real world, are 
human, are real, can be wonderful mentors, can have  both brilliant 
insight, and be downright foolish.
I've learned to have more confidence in myself and my own viewpoint, 
even if I'm exploring the edges of my own knowing.  You don't need to be 
right, or to be the expert, but it does help if you offer what you have, 
and if you try to use what you are given.

John
-- 
"John Stephen Veitch"
http://www.ate.co.nz/
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