Anti-Social Media…
I love Twitter.
I believe it allows us to connect, and “meet” with people, and form relationships and sometimes even virtual friendships.
It allows us to support one of our community, when they are fragile… whether they are reeling from another sleepless night… a sick child who is inconsolable… or trying to get through the treatments to battle a life-threatening illness.
In that same way, each of us has Twitter families, that include our real families, but also extends to people outside our lives.
I can chat with Sergei in Romania, to find out if his leg is better… find out what he thinks about my latest song… or I can send a Hi Howdy to my Sister up in Prince George, to find out how she is. It is a real time connection with people from… anywhere !
During a Canucks Game, the Twitter stream is filled with “Go #Canucks Go… RT if you’re with me” !!!
During the recent Canada /US World Junior Hockey Tournament Final Game… those of us watching the Game, grew silent, as Canada fell two goals behind… then jubilant as the Game was tied, with mere moments to go… and commiserating with one another, as Canada lost in overtime.
Twitter can make experiences richer, by making the experience a shared on.
Often, I see tweets… “Has anyone had to...” and sometimes someone can help them, or make a suggestion.
Often you will see a follow up tweet… “Never mind” …because the act of having to put their question into 140 characters, has clarified the issue, and they have effected their own solution.
As you may have guessed, I am a fan of Twitter, and will often refer someone who is new to Twitter, to the Mashable website, for the Twitter 101 article. I also try to suggest that folks who are songwriters, fill in their Bio information so that other Songwriters, may (regionally) be able to get together and support one another, like @BCSongwriters tries to do here in the Lower Mainland.
I believe that Twitter is an effective and beneficial tool for connecting with friendly people, or with people holding similar interests.
I love Twitter.
MY Twitter, is currently comprised of 711 folks I follow, and 854 that follow me. I don’t have a lot of time for Tweeps who just push. I’m not a big fan of Tweeps who send thousands of quotes, but don’t interact. I like to believe I have a discerning eye for Tweeps who are going to become spammers, or just want a large following to brag to their friends.
In my Twitter, there is ALWAYS room for discussion and disagreement. The form thrives in the forum, and the debate.
Late at night, the dark side of Twitter sometimes emerges, with the tweets becoming a deeper blue, from the daytime Turquoise. Not my thing… but that is the joy of MY Twitter. I am not obliged or compelled to participate in a conversation that doesn’t “speak” to me.
However, rudeness and ill will have no place on MY Twitter, and will not be tolerated. It is called Social Media, and to my mind, the Number One Rule of Society is, and always will be, “Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated”
I have, apart from Spammers, never blocked anyone, until a few days ago.
The individual in question insulted me, before engaging me in debate… and repeatedly ridiculed my points without providing any counterpoints. In the end, I realized he was wasting my time, so I sent a brief “We shall agree to disagree” tweet, and blocked him.
Yesterday, using a different user name, I was assailed by the same individual. (Apparently he only has the one picture ? Brilliant !)
I have heard from a few other Tweeps that they, too, have recently had similar experiences… some have had someone RT (ReTweeting) tweets, but subverting the contents.
Being that I am civically minded, and tend to express my opinions… these incidents have, just for a moment, given me pause.
Not because I am being attacked and targetted, for expressing my opinions, in a Democratic Country… but because, in the same way that we can rally around Team Canada without being present in Saskatchewan in the rink, Twitter also offers an opportunity for those with ill will to gather, and sometimes apparently, to transgress the border, into MY Twitter.
I guess if it happens again, I will have to look into the Spam and Abuse rules.
In the meantime, I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it, but I love Twitter !!!
Would love to hear your thoughts…