I’m sure that there must be a new branch of psychology that now studies the effects of digital friendships or even digital love. If there isn’t I bet it will become a PHD or even a BS before too long. Everyone wants to be wanted and loved. That’s pretty much a human condition. I don’t think a degree is needed to understand that. All we have to do is look at ourselves and figure that out.
The idea of digital friendships is growing bigger in popularity everyday. Facebook, twitter and any other social media site is banking on digital friendships. Match, Plenty of Fish, eHarmony, etc, they’re all laughing on the way to the bank due to people searching for love and being wanted.
That’s not to say that people can’t develop good friends or find the love of their life online. I’ve heard it’s possible. I’ve met some people online and have some great friendships from it. So I won’t discount it. However, I’m still a big proponent of needing to see someone face to face. To me digital should only enhance, not replace the contact between people.
The interesting thing I’ve seen in a few friends recently is the desire to not even use a phone. I know that concept comes from the 4 hour work week. A book that I was encouraged to read. While the book does make sense in that business relationships might benefit from limited phone contact. I don’t think personal relationships benefit from it. With friends now being less likely to pick up a phone and putting messages on answering services saying: email or text me instead, really shows how impersonal people are becoming towards those they supposedly consider to be close friends.
Maybe I’m weird in that I think speaking a conversation is faster and more efficient than typing it. Additionally there is the added feature that you can hear a person’s attitude, or their mood in their speech. Something the written word cannot convey for most people. Which is why I like voicemails. I can hear the person. But then I’m into sound. Which is weird because some of the people I tend to consider close friends who are also musicians are the biggest part of the trend to request texts or emails.
Which is making the friendships harder and harder to deal with. Face time is becoming less and less, and contact is becoming more impersonal. It’s rather sad. I get the impression that they believe the more “contact” they have with more people in little byte sized chunks, the more desired or wanted they are. Though it seems to be coming at the expense of stronger ties to people they care about. Or rather say they care about.
Any way, the idea of digital friends and love is what struck me when I was contacted by a previous Single of the Day featured band, Mobile. They sent me a copy of a song called Electrolove. It’s a free single that you can go get for yourself off their website!
It’s a barrage of guitars and a wash of sounds. It kinda reminds me of the 80’s type of sound when it involved guitars and emo-ish type of pop. Lots of lots of stuff in the mix to the point where it’s almost jumbled.
Catchy is what I’d called the opening guitar figure. It’s repetitive and easy to latch on to. The verses feel very short and quick which gets them to the hook fast. The drums are pushing and pushing thru the beat. Everything says push ahead and get there (where ever the there is).
Enjoy your holiday weekend and go pick up your copy of Electrolove. Then go great a friend in person and give them a hug instead of a text. I bet you both will appreciate it more than you think.