Online Writing Sites Unite Humanity
By Shiva
@Shiva49 (28394)
Singapore
January 12, 2016 6:11am CST
Though I tend to highlight some deleterious fall outs from overuse of technology, I have embraced online writing. Anything done in excess comes at the cost of our overall wellness and I see few totally absorbed in modern gadgets. Some have been painful to digest like young parents, especially mothers, oblivious of the needs of their toddlers even. In Asia we have a system of live in helpers or “maids” as they are called, and their employers even install CCTV at home to monitor them. They expect the helpers to be ever attentive of the needs of their wards and monitor them even from their own workplace! Food for thought!!!
However, online writing is an exception even if it is gone a bit overboard! Most want to share their experiences to help others in similar situations. Then they have pet topics to share and discuss. I have developed friendships that withstand the test of time, like I have continued to be in touch with them from one site to another. And when they are so welcoming, that adds a spring in my steps!
That we are cut from the same cloth is reinforced by what we share through online sites. Most yearn for peace, keen to help others in need, comfort them that they are not alone, that they themselves have gone through worse patch and lived to tell the tale!
We can rise to another level to influence the thought process that our planet is for everyone and has no borders except in our minds. Though we cannot think alike, we can find unity in diversity. Online writing and expression of our inner yearnings can lead us to a better world where the true will of the people are reflected, shone like a lighthouse to our feuding leaders.
17 people like this
18 responses
@allknowing (153529)
• India
13 Jan 16
This was my dream since childhood. I so wanted penfriends but somehow could not get any and when this vista opened up I feel I am having more than what I had bargained for.
4 people like this
@innertalks (23743)
• Australia
13 Jan 16
@Shiva49 I used to play games of correspondence chess with people all over the world. Sometimes a game took more than a year to be concluded.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (28394)
• Singapore
13 Jan 16
Happy for you. I remember the days when people had penfriends but the mail took forever to go to and fro. Like I stated, we are lucky that technology has bought us together but then again few use it to divide us. The beauty has been the vast majority wants peace and coexistence - siva
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (28394)
• Singapore
13 Jan 16
Yes, everything comes with a price tag. The rewards are more in terms of interactions that widens our outlook and understanding of others. We have to be aware of some negatives too like despite the fascination with Facebook, people with similar thinking tend to stick together, unable to appreciate the views of others - siva
3 people like this
@iamshane487 (1138)
• Manila, Philippines
13 Jan 16
I don't belong to the excellent level of writers, but I enjoyed writing online, making blog and make money.
4 people like this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
12 Jan 16
I agree with you. It has managed to bring people together from all over the world
4 people like this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
12 Jan 16
@Shiva49 Very true and this shows how people can come together and agree in so many stuff that can bring positivity
4 people like this
@Shiva49 (28394)
• Singapore
13 Jan 16
@Missmwngi We should not fall prey to the machinations of few - the 1% - who keep highlighting that we are different. Are there not 99% similarity in us - by the way how we are born and die, how our body functions, emotions etc. And we leave with nothing in the end. So let us enjoy the ride maintaining unity in diversity of culture, beliefs etc - siva
4 people like this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
16 Jan 16
I didn't know "maids" system only happens in Asia. I learned that from another discussion here. Yes, I agree that online writing sites bring us closer to each other. I am very thankful for the invention of Internet. As a homeschooling parent, I do not get much support locally, even there are homeschoolers around, we do not share the same direction or vision, so I am quite "alone" here. I am grateful for having the Internet, hence I am connected to other homeschoolers through Facebook groups, and I got lots of support and information from there. So, I don't feel so alone here anymore. 
3 people like this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
16 Jan 16
@Shiva49 Yes, this is another reason I really appreciate the invention of Internet. This is the reason to allow me to stay at home, taking care of my children while being a freelance programmer as well. I might not be able to enjoy this if there's no Internet.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (28394)
• Singapore
16 Jan 16
Yes, technology is indeed a boon, but like for every tool there is an equal and opposite side where few use it against others. Technology has opened vast vistas and sky is indeed the limit. We are aware of latest developments and able to keep our knowledge up to date. Now many employers encourage their employees to work from home wherever possible and that trend is increasing. We have to count our blessings we are alive at this time but let us also not get carried away - Siva
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (28394)
• Singapore
17 Jan 16
@kaka135 Some like the office atmosphere but for me the end destination is family, so Internet has helped me to do work from home than prolonging my time in the office. Happy for you that technology has helped you with more time with family and at the same time not forsaking a career -siva
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
13 Jan 16
I too have formed friendships with other writers online that have stood the test of time and changing of sites. It is surprising but true.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
13 Jan 16
@Shiva49 Yes that and the shared interest of writing or traveling or whatever is the type of site that brought us together,
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (28394)
• Singapore
14 Jan 16
@LadyDuck I started with Associated Content which was bought over by Yahoo. I had 400 posts but all history now! Then Wikinut, but they have changed TOS. In between for a while with Bukisa - all told, 700 posts. but I did enjoy my journey and still do - for me destination is meeting good people along the way! siva
4 people like this
@Shiva49 (28394)
• Singapore
14 Jan 16
I put my heart and soul into couple of sites but they closed shop rather abruptly or changed their Terms of Service midway. Then we feel we are left high and dry. So enjoy whatever we do and follow passion but knowing the consequences of depending on others. But I have no regrets at all as change is the only constant in life - siva
4 people like this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
15 Jan 16
Very well said. Diversity is the "spice" of life. I enjoy learning about different cultures but deep down we are all "cut from the same cloth" as you said. We simply want to be able to live a peaceful life, where we can enjoy each day's activities with our friends and family. We want to be able to have pleasant work so we can have the necessities of life. We want to be able to lay our heads down each night and go to sleep with a clean conscience and wake up feeling refreshed and ready for a new day of activity, free from fear.
The world is not allowing us to do that however. And there are specific reasons why. I would like to recommend a web site:
You can read Bible-based articles in any language you choose, about "Why there is suffering in this world." And what God intends to do about it.
There are FREE videos to watch and you can also request FREE literature to read in your own language. I love this site and highly recommend it to you.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (28394)
• Singapore
16 Jan 16
Thanks for your input. I feel we have to get our act together as the writing on the wall is clear that 99 percent have similar yearnings to live and let live.
Though some feel mankind cannot live in peace I feel that attitude is defeatist. We have learned all the lessons and no need for another world war to teach us the same by taking us back to Stone Age.
When we hit when the iron is hot we have solved intractable problems - like ending the Cold War, collapse of Iron Curtain, end of apartheid, China integration with world order etc.
The biggest enemy is few with unbridled greed blinding reason - those who deal in armaments and sell them to all sundry - siva
2 people like this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
16 Jan 16
Siva, and this piece is one of the reasons i am so glad you have come here. i love your work as you are an amazing writer. it wonderful to read you work because of the messages you have. So happy to see you again my friend.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (28394)
• Singapore
16 Jan 16
Thanks Brendamarie for your kind words and support as always. I feel so grateful.
Without sites like this we have no opportunities to reach across the world. Now we know what the vast majority yearns for everywhere, so we should raise the bar to see that our writ runs.
Thanks again for your encouragement - siva
2 people like this
@innertalks (23743)
• Australia
13 Jan 16
In the old days, a writer had to try to publish a real printed book. This was very difficult for most of us to do.
Now, we can publish right away just about anything we want to. We can write a poem, share an insight, talk about an experience at work, or one with a pet dog, or cat, for example.
I am a bit of a philosopher myself, and I like to write about some of the things that interest me.
I like to share my thoughts, thinking, probably wrongly in a way, that my own thoughts have never exactly been thought like that before. My thinking is really unique, LOL.
The thing is though, even the bible says that there is nothing new under the sun, but inside the sun, or above the sun, it says nothing about our sharing of our exploring of these territories now, does it?
@innertalks (23743)
• Australia
13 Jan 16
@Shiva49 I never used to write as much on paper as I do now on the computer. It is so much easier to do now.
And much neater too. I have a folder on my computer where I keep copies all of my notes, and writings.
I have learnt the hard way to do this, having lost a few over the years. I had twenty megabytes of writings in a computer program diary, which does not work any more on the latest windows 7 that I am using now.
I can't access that any more, which is a bit annoying.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (28394)
• Singapore
13 Jan 16
At times I remember those who meticulously kept diaries even chronicling their daily thoughts in olden days. I recall asking a colleague of mine what drove him to do that thirty years ago when internet was not born. He said he had over 1000 pages of his thoughts and I was intrigued that he had so much thoughts to put them to paper! Sadly, many such had no avenue to share them.
My posts now numbering 700 are mostly about my thoughts and views that I share, and think aloud, I welcome the many comments and never put off by dissenting ones.
Creation is ever dynamic and I think our thinking also undergoes subtle changes. Even if there is nothing new under the sun, we may not be fully aware of what is already old! We have to keep connecting the dots to make sense of who we are, then why we are here. We can now leave our legacy to a wider circle, thanks to internet and online writing and that is indeed a great blessing - siva
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (28394)
• Singapore
13 Jan 16
@innertalks Though can be a little expensive, you can get help to retrieve the lost data. I remember paying SGD 150 and it was worth it. Yes, I am now used to do the writing on the computer and hardly use paper and pen - the young will say it is so dated!
Now I have Drop Box to save my writings under Word. It is free up to a limit too - siva
3 people like this
@artemeis (4189)
• China
19 Jan 16
I do agree that technology has brought about many improvements into our daily lives like the internet which has brought about many things we could never do back in the days like corresponding using emails, chatting online, monitoring of our homes to traffic situations on the roads taking us to work or the bus service coming to our bus stop near us.
However, like you've brought up it could be a double edged sword when we become too dependent on these technologies like try recalling your parent's or spouse's telephone number without your mobile phone, send an ordinary greeting card the traditional way and so on. On the social scene, I remember an article written on how couples are found using online chats even when both parties are sitting right across the same dinning table during a date or picking up calls during a meal or movie together. It had gone so southwards that couples are having a difficult time talking to each other and some could even say that they could not find anything to talk about without the emoticons. So it is really quite scary here when we overindulge with the abandonment of control.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (28394)
• Singapore
19 Jan 16
The young grow with the gadgets while the old is on catch up mode all the time. Yes, technology helps us but we should not forget our roots and what binds our relationship. If we cease to be humans by adopting a robotic, unemotional lifestyle sans attachment, we will lose all meaning in life and forget to hear our soul.
I restrict myself with I what I need and not into social networking as we lose ourselves in an unreal, make-believe world. I see young parents getting lost on their gadgets and their children are even neglected. They just go through the motions rather than enjoying the moments.
For me anything that does not require a positive action from me is not worth spending my time - we have so much of information overload and I look at the young lost in their own world even in offices - these are not promising trends - gadgets taking over our lives - siva
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4189)
• China
21 Jan 16
@Shiva49
Technology and its devices never fail to fascinate both the young and the old. While it is a much needed thing of today, I believe we should never forget that it should be used as a bridging communication tool where it is suppose to effectively get our messages across to whosoever at the other receiving end. Other than that, we should still remember the importance and great significance a personal spoken word through direct contact carries. Sure we can play some games, catch up with our reading or pastimes but again, we should never fail to remember that we are all humans of blood and flesh.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (28394)
• Singapore
21 Jan 16
@artemeis Well said, you have resonated my thoughts too.
We should know where to stop and that is when we cross the borders of humanity. Foremost, we need balance so that when one lets us down there are others to fall back upon. Let us never forget the abundant love we enjoyed from our previous generation and keep it alive by passing on with interest to the future generation.
Technology is only a tool to help us, especially those in need, and not an end by itself - siva
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
14 Jan 16
The internet is the greatest bond for strangers the World has ever seen
3 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
2 Feb 16
THe internet is a great tool to bring all of us from different walks of life together. It's too bad the parents of the children being watched by the maids and such have to monitor them while at work. I can see if they might do so if they are concerned periodically about things, but I don't see how an employer can allow this to be ongoing. I'd think the work would suffer.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (28394)
• Singapore
3 Feb 16
We are now more than aware how similar we are - the 99% and also the 1%!!!
Like all progress and inventions, technology too cuts both ways. I sort of compare it with the old term " a jealous mistress" as it consumes much time and even takes over our lives relegating face to face communication to the background.
Some easily justify employing maids and make them do work that are loathe to do and even invade their privacy by installing CCTV cameras. And they monitor them often and it may not occur to them what they are doing is wrong. It hardly makes a dent on their conscience and they do not follow - treat others as you wish to be treated - siva
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382412)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 16
You are so right and have put your point so well. On sites like this we can all communicate with 'everyday' people; those living in the cities, suburbs and countryside, all trying to make their way in life. It has given me a much better understanding of how the 'common folk' live.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (28394)
• Singapore
23 Jan 16
I have been active at few sites for five years and I can feel the underlying thread of humanity binding us across the world. We can agree to disagree, but still appreciate where others come from. Out of many, few become soulmates willing to support others even going out of the way. When I moved in here, some welcomed me enthusiastically that touched my heart - siva
1 person likes this
