To Tweet or Not to Tweet?
Ever since a job I had required me to sort through Tweets for mentions of a particular NPR radio host, I’ve been anti-Twitter. My mind went numb after hours of logging “eatin breakfast and listening to [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][NPR host]” into a database. I’m pretty sure you would go crazy, too, reading hundreds of mundane tweets from total strangers. Even as I acknowledged its role in connecting people and disseminating information, my experience made me hostile to the whole site.
But now, I’m reconsidering my stance. I don’t intend for twitter to replace facebook for connecting with my friends, but I’m intrigued by the idea of celebrity tweeting. I read an article on CNN this week about Michelle Obama sending out her first tweet via some CNN anchor’s iPhone, and I’ve read countless articles about news revealed via Twitter, and no one can deny the role twitter has played in breaking news. That said, I don’t think Ashton Kutcher winning the race to 1 million followers was worth a breaking news email alert, CNN. (Yes, I’m still angry about that one year later.)
I admit that pride is part of what’s standing in my way to creating a twitter account; I’ve been so vocal among my friends about my anti-Twitter stance and critical of acquaintances that constantly market themselves through social media, that I’m sure I’m in for some teasing if I succumb.
So, what do you all think? Should I suck it up and get an account, or do you think Twitter is mostly hype?
– Jane AAR[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
I love Twitter–since I have friends from all over the world it’s a quick and easy way to keep in touch without the constant quiz invites, passive-aggressive threads, and unwanted high school frenemies finding me on Facebook. In fact, I closed my Facebook account after being on Twitter for a few months. It’s best when used as a gateway to a conversation–I never follow someone whose profile page isn’t at least 50% @ replies to another user, because that usually means they’re there just to hear themselves talk. That includes celebrities–if they’re just there to pimp their latest project, not to engage fans, then I’m not going to feed the narcissism.
Signed up for Twitter when I thought I needed it for something, then had my laptop taken away = no Tweetdeck (and I don’t have a phone anyway). When I got another laptop I thought about getting back into Twitter, but honestly? I can’t be bothered. Really.
Not a Twitterer and have no desire to be one.
I prefer Twitter to Facebook. It’s fast and without all the obligations that go with Facebook. I follow mostly my online friends — very few of my “real” life spills over onto Twitter. And I do like celebrities — if you’re a fan of Real Housewives of New Jersey, I heartily recommend Dina’s Tweets. Michael McKean of Spinal Tap and the Christopher Guest movies is also a favorite. But, yes, it is a time suck — can’t deny that.
For me, my decision not to Tweet is also a conscious effort to avoid adding yet another time suck to my life. I already spend far too much time on line (ex: here I am, commenting away!). Thankfully, Facebook is a once or twice a week drive-by for me and not all consuming as I originally feared it might be. But add in the handful of must-see TV shows I watch, the 300 plus books in my TBR pile, and my desire to someday become a published writer, not to mention those bothersome children and husband that always seem to need feeding or clean clothes or help with homework, and the last thing I need is a new addiction.
The celebrity twitter stuff can be fun – I don’t follow Hollywood types as much (though I do a couple of TV shows/actors) but the NASCAR drivers on twitter can be a hoot, there are several authors I follow (I find Teresa Medieros’ tweets fun to follow) and I’ve gotten a couple of recipes – yes, in 140 characters or less – and some great kitchen tips from Rick Bayless. I rarely tweet myself, because I don’t have anything interesting to say, and I have noticed that lately I haven’t been logging in as much to read the tweets, so maybe the novelty is wearing off.
Interesting opinions! I expected more pro-twitter responses, but it seems there are more anti-Twitter people than I thought. Thanks, everyone!
I like Twitter — and I was really sure I wouldn’t! It’s hard to contain me to a single paragraph on any subject at all, so how was I going to limit myself to 140 characters? But I rather like it.
Here’s what I’ve learned (the hard way): Don’t follow everyone, or even more people than you can reasonably cope with. I believe there is no social code that requires any of us to follow anyone who is boring, overly argumentative, or just prolix. I only follow those authors/agents/publishers’ reps that are interesting and helpful. I don’t follow a lot of celebrities (although clearly I should be following a certain NPR host…) and I’m pretty ruthless about unfollowing people. And they are welcome to unfollow me!
But there are times when I’m happy I do use Twitter (which I enjoy way more than Facebook, if that helps anyone) because it’s like stopping at an old-fashioned general store. You get a little personal news, you can have a bit of a chat, and you can see what new notices are up on the bulletin board.
Count me as an anti-twit, in every sense. I’ll never sign up (I say now).
As an author, it makes me shiver to think how mindnumbing my tweets would be, if I did them, and I have no wish to read a gazillion ‘what I had for breakfast, what I’m doing now, what I’m doing every single goldarned second’ kind of string of tweets… from anyone!
I think, given how disappointed I have been by celebrity behavior of late – including John Mayer and Jim Carrey’s tweets, which I only heard about because they made the news – I’d rather know less about some people, than more.
I think it’s okay. I’m not thrilled with it, but I don’t twitter away the day. I just don’t have that many interesting things to share. I wonder about the people who spend their entire day twittering. I feel as if they are not plugged into real life, but perhaps I am wrong. And with every other social network, I think that it’s very imortant to remember that your tweets are not private, so you can’t just blurt out anything. What you say it there for all to see.
I’m an anti-Twit. I cannot understand the appeal. Other than to share critical information (a la the Tennessee Floods or “I’m safe!” after the Haiti earthquake), I just have no desire to be made aware of the minutiae of peoples’ lives. Nor, to be honest, do I want to know what they think and feel about every single topic. I’m not quite egocentric enough to believe that anyone really cares what I think, either.
I kind of just don’t get it. Then again, it took me years to finally embrace texting which I now see as a valuable tool.
Staying connected ALL THE TIME isn’t my thing. It’s too stressful to be IN THE KNOW as soon as something happens. If it’s important enough, someone will call or e-mail me.
Twitter has been very valuable during the recent flood in Tennessee and parts of Kentucky, especially when people sent tweets about areas where the water was over the road or people who needed help. But for ordinary life? Well, I have enough to do as it is.
Twitter would be just one more clog in a wheel for me. I have enough of them already with Facebook, the message boards, a couple of blog sites. Sometimes I wish I wouldn’t visit these sites as much on a daily basis as I do; but I guess, in its own way, it can become addictive. I don’t need another medium to follow. For those who enjoy that sort of stuff, more power to them. If it’s mostly to follow celebs, I definitely don’t want it. I can get that news elsewhere.
So, no thank you. No Twitter for me. But for those who do use it, enjoy!