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As a total, utter, complete NOOB
to the world of Social Media, I was worried about going on Twitter.
I won't go too much into that here.
Suffice to say, I'm not so worried anymore. One thing I've learned: Twitter is different things
for different people.
It's
utilized in different ways and for a variety of purposes.
Even people who utilize it for similar
purposes can have completely different methods of interacting within the
Twitterverse.
Many people online have their own set of "Twitter Rules."
Some
announce these rules for the World to Behold!
Others simply operate within unspoken
parameters.
AND!!!
There are those who believe in a set of
"universal rules!"
If you don't
use Twitter, one thing you should know is this: don't make assumptions
about anyone who is on there.
There is as much variety in that social
sphere as there is within any other dynamic environment; even as to
why someone is on there in the
first place.
These are my
own particular Twitter philosophies.
They are subject to change.
My Twitter Technique
I try to go
on once a day to Tweet, but I also try to not stay on too long.
Some days, I go on a few other times.
I usually scroll through the last hour or
two of tweets to see if I find anything interesting.
Why I'm there
I made the
account because people told me it's something I'm supposed to do!
*Sigh*
Marketing, Networking, Platform, blah blah
blah. Hey! I'm not a well-known author!
I appreciate
and relate to the "who cares" attitudes that some have regarding
Twitter.
I think it's a generally "healthy"
perspective. As an unknown, I think I should put myself out there
in at least a few different ways.
Also... my feelings about Twitter have changed
over time.
I actually
enjoy it!
While I hope to foster some degree of
interest with "someone out there" (which may not happen at all), I often
laugh or am entertained, even educated, by things I find.
From time to time, the Twitteropolis leads
me to helpful stuff! Besides, it's an easy way to stay in contact, or feel
connected to, a few Tweeps.
Why Follow You
Because...
why
not?
Well... ok.
Most who've added me, I quickly realized
(much to the pain of my tender ego), just added me because they wanted
to be added.
I add them
back, and I've decided that this is what I'm going to usually do.
Why?
Because... it's kind of a nice thing to do,
in my opinion. That doesn't mean if you don't have the same policy
that "you're mean!" It means: if I don't add someone back, I feel as if
I'm being unkind.
If the
person behind the counter at the deli smiles and says "hi how are you?"
I say something along the lines of "Fine, thank you!
How are you?"
That's just what I do, and not everyone
feels the same way about these things, and that's ok.
There've
been times that I met someone, was interested in maintaining a
connection, then added them and... they either didn't add me back... or
they added then later unfollowed me.
Sadness!
Being real with you -- it stung.
The first
time it happened, I even sent an email to that individual.
I talked about other things but really, I
wanted to know why they unfollowed me.
Especially when we'd met in person!
And connection!
And stuff!
Ultimately... *shrugs* who cares.
Right? Wrong.
I'm not
desensitized enough to honestly be unaffected by these things.
I
can pretend with the best of them LOL ; )
I'll admit
it's silly, a psychological contraption devised by a host of shaky
notions.
Still, when people don't add me back, I
don't like it.
Therefore, "in general," I will not be that
person to someone else.
Additionally, I can honestly say I've gained from some of my random
follows.
I am, however, more attached to the people
that I actually know in real life one way or another.
Why Unfollow You or just... Not Follow You 1) Sexism, Racism, Homophobia, Transphobia, general
intolerances of people and things, and so on. 2) Too many ads; too much propaganda about any
particular idea. 3) Sometimes I will unfollow if I add you and you
never deigned to add me back.
As mentioned
above, I get that everyone has their own rules.
Still, it stings a little!
So why do I want to feel that sting every
time I log in?
4) Talking
exclusively about things that are not really interesting to me.
I'm a fan of interaction and conversation,
actually, and there are lots of topics I could engage in!
But... there are also those topics that will
not hold my attention at all....
5) People
who only Tweet in languages I don't understand.
As a polyglot, and someone who loves travel,
I LOVE languages as a rule!!! But, if I don't understand anything you're
saying, you could be saying things I really wouldn't like and would not
want to support.
And I happen to know there are TONS of
people on Twitter who say things I would not like and would not want to
support!
If you want to know why I didn't follow you,
email me and ask, I'm a friendly guy (mostly).
But be prepared for honesty...!
Why *Favorite* or cast my fancy *Retweet* Spell!
If I retweet
or favorite something, it actually holds significance.
I don't do this randomly.
If something gets my favorite or retweet,
it's because I enjoyed it or found it important/ relevant.
A Reciprocal Twitter I believe Twitter at its finest can be a hub, a realm
of dialogue, learning, growth.
For me, the
finest Twitter people are those that interact, that exchange, that don't
hold themselves above others.
People who see the potential for more than
just networking or a different/ new kind of social status/
stratification.
In real
life, it's always nice when people are nice to each other!
And slightly annoying when people simply
absorb the kindness of others.
As above, so below.
Ultimately, I'm glad I'm on
Twitter! And yeah... I'm
still a NOOB! |