Here Comes Everybody

Social media is taking over the world. It has stormed in and made its way into the lives of everyone with access to a computer or smart phone. As human beings we have a natural tendency to associate with other people, to connect with them, especially with others that share our same interests and hobbies. As the world has changed and advanced, people have found it more difficult to be a real community, people live around each other and yet often have no idea who their neighbors are. People were able to easily accept the new advancements and changes in technology, especially the coming of the Internet. It enabled them to be able to connect with other people that were like them, that shared their same hobbies, and that they would have had no other way to connect with except for with the birth of the Internet. It had the ability to connect people like nothing could before. It provided the framework, the ability for others to create websites and places for people to interact with each other. When many of these places were created, they didn't expect the results that they achieved, they did not know what to expect, but the people who saw the potential in them were able to utilize them to link people and create the stepping stones to what exists now.

There are so many sites that help to link people that share interests; pinterest, instagram, facebook, google+, linked-in and many more. These are the more modern sites that are widely popular and used in most countries of the world today. These social media sites are literally forcing their way into the world, they are becoming more and more popular and effecting people's lives drastically. These sites have their good uses but they can and have  also been used for bad. Facebook has helped many people be able to connect with old lost friends, and family, but because of this it has also been heavily involved in divorce cases, because of many people hooking back up with past girlfriends and boyfriends or engaging in inappropriate flirting with members of the opposite sex. People have set up wonderful reunions and meetings that have brought about much good, but people have also neglected children, jobs, and other responsibilities after becoming addicted to these sites. Social media is finding ways to take over the world, we have to be careful what we allow it to do, and how much we allow it to affect our lives.

The Church and Computers

As time passes the world continues to grow and advance technologically, and the Church continues to adapt to these changes. The Church teaches to live in the world but not of it. That it continues to adapt and utilize modern technology to further the work of the Lord, is a testament of its truthfulness. The leaders of the Church are inspired and given direction concerning modern technology. They find safe and effective ways to use it to spread the gospel and to help those who are seeking for truth. It is amazing that a Church can be so inspired and directed to be in the world but not of it. To use the technological advancements for good and to combat the evil. This is a testament of its truthfulness and divinity. The Lord will continue to spread the gospel and he will use the most effective and modern methods to do it.

Coders Unite!

That Linux exists and is widely used today is an incredible phenomenon. Random coders, who were scattered all across the world, united and created an operating system to their own desired specifications and were quite successful. The fact that Linux is so widely used and popular is a testament to how well made it is. It is incredible that people who had never met nor discussed any ideas in person were able to coordinate their efforts and create such a popular and effective operating system. This is especially so because of the sheer size and complexity of an operating system. If those coders had not thought it possible to coordinate their efforts and to work together in building Linux it might not exist today.  

Hearts Turned To Their Fathers

Family History is one of the most important things that the internet helps tremendously. Until just a few years ago, doing your own family history was nearly impossible. Many people sacrificed a lot to find out about their ancestry. They would travel all over the world to access records and to visit graveyards where they hoped their ancestors had been buried. The internet has made it possible for many wonderful websites to appear and make family history that much easier. Just a few clicks and you can learn so much about your family and its history. No longer is it necessary to travel far and wide especially because these sites continue to grow and gather more and more information. It is a great blessing to be able to further the work of the Lord and its even more awesome that it can be done in the comfort of your own home.

Overstepping Bounds for Protection's Sake

Copyright laws have always seemed to make sense, but now that definitive line has become fuzzy. These laws were made to protect the creator from losing rights to his/her creations and prevents others from stealing his/her ideas. The fact that businesses and companies would exploit these laws and steal others' creations is ridiculous. The very companies that are crying foul play, while music and movies are being spread like crazy, are stealing those very creations from the rightful owners. Laws exist to protect us and should protect us, but there always are people who exploit those very laws. They often use them to hurt the very people the law was intended to protect. There is no clear or simple solution, but the most basic way to bring about change is to raise awareness of a problem.