Queen Latifah has always been a woman of tremendous wisdom.
Her lyrical content has always revealed the mind of a critical thinker, one who isn’t afraid to challenge societal norms and question the status quo. As a self admitted addict of social media, I found her latest interview with Upscale Magazine to be both interesting and resonant. Queen La discusses the speculation about her love life, her observations on famous couples in the spotlight, and her feelings on social media networks. Via Necole Bitchie:
“When I meet someone I want to enjoy the moment of connecting with them. If they’re scrambling to get a picture to post on twitter, they’re losing the memory by missing the moment. Real life and social networking are not the same. I’m in a hotel room right now looking out at Central Park. The people out there are living life, playing soccer. Do I want to kick the ball? Or take a picture of it? I want to kick it.”
I want to kick the ball too! It’s something I’ve noticed and disliked in myself and others – the need to relentlessly photograph and overshare and document our lives right in the moments when we should feel free to let go and just experience. Just live.
I feel Queen Latifah 100%. And I promise to spend more time kicking the ball, and less time taking pictures of it.
MBLS
Love Queen Latifah, and what she has to say is so true!
Kweenie
So true. No one has time to capture life’s best moments on camera. You’re too busy enjoying them…
embraceurcrazy
My name is Bree, and I’m a social media addict. The Queen’s quote has hit home for me, I think I may need to start pulling the plug on my twitter, facebook, tumblr, foursquare accounts soon.
BlackBetty
It’s such a poignant thought. I’ve cut back to almost zero social media usage for this very reason.
Simone
I agree… I swear, I know more about total strangers than I do about family. I think it speaks to a sense of disconnection; kinda a jumping up and down and shouting “look at me, look at me”…
I have a facebook page, its mainly to keep up with family. I never use my twitter much (its for my business) and hte rest of it… who cares… too busy living life to tell folk about it!
Chai
great insight, and I often feel this way with the many friends I have who are constantly on their IPhones or gadgetries. Even while enjoying a beautifully yummy dinner, I will have a friend trying to Google a tidbit of information I just shared with them. Staying in the moment is very key, and I hope a lot of us do not lose site of this.
sandra
Serendipity. I have pulled my facebook account and rarely use social media. I found that if I know a person they don’t need to connect with me through social media. They can call, they can email. I really don’t care that much what they are doing each and every minute. I also don’t appreciate the amount of spam I get on these accounts. That said: for a personal account for close friends and associates these may be tools I’d use in the future; but who has the time for all of this when I could just call and post my pictures on flickr.
Another thing which has bothered me about social media is that now after years you’re being told whatever you’ve postsed in the past could keep you from getting jobs or even getting credit. That is wrong. Yes, I know there were Terms of Service, but who sat down and read the real fine print.
Kat
I was watching VH1’s “Hip Hop Honors” the other day, and was amazed by how many folks were standing front row, within arm’s reach of the performers, and were texting, tweeting, or whatever they were doing.
I’m with Sandra. I turned my back on Facebook a few months ago. If I want to reach out to people, I call them. If I want people to know what I’m doing, I’ll invite them to join me! I’m just waiting for the backlash. We’re too busy looking down at our phones and seeing people through the filters of their profiles.
And, I’m amazed by what technology can actually do. Yesterday, I purchased the best 99 cent app yet for iPhone…a GRATITUDE JOURNAL! I’m using it to jot down my successes at the end of the day.
Quayshah
i kindof agree with everyone because i am not a technological advanced person per se, however, i will admit that i like facebook. i have moved from the state i was raised in and in for most of my life, so it lets me connect/reconnect with whom i CHOOSE to have in my life.
and remember…EVERYTHING IN MODERATION!
Quayshah
RAISED IN AND LIVED IN^^^^^ SORRY
Miss Moon
I love that quote!!! “I want to kick the ball” needs to be on a tee shirt somewhere! 🙂
Shelly
I have been on a Facebook break also…I haven’t been on the site since mid-January. I must admit I haven’t really emailed much either,but that’s o.k. because I feel like I have more time. Besides, I really got tired of just seeing pictures of my friend’s and families vacation or whatever! I also wanted to hear about it. Don’t get me wrong,I’m not staying away from Facebook forever,I’m just taking a much needed break.
Caribbean Girl
It is quite a quandry, I must say. Recently, on a kinda vacation, I took lots of photos on a long gorgeous hike and then wrote a diary entry for my friends of my experience on another day. It was fun and felt great to share. But, after that I stopped, simply because I realised that I was no longer just enjoying the moment for the moment, rather thinking how I should document it… I prefered to enjoy the moment and hoped that the memories would suffice. Hope that makes sense.
julia
I agree that it’s easy to go overboard with the social media outlets. For me my blog is like a journal. Growing up I loved buying and writing in notebooks, and it’s great to have those to look back at and to one day show my children. With far flung family, the blog also a place for my sister, grandma, aunties and uncles to see pictures of the newest members of the family.
With a full time job, a husband, a toddler and a baby on the way it’s honestly difficult to find time to make all the phone calls I’d like to make – that’s where facebook comes into play for me.
I agree with Quayshah – all things in Moderation! none of what I do with social media is on a huge or daily scale. I use it for a purpose that fits my needs right now.
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