When It Comes To Social Media, Remember That You're An Adult And Not An Adult Robot
I love Twitter, because I can often use my ADHD brain to turn a quick fun phase on top of somebody's tweet that a bunch of people think is funny or interesting and retweet.
But Tuesday, column deadline day, I was barely on Twitter at all -- by choice.
And when I see that somebody's a dirty arguer or a needless time-suck, I'll mute them (and usually tell them so).
You have a choice in which conversations you engage in and how -- really you do. Yet I keep seeing tiresome pieces like this one, in The Guardian, "I used to think social media was a force for good. Now the evidence says I was wrong."
The subhead is particularly outrageous:
More and more, it's clear these platforms create divisions, exploit our insecurities and risk our health. They're as bad as the tobacco industry
Yes, all over Twitter, people are falling over at their desks as their lungs turn cancerous.
Matt Haig, the author, writes (hystericalizes?):
I used to think social media was essentially a force for good, whether it was to initiate the Arab spring of 2011, or simply as a useful tool for bringing together like-minded people to share videos of ninja cats. Having spent a lot of time thinking about mental health, I even saw social media's much-maligned potential for anonymity as a good thing, helping people to open up about problems when they might not feel able to do so in that physical space we still quaintly call real life.I also knew from my own experience that it could sometimes provide a happy distraction from the evil twins of anxiety and depression. I have made friends online. As an author, it's also been a great way to test new ideas, and has taken storytelling from its castle in the sky back down to the metaphorical (now hashtag-heavy) campfire. As someone who often finds social situations mentally exhausting, social media seemed far more solution than problem.
Yes, I would occasionally feel that maybe staring at my Twitter feed near-continuously for seven hours wasn't that healthy, especially when I was arguing with an army of Trump fans telling me to jump off a cliff. Yes, I'd see articles warning of the dangers of excessive internet use, but I dismissed these as traditional, reactionary takes. I saw social media naysayers as the first reviewers of Technicolor movies, who felt the colour distracted from the story, or were like the people who walked out on Bob Dylan at Newport folk festival for playing an electric guitar, or like those who warned that radio or TV or video games or miniskirts, or hip-hop or selfies or fidget spinners or whatever, would lead to the end of civilisation.
He continues with escalating solution-free hysteria (that hints at control being imposed -- and not the "self-" kind).
I follow and have gotten to know (or know much better) countless researchers on Twitter, as well as countless interesting people. I get to see friends who live far away through their tweets. And I connect with articles and ideas I might not otherwise see.
As I point out in "Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck," the Internet is a tool. I have a choice in how I use it. The fact that some people use it unwisely isn't a cause for a "The sky is falling! The sky is falling"-type alarm for all of us.
> I have a choice in how I use it.
Exactly.
I'd bet there was this same handwringing after the first three years of the telephone and the wireless.
And clean water.
Crid at September 6, 2017 1:07 AM
Given Twitter's profitability problems this seems like a self solving issue.
Ben at September 6, 2017 6:19 AM
But Twitter is so useful for virtue-signaling and career-goosing.
Cher, for instance, and Kathy Griffin.
Unfortunately it also reveals our bias and stupidity in 140 characters or less.
Cher, for instance, and Kathy Griffin.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at September 6, 2017 7:46 AM
What's funny is that people I know who have stopped using social media accounts get salty when they find out nobody remembered to invite them to a party (it was a FB invite), or they're "out of the loop" in various other ways. Surely anyone who "really cared" about them would take an extra moment to email them their wedding pictures or text them about an event that matches their interests.
News gets shared via social. That's how things are now.
sofar at September 6, 2017 8:54 AM
One would think that because it takes longer than yapping a dumb thing to say; the action of lifting the phone, taking a picture, and typing with your fingers would make people pause and reflect on the stupidity of their actions.
But no.
https://tokyodesu.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/pictures-why-the-japanese-call-twitter-idiot-finder/
Sixclaws at September 6, 2017 9:02 AM
"That's how things are now."
Among those too stupid to understand email and telephones, yes.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at September 6, 2017 9:29 AM
Among those too stupid to understand email and telephones, yes.
Among those too busy to use three modes of communication (and memorize the preferences of everyone they know) for event-planning and minor news-sharing, yes.
sofar at September 6, 2017 10:07 AM
"Among those too busy"
Oh, spare us, please. Life is busy.
Adults don't demand everyone join Herr Zuckermeister's data-scooping life-intrusion app just to be graced with the occasional barbecue invitation.
When you grow up you'll understand these things.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at September 6, 2017 12:05 PM
I don't have much use for Twitter because (1) I can't access it at work, and (2) as anyone who has read my comments here knows, I'm not capable of writing a coherent thought in 140 characters or less. (See?) I do get some use out of Facebook and a handful of message boards that I belong to. You have to put some limits on yourself as far as what you join, and some limits on who can see and comment on your stuff. Random people you've never heard of leaving you nasty comments? Why are you giving them access? You don't let random people walk into your house and critique your color choices.
Social media can be a huge time-suck. Turn that around. If you're going to be on line, create content; don't just consume it, or engage in trivial chit-chat. Write something, or photograph something, or record something. You don't need to share it widely; just among your friends, if that's all you feel comfortable with. But don't just be a passive filter.
Cousin Dave at September 6, 2017 12:38 PM
Adding to what Dave said, if you're going to share an article, please write something to let your friends know what your perspective is, and at the very least, let them know you've actually read the article. As I explain here, you can avoid a lot of misunderstandings by doing this.
Fayd at September 6, 2017 1:38 PM
Writing hysterically is ranting, or is that just for talk? Perhaps we could coin a new word- wranting, for the written rant!?
We just contributed to the mindless expansion of the English language. Good luck catching up, foreigners!
Nicholas (Unlicensed Joker) Gray at September 6, 2017 5:36 PM
Cousin Dave, that would require self control. And as everyone now knows controlling yourself is bad behavior. Instead you are supposed to let the government do that for you.
Sofar, in my group we just use a phone and texts. I don't know if anyone has a twitter account. As for facebook, if there is something important my sister will tell my parents and then maybe it filters down to me. My parents still can't do the FB thing since a psychotic neighbor started stalking my mom. Every now and then her meds don't work. Though we did enjoy the rant she posted about how my dad (60 year old, science guy) took on a bar full of hells angels. And won!
Ben at September 7, 2017 5:47 AM
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