...and all that jazz!

I've been thinking about this word lately, community! Do I live in a community? I'd say of course, but on second thought I don't really think so, I think we live in some strange reality where posting embarrassing personal crap for the whole world to see is accepted behavior, but smiling and saying good morning to a stranger is downright weird!

Not that I really mind the internets, I actually kinda love it, but I guess it's a love/hate relationship.
On the one hand I have made some fantastic friends, friends that I don't really know, people who's blogs I've been reading for more years then I care to count. These people are kindred spirits, a reassuring reminder that I'm not alone with my crazy thoughts and absurd ideas. I am better for 'knowing' these people, they make me laugh and they help me cry and this clears the air in my private breathing space somehow!
And yet, I can't help but feel anxious about the lack of actual physical interaction, something which, for me, does not come naturally at the best of times, let alone when I live solely through the computer, especially because I tend to be more of a reader then a writer.
I did start this extended sentence with 'on the one hand' so here's the other hand, why does every communication panel, like facebook and twitter and stuff ultimately change into a shitfest of some sort. Something that starts as an excellent venue for staying in touch somehow morfs into this slandering, gossiping, product-plugging labyrinth of funny cat videos, which also somehow becomes the only way to communicate with friends and family, if your not there you're stuck in the square and can't get out!

I know this post has quickly turned into some sort of anti internet thing, but actually this is my attempt at communicating my frustration with the lack of community in my immediate surroundings.
For some reason, we interpret everything as a competition, nobody helps his fellow man anymore. I don't understand this, doesn't my survival depend on yours, isn't it in my interest to help you survive, I help you, so that you help me, because I helped you to help me, so that I'd help you.......

This is especially true in my little country, and apparently extraordinarily so in my chosen career. For some reason everybody is copying everybody else and nobody dares tell anyone about their ideas. Makes sense, naturally I went to art school so that I could copy others, it has nothing to do with MY creativity or a need to express what's in MY head.
Seriously, wouldn't it be much better to share our great ideas and help each other, I could help you realize your dream and then I could count on you to help me get some of my dreams out there! We could totally benefit from this, There is such an opportunity for growth and development, but noooo, don't you dare ask what I am making, don't show interest, don't even fucking smile, you weirdo!

Bleh, I totally suck at expressing myself, there are all these thoughts rattling around in my brain, so much I want to do, live responsively, be mindful, recycle, help my neighbour, SAVETHEWORLD, frack, small steps, right, right?