When you're only twitter friends

Charlotte Stienway's article has me questioning the mannerisms and social capacity of our generation. I began speculating as I read about her fear of seeing people who had friend requested her on facebook and them acting as if she didn't exsist when she pasesed them. She was spot on of my daily struggle of walking in and out of the arena, weight room, and training room. Being a collegiate athlete limits my schedule significantly to a certain group of people. The people I am with on a day to day basis, from weekday to weekend, are the ball state university athletes. There are few people I interact with outside this community and when we talk of each other many people would define us as a close knit community. But, does being twitter and instagram friends really keep us connected enough to define ourselves as a close knit group? This is where I could relate to Charollete's inquiry that many people will not say hello because of they fear rejection. Fear of rejection is one of the major barriers in many people's decision making process. Maybe this is a poor assumption to make but based on my experience athletes obtain an ego that places a unreasonable emphasis on being accepted by fellow athletes. Therefore, rejection is a risk many aren't willing to take. That is why twitter, instagram, and facebook are a safer route. Because rejection behind a device is much easier to handle than in person. So how does this all connect? I have met a majority of the athletes if not all (excluding the countless football players that are seemingly always traveling somewhere)through sporting events, charity events, and athletic gatherings,etc. Yet, in passing it would be abnormal to get a simple hello from a number of these people. Instagram and twitter say these people enjoy what I have to say and like pictures I have posted. But, it is easier respond to a tweet about an upcoming competition with a "good luck, youll kill it" rather than a smile or head nod in person. This is especially prevelant in male athletes. Its typical to get a compliment on a picture from a male athlete and a direct message follwing but it is not common for this same athlete to look up from his phone in passing and acknowledge this person they communicated with on social media. It's sad, I can't say I'm not guilty of it though. Just the other day I was in the training room with a guy I have had face-to-face conversation with because I was asking about his injury. He had followed me on instagram and twitter and partook in interaction on both of my pages but, avoided eye contact the whole time we were in the training room. I know he saw me because we made quick eye contact but he quickly resorted to his phone. This is not the only case this has happened. Many other female and male athletes have interacted with me through social media but will not interact in passing. The first instinct is to look busy on their phone. I'm guilty of doing the same I admit, but I dont really get why... If someone says hi you're going to say hi back. That is almost a guaranteed reciprocated action. AND the least painful rejection...ok no hi back... i'll survive. I've never really thought about how pathetic it is because I've learned to expect little acknowledgement.