The March 17th New York Times Well Blog has an interesting article by Roni Caryn Rabin, entitled “Talk Deeply, Be Happy?” In it Rabin discusses a study done by a University of Arizona psychologist, Dr. Matthias Mehl which reveals that people who have deep, meaningful conversations are happier than people who engage in small talk all the time. Apparently meaningful conversation imposes meaning on an otherwise pretty chaotic world.
Observing the content of mass media today, it would be pretty easy to come to the conclusion that the world is an insane asylum run by the inmates and that any hope for normalcy is a pipe dream. You might think: “I might as well resign myself and join the unthinking, unengaged, unenlightened masses in the race toward self-indulgence.” It kind of reminds me of the old story about the lab experiment involving frogs and hot water. If a frog is plugged into hot water, it jumps out immediately. However, if the frog is put in tepid water and the water is heated gradually, the frog remains unresponsive until it is boiled to death.
Which brings me to one of my favorite topics: social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to me is highly personal – not mass – media. Yet over 400 million people participate in Facebook alone. Is this just another platform for small talk which adds very little to our happiness quotient? Or is it possible to have meaningful conversations in 140 characters or linking your favorite YouTube video of the day?
As I observe my own use of social media to network with my friends and family, I find I am more drawn to posts that have some substance or reveal an uplifting aspect of human nature that makes my heart sing (e.g. “Britain’s Got Talent” winners Susan Boyle and Paul Potts’ Youtube videos). At the same time, I try to post a mixture of meaningful and entertaining posts which seems to be a reasonable balance between “fast food media” and sharing my deeper thoughts.
Yes, there is a lot of small talk on the social networking sites, but I think it’s diminishing over time. Maybe it’s just the people I network with, but whatever, I’m finding it rewarding and seductive.
Bottom line, I buy the results of Dr. Mehl’s research and intend to engage in and surround myself with the most meaningful conversations possible. I don’t know if I could say it’s making me happier, but I do know I find it deeply satisfying – and it keeps my mind off all the cocka-pupu that permeates the commercial airwaves. So, dear networking friends, keep your inspirational posts coming; I’m finding it meaningful and richly satisfying.
Kent Pelz, Founder of Self Marketing, a new thought business networking group.