@jamiemauldin

I made a post on a message board recently about ECU’s new head coach, and that he is the first black head football coach at a D1 school in NC. This is a point of pride for me, even if I am not the typical affirmative action proponent.

I was crucified for bringing this up! I was asked why I had to make a post about it. I was told that “this” (i.e. bringing up past wrongs) is what keeps America from moving forward in race relations. I was asked why it mattered what color the coach is.

I could see the issue if I claimed that Coach McNeill got the job simply because he is black. What I said, however, was “Lost in all the coverage is the fact that McNeill is ECU’s 1st black HC!” (actual post title). I see nothing wrong with this.

I also see no reason why we can’t talk about race relations, good and bad, in this country. It boggles my mind that something that consumes so much of our national conscience is so hard to discuss openly. Ladies and gentlemen, like it or not, white people have historically repressed and discriminated against minorities. Minorities, like it or not, there are just as many opportunities available to you today as there are for white people, and the blame for failure no longer rests on whites. We all need to get over ourselves and start to talk about this. If we do not we are all doomed to repeat every indiscretion.

I have a dilemma: should I withhold my feelings on the internet to spare the feelings of close friends/family the same as I do in real life?

Mainly my issues arises when I want to talk politics or religion. I don’t make public my beliefs to certain people because they do not agree with me; and honestly I don’t feel as if it will do them any good to know such things.

But should I feel free to speak my mind on the interwebs? I link to this blog not only from my website, but also from my other online presences (Facebook, my family site, etc.), and those from whom I withhold information in my real life can easily see it in my cyber-life. If I am interested in shielding them do I have an obligation to do so in all realms?

OR – is this blog a sounding board for my ideas, thoughts and feelings?

An acquaintance of mine had a baby last night (well, actually at 4 am!). I know that she was in labor as soon as it happened. She didn’t call me or send me a text message; I just happened to see it on Facebook.

I haven’t seen this acquaintance for more than 10 years, and I would never have known about the pregnancy if not for Facebook. I knew when a cousin got married, even though I haven’t seen him since my great-grandfather’s funeral in 1991. I know things about the lives of people with whom I have had no substantive contact in more than a decade, and it’s all because of Facebook.

Facebook has become a vital communications link for me. I check it in the morning…at lunch…before I go to bed. In fact, I checked it so often that, when I upgraded my cell phone, I got a BlackBerry so that I could have Facebook Mobile (along with email; I’m addicted to email!). Facebook is the new telephone – but BETTER!

This got me to thinking about the importance of this new media, and whether the “relationships” we have over social media are actually real. Would I have anything to talk about with these folks if I was in a coffee shop with them? Does the fact that we are connected to each other through Facebook make us “friends” or mere acquaintances??? Is my relationship with my Facebook friends more humanly (word?) meaningful than my in-person interactions with people that I don’t really care for in person???

Hmmm…………