The city of Texarkana sits squarely on the state border between Texas and Arkansas. The city of 70,000 inhabitants has two mayors, two city councils, and two police and fire departments. The cross-town sporting rivalry between high schools draws an uncommonly high attendance, reflecting the deep allegiance each has to their own state’s school. More significant challenges arise as well, such as disputes over the shared water system, governed by two sets of state laws. Yet the town is known for its unity despite the line that divides it. Residents gather annually for a dinner held on State Line Avenue to share a meal in celebration of their oneness as a community.
Oneness of a community —what a brilliant sentiment and worthy celebration. And precisely our objective over many years of developing what we like to refer to as our “conscious community”, where folks can be seen, valued and heard without judgment, and where authenticity and genuine relationships reign supreme. A community built upon the kind of connection that makes this big, chaotic world feel like our own, very special little village.
Some people think they are in community, but they are only in proximity. True community requires compassion, commitment and openness. It is a willingness to extend yourself to encounter and know the other.
~David Spangler
Real people bringing real compassion, commitment, and openness. Real people communicating with their heads and their hearts via their writing, their comments, and their online voices. It’s not about how many show up, but about who shows up with a spirit of inquiry and curiosity. Because depth and breadth of engagement is, and always will be our “secret sauce” in the recipe for inspiring real relationships. And because when all the dust settles and the day is done, that’s what really matters within our community —and that’s how we embrace and celebrate our special brand of “oneness”.
Time for More Walkin’
We do a lot of talkin’ about more walkin’ when it comes to how we operate and how we cooperate. We’ve listened and we’ve learned from many in recent months —some who suffer from too much tagging and some who wish to be tagged more. And some who are simply overwhelmed by it all. So it’s time for us to now step up our game with more walkin’ when it comes by saying a fond farewell to mass-tagging for the benefit of what matters more. Stepping back from it all, we simply can’t capture the “madness of it all” more eloquently than that presented bravely by Kimberly Davis below ⤵︎
For Whom The Tag Tolls
Quoting from Kimberly’s Article: “Can we explore ways to collectively engage and support one another in a way that feels good to all of us? For in not having the conversation, nothing will change. … How can we use this incredible technology we’ve been given to serve the difference we aim to make in the world rather than overwhelm us? How do we ensure that we’re not just talking to ourselves all the time? I think, like everything in life, it calls for us to go back to our core.”
So it’s back to our core we go when it comes to that 800lb gorilla called LinkedIn. Not tomorrow, not someday soon, but starting right now, right here —we are a “tag-free” zone. What does that mean? Quite simply, no more “mass-tagging” except for this final article (consistent with Mr. Chaplin’s perspective below) to make the case, and for those important times when we welcome new Contributors to our core community or those rare occasions where we decide a worthy exception is in order. Period.
I suppose that’s one of the ironies of life —doing the wrong thing at the right moment.
~Charlie Chaplin
But we want you to keep on keepin’ on when it comes to joining the discussion(s) because that’s where real relationships happen. Please don’t misinterpret this as a promo, but as an opportunity to experience genuine engagement beneath the surface:
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We’re Better Together
We stand with Kimberly and so many others who recognize that “the madness of tagging is a problem worth addressing“. Now let us all move on to the bigger issues, as we continue to show up, step, and speak up —celebrating our “oneness as a community” every step of the way. They say that the next evolutionary step for humankind is to move from human to kind. Won’t you kindly move forward with us?
Dennis,
I can only say I’m sighing relief. This says much to me. I’ve left an extensive commentary on Kimberly’s post here as it truly resonates with me. I am not a tagger but do engage.
With posting and my own growth, both have been demanding. One realizes that responding to mass tagging isn’t always helpful and produces much pressure. I use to think that if I didn’t respond people would think I did not care, or that I was ignoring them, not supportive or not respectful. Well then I learned this is not the case. Whatever others thought of me was up to them. The tagging responding was weighing down heavily. I’ve learned to take care of that by realizing I am only human and can only do what I can humanly possibly do. It’s a digital planet where I like how Dr Jefferson Referenced the Mad Hatter above. With the many perspectives on the planet, it really only comes down to what mine is. What can I live with and handle. Perhaps there is a more precise demand for therapy specific to social media. It is as real as anything else with the same infliction on mental health.
Many times I have pulled away due to the time it takes to tag and the fact that mentally it would be draining. The automatic checking on responses to see if anyone answered.
I have tried it in the past and saw what it did… if it is worth anything..the first times you do it are where it is going to set you up for the future of your online presence. If you are tagging with great respect to the content, what you share will show others if it’s worth the visit. Mass tagging on something With no merit will pretty much lose further responses. People learn. We all do.
I could go on. Lol. I’m just being honest here and will say that I avoided for many reasons. The idea of mass tagging was more of a conundrum to me and it was just better for me not to. I feared upsetting others, it felt like I was demanding and I certainly cared what it said about me.
(And that’s just linkedin. I would see articles on other media and comment there. I would not always go through the same route.)
When it came to sharing my writing it became a hindered effort. I realized the creative in me was suffocating because of it.
Thank you for this. I am happy to move forward in this direction. Much appreciated and embraced!
Thank you, Paula. Relief is the right word, my friend – for so many. We simply need to do our collective best to bring “social” back to social media, replacing tags & likes with real engagement (such as that you demonstrate daily), because THAT is where authentic relationships are formed. … The stage was set when we published this one six months ago: https://www.bizcatalyst360.com/time-to-bring-social-back-to-social-media/
Thank you, Dennis – I am happy that you wrote this post and took up the matter. The increasing tagging actually made me consider if I was somehow old-fashioned not embracing the tagging on LinkedIn to the degree others were doing. When you make a decision like this, it starts a ripple effect – and this one added energy to me. Resolution to stay true to my own values and views. Thank you for that!
Our pleasure, Maria. Know that we struggled with this for quite some time –listening to feedback from the “pro-taggers” and the “no-taggers” and ultimately concluded that the best approach was for us to simply be very selective (special features & welcoming new Contributors) leaving the rest of the “mass-tagging” to those who wish to embrace it.
Tagging has always seemed like “madness” in much the same “rational way” Henry Dodgson/Lewis Carroll’s Mad Hatter characterizes the weird world-views down the rabbit hole. Picaresque stylistics push the ideal reader beyond the delimiting boundary conditions of defensive acculturations. Not even the absurdist modernity of Don Quixote’s tilting windmills comes close to the madness of trying to base the “community of trans-humanation” on the transactional socionomics of “tagging”.. Livestockers tag their tradeable assets. Aren’t we all settled on the moral imperative of prolongeviity, liberty, and pursuable joys?
Your analogies certainly amplify the essence of the “madness”, Jefferson – thank you for adding value to this important discussion, particularly since the ripple effect is far and wide.
Hello Dr. Jefferson,
I’m delighted to see the reference to “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”, one of my all time favourites. One of the most brilliant pieces I have ever read. The mass tagging can lead to madness of the mind. It takes a great deal of thought and consideration in the digital realm. I think now in comparison of this digital realm to the wonderland adventures….lol. I’m smiling as it seems such a great analogy! Thanks for this thought here! And good to see you! Cheers!
Oh boy! Simply mesmerizing my dear friend Dennis! When I read your words, I can sense the difference between a beginner and a master! This can only make my determination to practice and sharpen the saw unstoppable! Thank you 🌞
Thank you my friend. It’s time for us all to replace the “tagging” action with “taking” action for the good of humanity and authentic relationships….