Community or Narcissism?

My wife and I were discussing the plethora of new ways that facilitate communication online these days--Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, and blogs, among others. Our discussion was in response to a blog we read from an old friend. This blog was, in reality, an online personal journal. Though its content is meant for everyone, all of the posts are about the author. Now this is different from, say, a commentary blog, like GracePoint's. Rather than focusing outward, these personal journals focus inward, in every regard. But make no mistake; she is not going outside the boundaries of her mission. She formed the blog for a very simple reason: to tell the world about herself.

Now there are a million blogs like this (probably literally). People use this tool, and others, to tell the world about themselves. Their hobbies, what they have done, what books they like, what music they are into, what they are going to be doing, etc. And now you can even upload pictures and video of, you guessed it, yourself! What is interesting about this sort of self-focused communication is that the mediums seem to be dictating the type of communication utilized, not vice versa. That is, from what I can tell, people were not hoping for tools like this. But now that the tools are available, we use them, to the nth degree. And what the mediums are dictating, from my vantage point, is narcissism.

Now that is overstating it a bit. Many people use these tools altruistically. Myspace and Facebook have kept relationships alive that would have otherwise died (which my wife points out is not necessarily a good thing). There is also valid and useful interaction via messaging that occurs (even if it is a bit shallow). However, it should not be missed that these mediums have fundamentally changed the way many of us communicate. Blogs, Facebook, Myspace and other such mediums promote the notion that the best way to communicate is to make much of yourself. If you tell the whole world who you are, then people will know you. And if the world knows you, you have communicated. Now all you have to do is group all these people together in one virtual space and you can call it community.

Obviously, I blog; and I also just started Twittering (a decidedly bizarre format where you post, throughout the day, the things you are doing or thinking about in 140 character or less). But I need to be careful. The kind of communication that produces good community does not end with the expression of my ideas, stories, happenings and pictures. In fact, communicating this way exclusively will only promote in you what you should avoid: narcissism. One of the reasons online communication has become so personal is because it is, for many, a one-sided affair. The longer you stare at yourself, the less likely you'll refrain from telling the world every detail of your life (for you have entered a sort of personal infinity).

On the other hand, good, Christ-like communication involves as much listening as it does expression. It probably does not need saying that community always requires dialogue, not monologue. For instance, if you communicate like a TV commercial, you will not form community, for a TV commercial has no real interest in its viewer. Christ-like communication, on the other hand, may begin with you, but it should not end there. Community develops through mutual learning, criticism and encouragement. And deeper than that, Christ-like communication will necessarily move the focus from yourself to the person you are communicating with. "Stir up one another to love and good works," the author of Hebrews says (Heb. 10:25).

But I am probably being too negative and now come across like a hypocrite. It's just a word of warning. I use these mediums and think they can be vital additions to our box of tools; they can even be a good source of community (coincidentally, as I typed this my wife reconnected on Facebook with a good friend of ours in WA). Though anything can be made an idol, most things can be used to serve the church and glorify God. If wielded wisely and with balance, Myspace, Facebook, blogs and even Twitter, can be used to further our true mission: the proclamation of the Gospel.