When social media is really social

A few years ago, I googled myself and found a couple of other Scott Hansons who have backgrounds similar to mine.  One is a sports reporter for the Seattle Times and the other is host of the NFL Network’s Red Zone.
While on a Southwest Airlines flight recently, I was reading through Southwest, The Magazine when I saw a letter-to-the-editor from a former neighbor and longtime friend, Tami Shaw.
Tami was thanking the publication for a previous article, “Nice to Meet Me,” about a man, Jesse Hughey, who created a private Facebook group for other people with his same name.
Well, Tami had also done that!  About the time Facebook became legit, she began reaching out to other Tami/Tammy Shaws, inviting them to the Tami Shaw page.    There are now eight Tami Shaws who are in the group.  It’s quality over quantity.  They comment on and “like” each other’s posts. My friend Tami said, “It’s weird and comforting all at once.”
Even more unusual:  it’s an example of social media being used for, well…. purely social reasons.