The first rule of Twitter – and I mean real Twitter not celebrity Twitter or marketing opportunist Twitter – is ‘be yourself’.
While I may front Forbidden Planet, it’s never occurred to me to be anything else – it’s a Twitterstream of Consciousness; I don’t (probably rather obviously!) think before I tweet.
This week has seen my partner’s carpentry driving me round the twist and a certain TechDigest article listing the UK’s most prolific tweeters… in the light of both, I find myself suddenly – horrors! – self-conscious. Maybe even twelf-conscious.
Twitter has another rule, more ambiguous and subtle – it’s probably listed on a dozen Newbie Twitter Guides under ‘positive mental attitude’. I’m calling it ‘don’t be unhappy’. Be yourself, but by All The Gods Of New Media, don’t ever be miserable!
Well, fuck that; we all get stressed. To me, Twitter requires honesty – and forgiving that honesty in others. I’m not a Social Media Maven or a motivational speaker (for which you can be thankful). I’m Danie, and I defend my right to have crap days. And not to feel self-conscious about sending a tweet that isn’t sparkling with happiness.As for TechDigest?
It’s odd seeing yourself under a microscope. The article made me laugh (I’m immoral? My mother reads the Daily Mail! I have a boring job? I’m not dignifying that with an answer!) Yes, I’m chatty, but that’s how the bonds of the community are built; that’s how connections are made, discoveries are shared – it's how the world is made smaller and how wonderful and unlikely friendships spring from 140 characters.
Having my Twitter presence – and those of my UK friends and neighbours – summarised in five lines is disturbing… is that one sample tweet really all my life has distilled down to?
I know it’s not – seeing myself scrutinised, bizarre though it is, isn’t going to change who I am.
In fact, it reminds me of a wonderful Twitter irony - and something that TechDigest has missed completely: -
Why is Twitter so full of chatter? Because when people are really busy, they don’t tend to tweet.
Funny, that.
8 comments:
I found people don't want you to be unhappy and I agree with you 'fuck that', keep twitter real and be yourself, I know people who aren't and they get a swift unfollow and quite possibly a block!
Twitter has become saturated with insincerity - people who want something or who want to sell you something. We should start a movement or something ;)
That could be your new @Danacea marketing strategy - "come for the unicorns, stay for the rainbows".
Don't change a thing!
- Brian
Unicorns and youwhatnow? Ummm... how long have you been reading my tweets...?!
I post better Twitter junk when I'm cranky.
Have a gumdrop-filled day!
- Brian
I can agree with the insincerity angle. Also, I find it rather dehumanising and gives people the chance to insult things without thinking about the consequences of their actions.
I haven't opened a Twitter account as yet and I can't see myself going down that road either.
Hi Danie. I was on a panel this past Tuesday attended by business people looking to use Twitter. Many suits visible. It has changed. I've been saying for a while that the early adopters need a new gig. Someplace that won't be commercialized, sanitized and overrun with rubes and sleazeballs in cheap suits. Like LinksMonkey, I tend to at least be more entertaining, if not more rational when I'm p.o.'d about something.
It has changed - two years ago, it was a community, had strong ideals and bonds of friendship - now it's just exploited. Sad, but kind of inevitable.
We've all tried Jaiku and Pownce and Indenti.ca and Plurk... yet remain on twitter. Unless there is a mass choice to up stakes and move, I guess that's where we'll stay.
We should do it, y'know - that way people like Trav28 will join us :)
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