While there’s significant evidence (aside from the obviousness of experience) that communication quality online is significantly reduced from in-person communication, I continue to be reminded of the inherent power within the simplicity of communication that the Internet has to offer.
Three times in the past two days, I’ve made new connections with people (One through Twitter, another through this blog, and another through e-mail) who I would consider highly respectable, and would have likely never had contact with otherwise. Are they high quality interactions? Not necessarily, but they were simple and as powerful as they needed to be.
I think that perhaps the reason that more people don’t know more people is that they just don’t try. It’s easy to shoot off an email, to give a compliment to another through your blog, ping people through LinkedIn, etc. My amazement never ceases in regard to the openness of others to want to help, accept help, or just shoot the breeze about an interesting topic.
So, next time you’re curious, reach out.