The number of conversations facilitated by the medium of social networks is exponential.
Terabytes of information appears daily and is exchanged with hundreds of millions of individuals globally. The collective conversations represent an abundance of information about anything, everything and everyone.
It is from these conversations that we individually and collectively are inspired to learn of a new world fueled by a Relationship Economy where the overriding factor of value is learning.
Many people equate learning with an educational institution of some sort, be it grade school, high school, trade school or college. They usually equate it with spending a portion of their growing years in these institutions learning the basics of human survival, be it reading, writing and arithmetic or basic job skills. It is at these places, for the most part, where they interact with different people, develop interpersonal relationships and acquire a working knowledge of the real world. However, as one would easily attest to by merely looking around, the concept of learning is not simply limited to these learning institutions.
Learning is a lifelong journey with wondrous surprises awaiting the journeyman. Learning is a constantly evolving organism that knows no limits and is constantly developing the human mind into new ways of thinking, acting, doing and living. It is the root of past discoveries and civilizations, the backbone of present ones and the catalyst of future ones. It is essentially what separates us from animals, and is exceedingly imperative in developing a closer, more intimate relationship with the Creator of the universe. Without it, humanity would be virtually non-existent.
The common dictionary meaning for learning is "knowledge acquired by study." By studying certain subjects found in books and magazines, such as mathematics or science, one can gather a concrete knowledge of the subject matter. By studying people, events and places around one, one can gather a general understanding of how they operate. By taking the time to properly study oneself, or as they call, soul-searching, one can gather a healthy, thorough, legitimate knowledge of oneself and one's status in life, and how to continually improve oneself through good times and bad.
With this in mind, it is relatively safe to say that learning is an integral part of human life, and embodies and enriches the very soul of the human being from the cradle to the grave. From a toddler learning to walk for the first time to a pre- schooler learning their ABCs, it guides humans to the very basics of human life that would later become almost second nature. From a preteen and adolescent learning about themselves, their bodies and the world around them, to the young adult entering and striving to live in it, it guides them through good times and bad, through accomplishments and failures, through their many mistakes and discoveries. From mature adulthood to old age, it gives them the keys to oneness with the universe, one another and the Creator. No doubt learning is very essential and imperative for the human being to survive and thrive.
Many people have a very shallow definition of learning, limiting it to various educational institutions and for a select few of the population. While these institutions serve a valuable purpose for the development of the individual, it is not their sole purpose. Moreover, it is not limited to the select few who have the means and the ends to obtain it. It is certainly not limited to those individuals who would use it to exploit others for personal gain.
The purpose of learning is to enhance and develop the human mind, and to develop, nurture and enhance civilization. The purpose is to obtain learning and to share learning so that everybody can benefit, since everyone has to live in this world. For those who would use it for exploitative purposes, they must be retrained in the true value and purpose of learning, lest they gather control and influence and exert dire consequences as well as the fall of civilization, as their past history has eloquently taught us.[1]
Conclusion
There is much to learn about the emergence of our virtual world. Numerous factors are inter-related and the convergence of global conversations is creating the abundance of information which in turn is defining new knowledge. The new knowledge is currently being maximized by the operators, the media and the technological providers for their own purposes aimed primarily at economic gains.When the individuals participating within the medium of social networks begin to learn beyond "how to use" the medium and move to "purpose driven business and personal objectives".
The Relationship Economy will be born and emerge faster than the medium which enabled its emergence. Lots more about The Learning Factor later.
What say you? What are you learning?
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