Social Media (stolen article that is brilliantly interesting!)

I found this on the Collide Website - its by some guy called Ben Simpson but raises some interesting questions about Social Media... I found it here...

During the summers, my local church partners with a congregation in the inner city, sponsoring a Vacation Bible School and helping maintain the building. Among the tasks they were asked to complete this year was window washing. In some instances, the windows became clear after a little work. Others, however, remained dingy and fogged. No amount of cleaner would restore the panes to their former state. The condition of the window was fixed.

In both the real and the virtual worlds, there is a desire that the people we meet would be both transparent and authentic. We’d rather see people clearly than feel as though we were peering through a cloudy window pane. While undoubtedly in this age we see though a glass darkly, we hope that our perception of people would match up with reality. We hope for the best, but often it is difficult to discern truth from falsity, integrity from unscrupulousness.

Online, this is a challenge. Social media oftentimes is more of a foggy piece of glass, rather than a clear window pane. There is always the question as to whether an individual’s digital persona has a truthful correspondence to the actuality of their character. Being both transparent and authentic online is a challenge.

The Problem of Perception
The first challenge to being transparent through social media is the problem of perception. When your life is shared through Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, or a blog, a certain image begins to form in the mind of the viewer concerning your personality, your likes and dislikes, your passions, and your hopes. This perception is formed apart from an experience of your presence, including your mannerisms, social habits, voice inflection, and more. By nature, the initial image is limited by the medium.

Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, I’ve managed to gain an impression of a broad array of Christian leaders. There are those who come off cranky, kind, angry, passionate, inarticulate, gentle, persuasive, charismatic, forceful, hopeful, or pessimistic -- an immense range. Through podcasts, pictures, and blog posts, I’m given the opportunity to encounter a host of people without the constraints of time and space. The world, in effect, shrinks. But perceptions don’t always meet up with reality, and it is difficult to fill in the gaps without sharing proximity, community, a common discourse, and a common life. Social media only allows us to see so much.

The Myth of Transparency
In addition to the problem of perception, there is the myth of transparency. People seem to believe that social media can allow us to be transparent, or clear, in how we present ourselves to the world. However, little attention is given to just how clear the window of social media truly is. Online, are we peering through a clear or foggy pane?

Social media enables us to project an image to the world through short bursts. If you were to examine my media usage, you might conclude that I am a coffee shop hipster who likes to read and take my kid to the pool. If you met me in person, you might find me an abrasive Texan who is highly opinionated on matters of theology and church practice, who is occasionally obtuse, who has a “lover’s quarrel” with the church of which he is part, and who likes to talk Royals’ and Rangers’ baseball.

Though some will argue otherwise, I believe online transparency is a myth. We only see that which is revealed through pixels. That picture may be beautiful; it may be repulsive. Social media, like so much of modern public discourse, is a function of image management. You portray what you wish to portray. You choose your soundbites carefully. You present yourself in a light that reveals that which you wish to be seen, and you conceal those elements you desire to remain hidden. And I am not immune from this judgment.

Concerning social media usage and church ministry, this truth points us in a direction that influences our thinking about numerous initiatives and strategies currently being pursued and developed in the Christian world. The obvious applications concern Twitter, blogging, and other similar platforms. But projects like Internet campuses and other church ministries also fall under scrutiny, for to what degree can we truly be “real” with those who are separated from us by the buffer of technology, and how “real” can we be concerning ourselves? Might it be the case that we develop technological personas that deviate from our standard way of being?

The Challenge of and Aid to Authenticity
While total transparency may be a myth, it is possible to have an authentic online presence. But such a presence cannot be developed outside the bounds of a physical community. Being authentically human, in the Christian tradition, is to be formed and remade into the image of Christ. In order to for this type of transformation to take place, we rely both on the grace of God and the common life of the church. It is the church that presents us with the challenge of authenticity, while also exhorting us to be made new by God as authentic human beings.

At the Echo Conference, Charles Lee observed that a physical community was critical for the development of our character. And as more and more Christians engage in the digital world, it will be important for our presence there to be a reflection of the One we claim as Lord. To the degree that others see us through the window of social media, it should be our hope that our lives likewise serve as a window through which others can see the risen Christ.
Through the Looking Glass
If you recall the students mentioned above, they invested their energy washing windows that would never be restored to perfect clarity. Yet despite the fact that these windows remained foggy, perception was still possible. An impression of the person remained, even if a detail here and there became distorted or elusive.

In the same way, social media is the equivalent of an opaque piece of glass. It is a tool that buffers us from the outside world, while also allowing for a perception to be presented to others who look upon us through it. If one is to be authentic online, one must be involved in a physical community that helps to craft one’s character, so that in those areas where online transparency shields us from the critiques and accountability of the online community, there are those that can refine us and help us to become more authentic.

Our challenge, therefore, is to ensure that which is seen is in accordance with the image of Christ; we must be remade without spot or blemish (Eph. 5:27). May God give us the grace to be authentic, living lives that are clear windows to the Christ.

If you currently looked in my handbag you would find…

Seriously my bag is in desperate need of a cleanout… at the moment there are some rediculous things hiding in there… below is an attempt to describe the state of my bag…

iPhone - Essential
iPod - this is my old classic and you wonder why this also is in my bag well my phone doesn’t charge in my car and so I have my old classic for car listening purposes…
Wallet 1 - This is my new wallet… however its slimline and doesn’t actually fit everything (who buys these sorts of wallets anyway)
Wallet 2 - my old wallet to hold half the stuff that my new wallet cant!
Headbands x2 - like actual headbands how theres room who knows?
Crocodile clips x4 - ???
Reading Glasses case - where the glasses actually are?
Sun Glasses x2 pairs - why I carry 2?
Broken Sun Glasses x1 pair - theyre still in there
Broken Sun Glass arm - from a different broken sun glass pair - don’t ask!
Various Pens - most probablly stolen
At least 6 lip treatments - gloss, sticks, balm and ointment!
Drugs - neurofin, iron tablets, and strepsils (wtf I havent used them since winter)
My warrant notice - which was expired like a week ago!
Face Makeup Primer - Ahhh that’s where it is
Headphones x2 - pairs of broken and half broken

Bobby pins - An endless supply of

Keys - which always get lost at the bottom
Tampons - loitering at the bottom!
An Ipod to sterio cable - I always carry this baby!
An Ipod to Usb cable - also essential
Hair ties - Several stray
Resene paint pottle - filled with mosturiser
Some MicremeH - for dry skin
Several Stray Buy 10 get one free cards - Coffee, Sushi, Ice Cream, Cake, more coffee, books, dvd's
Not to mention a gazillion eftpos, parking, taxi and foodtown reciepts

books books books

So i decided I was going to read some more this year... finish off some of the started and attempt some of the unkown...

Here is my list to attempt...

Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy

Great Expectations, Charles Dickens

The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck

On The Road, Jack Kerouac
Animal Farm, George Orwell

Catch-22, Joseph Heller

The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald

A Churchless Faith, Alan Jaimeson

The Great Emergence, Phyllis Tickle

Surprised by Hope, N.T. Wright

Jesus Wants to Save Christians, Rob Bell

Confessions of St Augustine, Augustine

I took this picture in attempt to capture the beauty of life...

The Power is Yours!

The next on my list of blogging topics is My Favourite Super Hero and Why!


I think my favourite superhero would have to be captain planet! Apart from being ridiculously ridiculous… he is AMAZING! The song - WOW that was an inspiration! I loved how the planeteers collaborated to conjure him up. "EARTH! FIRE! WIND! WATER! HEART!"

And the fact that HEART was one of the key contributors to his success! The 5th Element some may say!

"Go Planet!" "By your powers combined, I am Captain Planet!"

Captain Planet, he's our hero

Gonna take pollution down to zero

He's our powers magnified

And he's fighting on the planet's side

Captain Planet, he's our hero

Gonna take pollution down to zero

Gonna help him put asunder

Bad guys who like to loot and plunder

"You'll pay for this Captain Planet!"

We're the Planeteers You can be one too

'Cause saving our planet is the thing to do!

Looting and polluting is not the way

Hear what Captain Planet has to say!

"The Power is Yours!"

04: A habit that you wish you didn’t have

So this was super easy... i do a lot of things that i wish i didn't but i still do them... and then i thought i dont want to admit to most of those things...

but i think a habit that i really really wish i didn't have was 'new favourite song' syndrome.

To have this syndrome you must change your favourite song at least more than once a week... and it cant just be a nice song or cool song but it has to exist as your FAVOURITE (optional to add 'ALL TIME' in here where appropriate)

My family think this is hilarious and i do cut a lot of slack for this bad habit... but hey keep it fresh I say! Nothing is final!

My favourite song right at this moment is Sad with what I have by Rufus Wainwright but hey it may change tomorrow!

What is your favourite song right now?

03: A picture of you and your friends

These are the 2 members of my crew! Were the 3 Musketeers! And they are my life!

02: The meaning behind your Blog name

Im so awesome I did this 6 months ago...

NEW JOB YAY!

So I have so very exciting news... I have a new job and working as part of local government means I have an AWESOME new title... Meet Roxanne Haines - "Programme Specialist Event Sponsorship, Tourism Events and Economic Devlopment , Auckland Council Controlled Organisation"! whew!

So basically thought i'd give a brief overview of my awesome new job...

Basically Events are core business for the Tourism Events and Economic Devlopment (TEED) part of Council, and are a critical part of any international city.
In order to ensure Auckland has a fresh, attractive and relevant events programme to enjoy, TEED sponsors specific third party events with the aim of securing them (and their economic and social returns) in Auckland long-term, to generate reputational returns for TEED and the region, as well as buying the right to influence the quality and variety of events hosted within the city.
The primary purpose of this role is to leverage an assigned portfolio of sponsored events, generating maximum benefits for Auckland residents, ratepayers, and for TEED.

Part of my role will oversee the evaluation of sponsorship proposals, researching and identifying potential events to sponsor that address gaps or key objectives, supporting the negotiation of sponsorship contracts and the exciting bit… working on the development of innovative leverage campaigns that will enhance the image of the city nationally and internationally.

Some of the current events we sponsor are...
Bledisloe Cup
NZ Fashion Week
Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park
Comedy FestivalLouis Vuitton World Series
Mission Bay Jazz & Blues
ASB Classic / Heineken Open
Auckland International Film Festival
New Zealand Music Awards
Auckland Cup Week
Auckland Festival

So there you have it!

Day 01: A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

So I decided to take up a wee blogging challenge - I know its kinda dumb and cheesy but I needed a wee writing challenge… Here goes...

Day 01: A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself (Lets make it 5)
My Facts in no particular order
Fact 1: I sleep walk… not just some casual getting up and walking but I go on huge escapades. One time I even had a 4am shower and the only way I realised I had one the next day was that I woke up with wet hair!
Fact 2: I don’t like eggs… everything about them makes me vomit! (ooo except when they are chocolate)
Fact 3: When I was young I swallowed a coin… not just a casual 10c piece but one of the old 20's which are way huge!
Fact 4: I have broken both my legs… seperatley but in very rediculous ways. Bouncy Castles are soft and bouncy.
Fact 5: I was Born in the mighty Pacific on the small island of Niue.. and then migrating to Brunei at the young age of 5 I have spent half my life living on foreign Islands…