groups: time lag

at work: information is processed and synthesized on the individuals time. group sessions are treated with care, reserved for communication. after these meetings, actions are taken mostly by individuals.

in comparison, for fun: almost nothing is done on an individuals time. if possible, things are preferred to be done as a group.

i call this difference the time lag. when output is expected, a lag in communication is expected, since we assume time is required to get things done. but when bonding is expected, minimal lag is expected. the greater the lag, the less the strength of the bond is.

gathering for a dinner party is zero lag. jumping on a server with your friends is minimal lag. writing letters has greater lag: these recipients, though you care about them, are probably less immediately present in your life. if they were able to participate in zero lag activities, you probably wouldn’t write to them as often.

the “social media” we talk about is far from zero lag. you probably see where im going with this. a large time lag is a major contributor to the “fakeness” of social media. social media isn’t inherently fake. it’s just that right now, its seen as a meeting rather than a hangout. individuals are expected to create on their own time, and present the world with their creation. their creation isnt fake — we as humans just mentally don’t pair time lag with strong bonds.