I would not say "self-publishing" and "online dating" in the same breath, nor would I toss social networking in the mix. My personal opinion - these are much different topics with different concerns, some very serious.
Self-publishing is not a new concept and is certainly growing in popularity as traditional publishers face rising costs of production, the competition for authors grows, the demand for product changes and new authors struggle with getting through the publishing world. It's often the only way to get published. Marketing could be the biggest obstacle, though, as you compete for sales.
Online dating and social networking may be generated by the same technologies, but for different purposes. Social networking technology has a profound effect on professional networking, think LinkedIn, for example. Recruiters and companies alike are even changing their attitudes about using Facebook as a means of self-promotion and method of displaying your resume. However, Facebook also still has a rather negative pop culture image of being where "any moron" can put up a page (not my words, I actually heard this said). Frankly, any pervert with the right skills can, too.
Online dating bothers me the most. How is anyone to tell whether or not the seemingly nice person on the other end of the conversation isn't a predator?
As for the question of self esteem - when generations of sons learn how to treat girls/women with the respect they deserve as people who just happen to be female instead of objects of male fantasy, and generations of girls are taught that they were not put on this earth for the sole purpose of some guy's satisfaction - then, maybe, we'll be able to break the cycle of false esteem based on someone else's view.
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I would not say "self-publishing" and "online dating" in the same breath, nor would I toss social networking in the mix. My personal opinion - these are much different topics with different concerns, some very serious.
Self-publishing is not a new concept and is certainly growing in popularity as traditional publishers face rising costs of production, the competition for authors grows, the demand for product changes and new authors struggle with getting through the publishing world. It's often the only way to get published. Marketing could be the biggest obstacle, though, as you compete for sales.
Online dating and social networking may be generated by the same technologies, but for different purposes. Social networking technology has a profound effect on professional networking, think LinkedIn, for example. Recruiters and companies alike are even changing their attitudes about using Facebook as a means of self-promotion and method of displaying your resume. However, Facebook also still has a rather negative pop culture image of being where "any moron" can put up a page (not my words, I actually heard this said). Frankly, any pervert with the right skills can, too.
Online dating bothers me the most. How is anyone to tell whether or not the seemingly nice person on the other end of the conversation isn't a predator?
As for the question of self esteem - when generations of sons learn how to treat girls/women with the respect they deserve as people who just happen to be female instead of objects of male fantasy, and generations of girls are taught that they were not put on this earth for the sole purpose of some guy's satisfaction - then, maybe, we'll be able to break the cycle of false esteem based on someone else's view.
August 14, 2008 - 4:36pmThis Comment
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