Riding the Twitter Tide

November 6, 2008

Well, I did it. I finally caved and joined Twitter. It happened late Tuesday night and I somehow felt dirty afterward- like I’d sold out. That’s most likely an unmerited reaction, after all, it’s not like Twitter will eat me. Will it?

My Reservations

What’s my biggest reservation about Twitter? I’m afraid it will kill my productivity. Email eats enough time, now I’ll be tempted to check Twhirl every 2 minutes, too. I estimate that Twitter will eat at minimum an hour each day. That scares me.

Despite being referred to as a “blogging butterfly”, I tend to buck the usual social norms. I like to think for myself. I don’t define myself by popularity status or the ability to conform to the latest fads. I like swimming upstream. I value unconventionality. Great achievements in life come from those who are not afraid to be different and dive deep. That’s how I want to live.

The Allure of Twitter

So, why did I do it, you ask? I love people. Not just people who think and act like I do – all kinds of people. I like to be spurred to bigger and better things. I need to learn from others, both professionally and personally. I revel in finding a new blog of interest. It’s like getting an unexpected present when your birthday is months away. Twitter has the potential to provide what I need.

I also acknowledge that Twitter is here to stay. Sure, in 10 maybe 15 years it may be replaced with something new, but it’s growing by leaps and bounds and people whose opinions I respect are singing its praises. I know enough to listen up when the E F Huttons of Blogopolis speak.

Twitter Away

I have as of yet to tweet anything other than a thank you to direct messages. I’m still lurking, trying to get a feel for the Twitter tide. I’ve done some reading on Twitter, and I’ll be doing much more before the week’s end. Darren Rowse has some terrific Twitter wisdom, and I’m sure I’ll be stumbling upon more in the next few days.

I came across this Twitter T-shirt in my blog travels this week. It just shows how big Tweeting is. So, if you’re a Twitter addict, kill two birds with one stone and get your own personalized Reactee.

If you have any tips you’d like to share, I’d love to hear ‘em. If you’re already on Twitter, look me up.

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Posted by Jamie | Filed Under Blogging

Comments

Jamie Simmerman

Yep, it's eating me. But I feel compelled to interact. It's that social butterfly compulsion thing. :)

It's like putting the bubbly ADHD kid at a table with 15 other kids. Ya know she's gonna gab.
Writer Dad

I use twitter exactly like Oktober 5. If I didn't, it would surely eat me.

<abbr>Writer Dad´s last spectacular blog post..Bright Ideas</abbr>
Jamie Simmerman

Hey Matthew, It was nice to see your friendly, yet scrunched face there last night. I'm surprised you didn't use your Wilson picture from the website. It's a good one.

Did you catch that link to the list of social media for creative types? There are a few I need to check out... as soon as I get a spare moment. :)
Matthew Dryden

:) Twitter is one of the ways I keep in touch with my blogging side.

<abbr>Matthew Dryden´s last spectacular blog post..My Generation Stands United</abbr>
Jamie Simmerman

LOL Kool AId, that sounds so creepy!

I'll follow you, too. ;)
Kool Aid

I'll follow you :)

I don't really use it a lot either - I find myself doing exactly what Oktober5 talks about.

<abbr>Kool Aid´s last spectacular blog post..You are crazy!</abbr>
Jamie Simmerman

Oktober, that's a terrific way to look at it! Thanks a bunch. That helps, a little. :0
Jamie Simmerman

Hi Wendi! I have some really great articles on Tweets just in the first day! Despite my reservations, I'm thinking it was a good choice.

I added Dosh Dosh last late last night. I looked over James and Harry's followers and pretty much cleaned up! :)
Oktober Five

Twitter is like a feed reader--it's a whole lot easier to ignore incoming text with them than with email. With email I feel compelled to at least read the email, and probably respond. With twitter, however, I can read if I've got time. It took a while to train my mind not to use it like email, but once I did the anxiety to check it dropped. It helps that I follow very few people too.
Wendi Kelly-Life's Little Insp

Jamie,

those reasons you described being on twitter are the very same reasons I am there too. Since I don't post a lot, some might think I am n ot a very active twitter user but I go on once or twice a day and scan back through all the posts on my follow list. Sometimes I find some VERY interesting nuggets to read and a lot of new breaking info. DOSH DOSH seems to know evertything the second it happens ( I have no idea how) and I pick up on a lot out there for someone who doesn't have time to sit around and watch the news or watch for updates to show up on my computer. I don't need it, I've got twitter. I also love the international feel of it. people chatting from all over the world.It doesn't get any better then that.

<abbr>Wendi Kelly-Life's Little Inspirations´s last spectacular blog post..High Flying Faith</abbr>