Mentors versus “@Mentors”

When I was in high school, I had a teacher who I considered a sort of mentor.  I went to a small Christian school so that sort of thing was encouraged and important.  However, as technology and scoial media becomes more a part of our everyday lives, there is a sort of transition that seems to be taking place.

A lot of people nowadays have mentors they have never met.  Leaders of big movements and pastors of huge churches all use twitter, they all blog, they all write books.  It easier than ever to stay informed on their teachings.  This can be a huge blessing and a wonderfully beneficial tool.  I would be following about half as many people if I got rid of all the big names I follow on twitter.  But there is a definite danger here.

We cannot easily approach these mentors with our questions, doubts, mistakes, and achievements.  Having a real life human being who is wiser than you, and willing to take the time to teach and disciple you is something that no tweet can replace.  Relationships with those who have been there and done that are so key.  So while it is important to take advantage of resources, and learn from those leaders who have made themselves available through technology, we must also seek to learn from relationships, real mentors, and the old generations of our own local churches. 

What do you think are some of the advantages/disadvantages of these two types of mentors?