When I first started using the internet years ago, we didn't have the likes of Facebook or Twitter. When these services came on the market, they were initially limited to just a few users. However, when bloggers began to expound how they could be useful, others made account and soon started experimenting. What started as a simple means of connecting with schoolmates or colleagues now connects people of all walks of life.
The above statement doesn't bring into account those with family members lacking in the confidence or basic skills necessary to use the internet.In this situation, we are often limited in our ability to connect with loved ones.However, with a little effort, we can empower our computer-challenged loved ones in the ways of social networking.
But there are a few people that are wondering why it is so important to connect with a few of their less liked family members.To this I reply, "And what of those that you do like? Are you willing to become a hermit just because you are too lazy to chat to Aunty X or cousin Z?" It has recently been said that the internet is a great way to level the field.
As for the question of how technology affects families, it does seem that the motivation for using said technology is the major factor. If it is used as a means to connect and communicate, a simple bit of initial learning and small financial investment can make it quicker for families to communicate with each other. This doesn't make the job of constructing a cohesive sentence any easier, but it does make receiving it much quicker. You still have to abide by normal rules of civility and courtesy just as you would for non-family members.
In the end though, there will always be some new piece of technology that can potentially make it easier to find and communicate with loved ones. By making use of new technology, we are still bound by normal rules of civility in community. However, we should also remember that we are human beings and prone to mistakes. When we do post something that we later identify as inappropriate, we must be willing to make amends. After all, it isn't just our space that we are affecting, but those that we interact with. By respecting others and ourselves, we can develop healthy relationships with our loved ones.

Superheroes go shopping

Most people would likely look at me and know that I am not a cold soul. Even when I am angry, I find it difficult to remain in that state for any length of time. This is part of the reason I would probably make the most unsuccessful supervillain in history. I would not work towards world-domination using an army of mutant bunny minions. I wouldn't order my henchmen to steal the statue of a certain French broad sitting in the New York Harbor while sitting in my head quarters on the moon. No, that just isn't my style.
For me, negative behavior just drains your energy and causes a knock-on effect that will eventually come 'round to bite me on the arse. If I dislike a set of behavior, I try to avoid that in myself, though I am sure that I fall down on occasion. I don't rely on others to hold to the same ideals and code as me, but I also hope that the people around me have a similar enough ideas of write and wrong for us to interact on a somewhat civil manner.
I am not a super-villain, nor am I am politician, a religious zealot, a conspiracy theorist or homicidal maniac - I doubt I ever will be. My drives center around learning how to craft a good story. The journey towards that goal brings me a lot of joy and has put me into direct contact with some really cool people. It is quite interesting to note that even though there is slight variation in method, most creatives use these methods to solidify images in their head in an organized manner.
By doing so, it makes it easier for a writer to put pen to paper or hand to keyboard. These sensory and/or mental prompts that range from images, text, film/tv, sounds, emotions, tastes, smells, and/or memories of past experiences, but the key is to get those creative juices flowing, It won't work guaranteed every time, so a writer has to be able to learn how to get things done in those other times.
So, screw super-villainy! Even if there were no consequences to my actions, I'd be a writer every day of the week. That is what makes me happy.

What brings joy into your life?

Whenever I think about who I am, the issue of faith always comes up. It is an odd subject because my ideas may seem like contradictions at times. However, if I had to define myself based on faith I have to call myself spiritual.

What does this mean? Well, I believe that there is something bigger than myself and that actions have a knock-on effect based on their nature. So, if you mistreat somebody, it usually leads to more pain for others that person comes in contact with. This means that a good act can brighten up somebody's day improving their demeanor.

There are exceptions to this rule, but it isn't unheard of. It takes strong person to continue doing good works in spite of adversity. In this we see figures such as Ghandi and Mother Theresa, individuals that pushed forward because there was a need. They fought to break the cycle of negative behavior in their regions.

When you break down most faiths, there is a common ground to be found. This is the desire to stop the cycle of destructive behavior, and yet we see ignorance throughout much of these scriptures regarding gender issues and social status.

However, once upon a time I categorized myself as a Christian seeing all other faiths as inferior simply because I so happened to pick one in particular. It was childish and ignorant with no logic or a sense of wonder. It was this foolishness that led me to regurgitate what the leadership in my specific denomination said time and time again.

It was after I got married that I started to look inward to make sense of my own behavior. When I realized many of the mistakes that I'd made, I began to look at my own mistakes from a distance and with these observations I gained more wisdom.

I still make mistakes but I am more thoughtful these days. I am not perfect or some guru about life and don't think I ever will be, but at least I have the sense of wonder to discover new things about the world around me and the nature of humanity. It is this willingness to experience and learn new things that offers me a sense of elation that sends my spirit soaring to another plane.

The last sentence might sound airy-fairy but stagnation and tradition leads to destruction. Just imagine how much more suffering there would be if anesthesia had been successfully blocked by the church during medical procedures such as childbirth, or Da Vinci hadn't explored the caves in his local area. True joy can be found in the connections that we make with those around us and the natural world. And in the process of making these connections, you might create something cool like an iPhone or discover some technique that makes the lives of others less burdensome.

In conclusion, my spirituality is based around new experiences and education. I don't rely on a single faith to know that a negative act leads to negative behavior in those around me. I attempt to do good acts because it is better for myself and society as a whole. I see stagnation as leading to death of the soul and destruction, but change for change-sake as counter-productive. In any case, I encourage you to go out and experience and/or learn something new each day - life is full of opportunities if you are only willing to experience new things.