xoxo, Gossip Girl

Social networking sites have the same promise and effectiveness in creating drama as they do in creating change in the world. -[Raul]

Yes, this is me quoting myself.

I remember a very hot summer day of last year having beers with several good friends from the Vancouver social media community on the rooftop of Redwerks. I had just recently read about the Emily Gould story (a former co-editor of Gawker) and I mentioned to Lorraine and Heather that I didn’t want to be the next EG.

Not that I had anything to worry about, for starters (my blog is way too clean cut and wholesome) but simply because social networking sites and blogs DO have the potential for creating drama. God knows I’ve been (marginally and tangentially) touched by that.

There have been times in my life when I have regretted having launched a blog.

Having joined Twitter.

Having become addicted to social media in such a way that I joined every single social networking site (I’m hummingbird604 on everyone just in case you’re curious).

But Blogathon 2009 reminded me (despite however many times I cursed the moment that I decided to do it again) that there is potential in social media to do good for humanity.

Mental Health Camp 2009 made it possible for me (and for my dear friend Isabella to make a difference in people’s lives. We built on the work of our predecessors (those who have been brave to speak out and try to break down stigma).

I may be physically exhausted and mentally tired. I may be cranky sometimes, and I may swear off of all things social media.

But there’s one thing I’ll never be – inconsistent with my own thoughts and beliefs. I act like I think, I do as I write. I set an example on how social media should be used by using it in that way.

And that’s who I am.

[EDIT - Clearly, I was sleep-deprived and brain-not-functional. The phrase "xoxo Gossip Girl" derives from the popular show Gossip Girl - one of the background characters is a famous blogger who - as you can imagine - destroys peoples' reputations and lives - hence the title of my post - a reflection on how some people use social media for bad and not for good]

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