The Only Reason for this page is Peer Pressure

My own business always bores me to death; I prefer other people's.
- Oscar Wilde

I start with this -- a rant.

I don't know who had the idea of starting this blogging stuff. I thought we had gotten away from having to do this, until I started to notice family members begin to do it. We were perfectly content just posting pictures. I was especially content with this since Brandy took over the process. Most of the family was also more content since photos were posted on a much more regular basis.

But no. That isn't enough now. Peer pressure has lead to the invention of another slice at our personal privacy.

We talk about peer pressure when dealing with drugs, alcohol, and other highly addictive, risky behavior. It's not like you see on TV where someone calls you "chicken" for not trying it. It's much more subtle. The looks from your friends, the exclusive conversations about the activity, and the enjoyment people seem to receive from the activity. You break down and try it, and then, realize it's not what you thought it would be like.

So in the spirit of following time consuming, highly addictive behaviors, I give up, and I submit to the peer pressure, the keeping up with the ________ (fill in the blank with a relatives name), and the introduction of sharing family information with the family, and the entire world.

I remember when as a child, hearing the word's of my parents saying, "What's said at home....stays at home." Today what is said at home travels at the speed of light across the globe, or even more remote, the unclaimed big soft chairs at your local Starbuck's. OH well, maybe this thing can be useful. If not, maybe I can just do enough to make everyone feel "connected" to us.

"Connected" ... It used to be good enough just to "stay in touch." "Stay in Touch" -- it carries a connotation of reaching out but being able to withdraw, close enough to reach and be there but far enough away to give the other "space." But not now. We are now "connected" -- to be linked in a constant state. Like your lamp plugged to its power source, we now stay plugged into other people. No wonder we see the proliferation of reality TV, where we can, like voyeurs, live in the lives of others, and for a moment forget about ours. What we don't understand is that others around us are living in our own lives, looking at us to find release. We have all found solace in watching others who help us feel normal, or better. We compare ourselves to those around us, and measure whether we are better off or not. Is this not the root cause of peer pressure to begin with? If not peer pressure, it at its worst was what we once called gossip.

Comparisons are not beneficial. People have gotten so good at comparing themselves to others that we no longer can stomach comparing our actions to a standard. Another reason for "Relativism."

Now before I begin to link this whole blogging fad to moral relativism. I think I'll stop and say, " Thank you so much for coming to my page, and sharing time with me. hugs and kisses, LOL, I'm AFK, BBL, C-Ya, and etc. etc."