And then I read a story that puts things into perspective. Like the breaking celebrity news that the reason Jennifer Aniston dumped John Mayer was because he was ignoring her to Twitter.
That sounds like something I would do. I mean, seriously, I could see myself letting things like my interpersonal relationships slide because I just had to write one more thing on an online service.
And the think is, I don't have a business reason to use it, because professionally, most of the stuff I do isn't noteworthy enough to immortalize in 140 characters. Not to mention the fact that even though I blog, I am not the most intimate of people when it comes to my feelings and such online. And I am not as cool as Christopher Walken either.
So I am not ready to jump on to Twitter and ruin its credibility at the moment.
But I guess I am not alone, as Supernews also did something about Twitter recently.
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8 comments:
While Mayer certainly may have been too Twitter-obsessive to retain a personal relationship, I'm not sure you can rule out the very possible possibility that Aniston is something of a nagging, attention-sucking bore from whom he was willingly, and consciously, trying to detach.
But still. Twitter is an odd beast, one that I certainly haven't mastered how best to use yet. You're not really compelled to post anything more intimate than you would while blogging however; it's simply more short-form style.
I'd agree - it's no better and no worse than blogging. I'd guess that Mayer and Aniston were not writing blogs or spend much time on Facebook, so this was likely their first foray into social media.
I have had bouts of Twittering and it comes and goes. I've found some good links and some pointless banter, just like everything. Don't make it any bigger than it is, or avoid it for that reason.
Burbanked: It isn't that Twitter is a problem... it is my history of overutilizing sites like that and my occasional bouts with impulse control.
Jeremy: But you also have self control ;)
Man, I'm glad you posted this.
I don't understand Twitter myself, but then again I have a facebook and myspace I never really use other than to make stupid updates and post stupid pictures. (Kind of like my blog...wait a minute.)
Like you, I've moved away from that personal type blogging.
I have to agree with Burbanked on the Aniston attitude thing. There has to be a reason, past history, of her becoming annoying. Heck, Brad Pitt said, "Screw it, I'm out of here."
I won't break up with you over Twitter... I promise
That sounds like something I would do. I mean, seriously, I could see myself letting things like my interpersonal relationships slide because I just had to write one more thing on an online service.
This fits me to a tee, too.
In 1998, I divorced my ex in part due to his internet addiction--which also included alienation of affection and him using whores and online porn.
From 1998 to present time, I have become addicted to the constant flow of information and activity available on the internet as a greater whole.
From 2001 to present:
I had been funneling a lot of energy into MSN communities, and fostering friendships, and letting a lot of IRL stuff slide.
Then I became addicted to blogging (which I still do, but not with the frenzy I once did); and I abandoned my MSN communities and most (not all) of those friendships.
Then I became addicted to a knitting site, which was like facebook for knitters/crocheters. This became an all consuming passion/addiction, nearly enough to get me to quit blogging and everything else.
I became a member at FaceBook, and laugh at the superficiality of it with all the fake applications (sending folks icons for flowers or drinks or what have you? WTF?). I update my FB once or twice a day, and check there for messages or if I have any new friend requests. I use this as a tool to reconnect with high school friends and former co-workers. A tool. Not an addiction.
I joined Twitter, I am not sure how long ago, but I'm relatively new to the phenom.
I will tell you this. It suits MY needs for sharing something quick. I have it running in my background and plop a Tweet when I feel like it. It has the capacity for a conversational nature, but mostly for me, I plunk down thoughts, or do a quick reply to someone's Tweet, or share some crazy links (for folks not on SU). And it suits my immediate need. And the good thing about it is that I do not get overly involved in it, like I was with an actual community, and being enticed and distracted by threads. I use it as a tool, just like FaceBook. I'm on FB TOPS maybe 10 minutes a day; Twitter, it's only moments here or there. And it's great just to get the word out about sales, or show or podcast updates, or even blog updates. I like how straightforward it is with the 140 characters.
And I know myself. I get too involved in stuff too quick and too intensely and I have a HIGH burnout level for things. So it's all good (for me), should I ever do become "addicted" to Twitter (I am specifically not using the cell phone application--I don't have unlimited texting). In time, I'll be distracted by the newest, greatest fad.
Dutchy: Someone wants to break up with me. Wait, what?
Maven: I am an attention whore... a serious one... and that is where things would get out of control.
Semaj: I had a separate comment for you, but alas it got eaten by blogger maintenance time.
I was going to say that at one time I was going to open a Twitter account to just post links, but that fell by the way side a long time ago.
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