Social Networking and the Outdoors Community
I don’t think there are many people left in this modern world who haven’t at least heard of social networking sites, such as Facebook and MySpace. Heck, a quick look at the membership rolls on some of these sites would make you wonder if there’s anyone in the modern world who hasn’t signed up with one or the other. The question that I can’t help wondering about is whether or not this is a good thing or a bad.
On the one hand, it’s pretty cool to see the Internet opened up as a massive party line. People from all over the world can share ideas, art, and entertainment. Communities form, and society grows… right?
It’s also just plain fun to be able to log on, locate old friends from high school, or meet new friends with shared interests. You can sit down to a hand of poker with people from all over the world, or promote a cause (real or silly). You can share photographs and videos with family and friends, or with the entire network.
But there’s a downside… some people just don’t think about the possible repercussions of putting certain information out there for the world to see. I’m sure most of us have heard the stories about politicians or public figures brought down by some photos, videos, or writing they thoughtlessly posted for the whole world to see (remember Sarah Palin’s bikini pictures?). There are tons of anecdotes about job applicants being rejected when the employer got a look at something the individual had posted.
Where am I going with all this? The social networks are certainly not a new thing, at least not in the foreshortened time scale of the Internet. It’s not news.
But I am interested in how these things are impacting the hunting and outdoors community. I mean, think about it. Some people think it’s a benefit that the Internet connects people, and encourages communication… and for the most part, I agree. But I think it’s also generated an entire culture of people who never have to actually go outside or meet face to face. I know some individuals already who spend their hours tapping away at a keyboard for almost every social need… willing and able to live “virtually”. For a community of hunters and outdoorsmen, how does this translate? Good for the sport? Bad? Irrelevant? I don’t know.
Do outdoors-related social networking sites such as CamoSpace offer a benefit to our sport, or are they encouraging more people to plant themselves at the computer or TV? Are they bringing more people into the outdoors, providing a platform for discussion of important, hunting related issues, and linking hunters and fishermen around the world? Or are they simply an outlet for the industry to promote itself, selling and advertising.
There’s an awful lot of importance attached to the Internet these days, and while much of it is well-deserved, it also worries me a little bit. It is, unquestionably, the future of entertainment. But I also think it’s the future of communication… of information… and that presents one heck of a risk. It’s an uncontrolled format, where fact and fiction dance toe-to-toe on a shady stage. Lies and reality mingle, and the challenge to the thinking person is to discern which is which. The problem is, sadly, I just don’t believe there are enough people out there willing to think for themselves.
I’ll be mucking about with more on this general topic soon. In the meantime, what do you folks think about all of this?
Phillip,
That’s funny that you should bring it up. I was just asking at Outdoor Bloggers Summit what these social networks were about. I don’t quite understand them to be honest. I signed up to twitter, and as far as I can tell, it appears to be a moment by moment diary. I mean I could be wrong, but I have better things to do than let you know I’m writing, or traveling to the local supermarket!
The problem for me is my ignorance of the medium. Perhaps there are some positive uses of the tool, but if you don’t know how to use it, well, it’s useless and time consuming.
I’m looking forward to one of our gurus coming forth and enlightening me on its uses.
Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
The Rasch Reviews: Tactical
Proud Member of Outdoor Bloggers Summit
Southeast Regional OBS Coordinator
March 9th, 2009 at 11:41 am
[...] See the original post: Social Networking and the Outdoors Community – The Hog Blog – The … [...]
March 9th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Phillip, apparently this topic has been on a lot of people’s minds recently. Albert brought it up to me and I’m going to do a series about social media on the OBS blog. I’ve touched on it before, but I think it’s worth mentioning again.
I think social media can be a very valuable thing when used correctly. What scares me is what you so correctly pointed out, people don’t always think about what they put out there. The picture you post from a drunken Spring Break in college could be found by the person who interviews you for your first professional job. Nothing goes away.
This week is OBS history week, so maybe next week can be social media week. I’ll have to give that some thought.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
I do believe that you said it best Phillip “The Internet is Unquestionably The Future Of Entertainment”!
I really like listening to talk radio, and in particular, people like: Laura Ingram, Sean Hannity, Andrew Wilcow, Glen Beck and Mark Levin.
But does that mean that I take them seriously? Not by a long shot!
To me it is just “Entertainment” which happens to coincide along with most of my political philosophies.
I also like Jeff Foxworthy, even though I am a southern boy born and bred through and through, and I really do have family members just like the ones which he describes and pokes fun at. I don’t take Mr. Foxworthy seriously either because his comedy also, is only entertainment.
I also like to listen to and watch anything which has to do with Crypto-zoology as well but does that mean that I believe in Bat Boy or Chuprucabra?
Again, same answer, not by a long shot. It is after all, only entertainment and should not be taken literally or believed as the gospel truth.
I, as well as Albert Rasch, of “The Rasch Chronicles” just recently found many mistakes and misnomers in the wikipedia dictionary concerning the non-legal term “canned hunting”. So that alone tells me that many. many things can be completely “WRONG” in this entertainment/informational medium called the internet.
Did you know that if you write a letter to the wikipedia people with a compelling enough factoid that they will publish your information as a definition of the fact?
Matters not if you happen to be a nincompoop, you just need to be able to write well!
Good and thought provoking post Phillip!
Alright, now that I have exposed myself as a hard right wing conservative who listens to conservative and U.F.O. ologist Art Bell radio, will this inside information ruin my political career?
March 9th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
[...] More here: Social Networking and the Outdoors Community – The Hog Blog – The … [...]
March 9th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
[...] View original here: Social Networking and … [...]
March 9th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
My only complaint is that the verb for Twitter should be “twit.”
Really, I spend too much time on the computer, but having found sites like your’s and Holly’s and Hank’s and Tradgang, my outdoor experiences have been made much greater.
March 9th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I see that you mentioned CamoSpace in your piece. I’ve been a member for a short time and I think it’s a great place to meet others who are interested in hunting and the outdoors. Personally, I’m really new to hunting and I’ve met a lot of people whom have great knowledge and information to share with a newbie like myself.
That said, there’s always going to be a saturation of the self promotion of hunting related businesses in a myspace like environment such as camospace. That said, I think they’ve done a great job keeping the videos, pictures, and spam off of the site.
Thanks for starting a dialogue on this. I think it’s important.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
I think – as with all fairly new medium – that these types of sites have their good and bad points. I think, as Kristine already pointed out, that these sites can do a lot of good if used wisely. On the other hand, if they’re not used intelligently, then they can be a thorn in one’s side.
My biggest issue with all of them, is that I don’t have time for ‘em. I think Myspace, Camospace, and Facebook, all have the potential to drive traffic to my blog, but I just don’t have the time to keep up with them.
Interesting topic, Phillip. I’m looking forward to reading more.
March 10th, 2009 at 4:18 am
I think that it’s benefits have far outweighed the neagtives in the hunting community. I have personally taken people out and introduced them to the sport simply by meeting them online. The fact that there is even a camospace, should be a sign that we are more unified as a whole. The hunters of the 80′s and even earlier would have died to have a social netowrk that could allow them to band together and share info when PETA and other organizations were using every means possible to stop- them. I think as hunters and fisherman, no social network site will keep us indoors. We may spend some more time sharing our stories and pictures of our adventures, but no less time outdoors. Besides all of these websites and forums keep people in the loop and motivated, unlike the old days when hunting season meant wearing a flannel and shooting a deer one week a year! My opinion is we are reaching more people and banding together like never before and big box stores like Cabelas, Bass Pro and Gander are the proof.
March 10th, 2009 at 4:53 am
Thanks for the comments everyone. I’ve been a little sidetracked with the lead ammo comments lately, but I do intend to get back to this topic.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
I think the “simulated” conversing is fine so long as it enables or enhances Real Face to face interaction. As long as it does not replace a real conversation it serves to broaden our connection with one another.
It has brought my blog to the attention of friends and family which is a plus. I have used the Chat feature to finalize last minute plans for a training run and more importantly Hunt applications.
Like any technology it can get overboard. But I do look forward to someday posting on my Facebook status “John is packing out a big buck, and would appreciate some help”
March 10th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
[...] Social Networking and the Outdoors Community – The Hog Blog – The … [...]
March 11th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
[...] Social Networking and the Outdoors Community – The Hog Blog – The … [...]
March 12th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Phillip- I have visited your blog a few times (I am not a hunter, I am a fisherman) ,and, I have read many referrals to your blog on other outdoor blog sites. I know that you are well respected in the blog field. I have actually learned a lot about hunting and the outdoors by keeping up with all the outdoor bloggers. Recently, I have joined CamoSpace and GetReeled to develop social networking with others with like outdoor interests to mine. The primary reason was to drive those who are interested to my blog at Idaho Fishing Notebook. I think your subject post is very informative and quite correct in the points you make. So far, I believe that it has been a positive experience for me and my blog. However, I intend to participate and monitor my time on these networks to insure that the quality I want to receive is there and not just quantity. If it is not I will delete my account on that social network. On the other hand, I see a lot of stuff on the ‘net that I would be ashamed of if I were the person doing the posting. So it is a concern for me that what I post is something that I can live with and not worry about getting out of hand. Will be interested to read others views on this matter.
March 12th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
[...] Social Networking and the Outdoors Community – The Hog Blog – The … [...]
March 14th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
[...] Social Networking and the Outdoors Community – The Hog Blog – The … [...]
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:51 am
[...] Social Networking and the Outdoors Community – The Hog Blog – The … [...]
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:00 am
[...] Social Networking and the Outdoors Community – The Hog Blog – The … [...]
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:08 am
[...] Social Networking and the Outdoors Community – The Hog Blog – The … [...]
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:17 am
[...] Social Networking and the Outdoors Community – The Hog Blog – The … [...]
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:34 am
[...] Social Networking and the Outdoors Community – The Hog Blog – The … [...]
April 1st, 2009 at 11:15 am
[...] Social Networking and the Outdoors Community – The Hog Blog – The … [...]
April 12th, 2009 at 3:40 am
[...] Social Networking and the Outdoors Community – The Hog Blog – The … [...]
April 12th, 2009 at 3:44 am