Is Now A Good Time? If Not, When?

I like the information and the visuals that Sprint gives us in advertising and explaining it's "now network"

• Right now there are 14,500 people texting their significant others
• Right now nearly half of them are breaking up with each other
• And little do you know it, a third of them are sending text porn

If you're made to understand correctly then you know that most folk crave a fast mobile network that can get them the latest info not fast, but right now. Verizon also has a new series of commercials where potential customers are saddened and frustrated because the ability to access facebook and twitter on their current network is impossible due to not having the proper smart phone, network and support, so they get them up to speed by providing them with the new technological gear.

Sound cool, right?

The ability to access social networks and variations of blogs and news sites seems to put us in the know as far as being in the right places and knowing exactly what to do, how to act an what to buy but, what happens when there is all of the right information provided to you, all of the technology to have at our fingertips to utilize and we still fail to be responsible in our actions?

What am I talking about?

Scenario one:

A random celeb is spotted at a club or restaurant having a romantic evening with someone other than their spouse. Using the 'now network' a bevy of camera enabled cellphones send candid pics to friends, relatives and gossip/blog/social networking sites. The press picks up on this type of activity due to phone calls made and or email and texting. Paparazzi shows up either hidden to get the good money shot for magazine/online publishing or just confronts said celeb and shoots a scoop story to be ran to the highest bidding publisher. As a result, word has been spread, evidence provided and buzz (revenue) is generated by calls/text/email/bandwidth used/photos taken using all of the modern marvels of technology we have in our pockets, purses and desk/laptops today.

But the real question is this: Could something have been done to prevent certain celebs from getting caught up in adverse situations by someone in the network? So many have spotted folks in situations that compromised their celebrity, relationships, business and overall public perception. Is it our business to act upon so-called adverse actions performed by celebs and non-celebs alike in attempts to do the right thing when technology is involved?

Did Steve McNair have to die?

With all of the technology involved surrounding his actions in recent months, can we say with all certainty that what happened was a surprise? A lot of folks close to the situation are saying that they were out of the loop and of course some could be covering their own asses but...

Gossip sites, news agencies, private citizens and law enforcement knew aspects of McNair's actions meaning folks are willing to get in one's business and put it over the network but aren't willing to intervene when things go awry. Seeing how quickly the so-called back story got out over the network after his death, it seemed that a lot of people knew something. To bad they were not a part of the same network, they could have called or texted each other and...

Whatever, I guess.

What about Michael Jackson?

Now that so much valuable information has come out via the internet/media/social networks, couldn't that love that's being poured out in enormous amounts been the fodder for someone to jump in front of the King and pull an intervention? I love the king. Always have and was never ashamed to admit that he was the best of the best. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that his public memorial is tomorrow, but... It really seems that a lot of love for the King didn't manifest until the rumors had been confirmed of his demise. With the exception of his passionate fans, I just wish that the remaining global groundswell could have happened before what ever it was that caused his cardiac arrest well, caused it. It seems that from camera phone photos to email accounts and texts (as well as publicly available receipts) and phone calls from his inner circle, the world knew that Michael had a problem. We probably let that problem manifest into what it is now, a memorial service.

What about the ignorant?

I watch a Ustream channel with my favorite Hip Hop DJ and its a 24 hour thing. I observed a guest DJ last night perform in what was to be a 2 hour show preempt himself from spinning tunes to bad mouth Al Sharpton and his efforts to console and counsel the Jackson family. He also made it very clear that he was upset to the point of violence that Rev. Sharpton and Jay-Z made the decision in Chris Brown not performing at the BET Awards. I stopped watching after he got 30 words into his rant. A lot of people made claims to the point where the internet, social networks and mobile networks were abuzz with both info, misinformation and innuendo about this matter. Did anyone do any research? Where is the responsibility in what we put over the network?

Wait... Dude had the technology to broadcast a live show over the same medium he has access to but never researched anything in the seven days that passed since that award show?

C'mon...

It seems some folk only use the "now network" to get worked up now and again with gossip, bad intel and such, but when it comes to viable, proven information gained in real time that probably needs some adressing... Well we seem to drop the ball and fail to act. I know that there is a balancing act with folk trying to stay out of folks business, but as it is in my case as a blogger who puts some harsh (to you) stuff out there, sometimes the stuff that gets putout there warrants concern.

I know that and accept that. I just wish that more of us see other situations with the same concern.

Based on what we know now, would it have seemed right to have intervened in the above mentioned situations? What about the countless other situations that have not made the news wires?

What good is living in the "now network" when we only react out of sadness and despair... Later?

Why have all of this futuristic fodder made purposely on bringing the world closer and keeping us in touch if it's not used responsibly? Who's responsibility is it for proper research? Who fact checks this stuff? What good is information now and how does it affect us when more info will be available with better technology coming down the pipe?