Hyde Park Speaks

Super View Over Hyde Park United Methodist

Matt Horan asked me to upload a cool pic he took of the Good Year blimp over the church. Must be Super Bowl week!

Pope Benedict XVI: Add As Friend

You can imagine Pope Benedict stumbling over his response when asked about his views on social media in a Rose Garden-style press conference.

Reporter: Your Holiness. What is your position on the wave of online social media?

Pope Benedict XVI: Social media is ... uh, er ... Let me just say, I view the use of it as ... well ... Do as I say, not as I do. Um ... to re-phrase, don't use it, except the way we use it. I think. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing ... uh ... let me get back to you on this.

Why the stumbling in this imaginary press event? Because even as Pope Benedict publicly warns us about the use of social media sites such as MySpace and Facebook, The Vatican is rolling out its new, way cool Vactican YouTube channel. That's ancient doctrines meeting 21st century technology for you.

According to this HuffingtonPost.com article:

Pope Benedict XVI says social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace foster friendships and understanding, but warns they also can isolate people and marginalize others.

Meanwhile, in this article:

The Vatican said that with the YouTube channel, it hoped to broaden and unite the pontiff's audience – an estimated 1.4 billion people are online worldwide – while giving the Holy See better control over the pope's Internet image.

Offering strong views about social media, while at the same time trying to harness it's power, is a fine line for the pontiff to walk. But if God meets you wherever you are, I suppose the Vatican needs to, as well.

I've been a reasonably avid Facebook user for the past few months now. And, I must tell you, it has a pretty amazing way of reconnecting you with old friends.

To me, Facebook is an excellent way to stay in touch and even share posts from such things as Hyde Park Speaks (hint, hint). But the public nature of its discourse does seem to quell the ability to nurture truly deep relationships. So, a great community tool? Definitely. A substitute for real relationships? Hardly. Like most things, enjoy in moderation.

Photo credit:  by Sam Herd

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