Much ado about nothing: thoughts on Twitter
I’m thinking of going on a Twitter fast.
Most regular users of Twitter would agree with me, I’m sure: Twitter is a chat room and place to fish for new blog readers. It’s fun to read what other people are doing and sharing as they go though their day, but it quickly becomes an Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole of distraction.
Once you fall in, it’s difficult to get out.
Sure, I get that water-cooler effect of listening to other conversations, but that’s the majority of it - just listening, and talking to myself 90 percent of the time. I have 400+ followers, and I’m following more than 300, but out of those numbers, I have few meaningful interactions.
Just so you know it hasn’t been a total waste of time, I did encourage a mom to explore home schooling, helped another blogger to understand divine healing, and found one gal caring enough to add me to her prayer list - all through Twitter.
Yet the question remains: how many tweets do I need to weed through to find the gold?
I hate the way I obsess about Twitter too. When I’m wiping down the table after a meal, I’m wondering what I’m missing on Twitter. When I helping one of my kids with a math lesson, I think about Twitter. When I do get a free moment, I rush to the computer or my cell phone to check in. I’ve even posted during church.
See why I need to keep away from Twitter?
Maybe I should quit it outright, but I honestly don’t want to go that far. It’s a little scary to buck the trend, and quitting Twitter would be swimming against the stream. I don’t want to be the only mommy blogger not on Twitter; aren’t all the cool kids doing it?
I opened Tweetdeck Saturday morning, gave a quick hello, and that was it for the rest of the day. It’s easy to ignore Twitter during the weekend, because it gets quiet, but now that it’s Monday, I’m starting to go through a bit of withdrawal symptoms. I’m wondering what I’m missing, who is talking about what, and if anyone is missing me.
I doubt anyone is missing me.
And I think I’m okay with that. For now.
So I’m trying to figure out what to do. I despise this feeling of wanting to be part of the crowd, wanting to gather thousands of followers, to be That Popular Girl on Twitter. But obsessive behavior? Not good.
I love Twitter. I hate Twitter.
I don’t know. What’s your take on this?
Tags: me, more than you need to know, Twitter
10.20.08 at 2:31 pm
Heather comments:
Yup.
I had to ban twhirl because it was too distracting. But without it, it’s too hard to catch-up with who’s saying what. And with all the @s, you know you’re missing this whole conversation.
Which I’m okay with.
I still stop in, but honestly, I prefer the slower pace of Facebook.
Heathers last blog post..Solomon Summaries Beta Launch (or Becoming Smarter Every Day)
10.20.08 at 3:01 pm
feener comments:
i have purposely NOT joined twitter for fear of addiction. blogging is enough for me.
10.20.08 at 3:03 pm
Tanya Dennis comments:
If it makes you feel any better, you would not be the only mom blogger NOT on twitter. I never joined. I’m on facebook and that is distracting enough. In fact, I’m in the middle of a 40 day fast from facebook right now. Sure, it’s fun and, yes, I miss it like crazy right now. But in the two weeks I’ve been “off” it, I’ve been more productive with my writing, more patient with my kids and I’ve spent a lot more time in prayer and Scripture. When my 40 days are up I’ll go back, but I’m happy to say it won’t be as consuming as it used to be. I see the benefits of it, but some of the benefits without it are greater.
Tanya Denniss last blog post..Resonant Chamber
10.20.08 at 9:17 pm
Marianne comments:
Oh yes, do agree with you on this. I stepped back from Twitter last week for a few days and it gave me some breathing room.
As much as I like the connectability, it’s so easy to just get trapped in the tweets.
I’m using (don’t I sound like a true addict with that verb?) it again, but really limited. Mostly just a daily hey, whassup?
De-twitter-tox for a few days…you’ll feel better!
10.20.08 at 9:50 pm
Monica Brand comments:
Facebook addicting? Really? Maybe I don’t have the right friends.
I’m now officially on a Twitter fast. For how long? I’m thinking a week is good. Maybe. If you see me there before then, you’ll know I couldn’t resist.
10.20.08 at 9:55 pm
Tara R. comments:
hmmm… well, I am on facebook and twitter. I visit both maybe a couple times per day. I think I just found it too overwhelming to try and keep up right off the bat so I have never gotten addicted. In fact I sorta force myself to check Twitter now and then to keep a little foot in the door.. so to speak.
I must admit I find forums the most frustrating. I suspect I could spend ALL day EVERY day just trying to keep up and stay visible and what not. I just don’t have that sort of time. My kids need a mom. My husband needs a wife. I need sleep.
Overall I think I am more frustrated with the multitude of things to join. Overwhelming.
By the same token I find just as much to keep me distracted with just trying to keep up with the blogs I read and my reviews etc.
Tara R.s last blog post..My Tunez GIVEAWAY!!!!
10.20.08 at 10:39 pm
Lynn Mosher comments:
Hey, Monica! Actually, I did miss you today. I started to check on you until I saw your post about detoxing! I agree. I’ve been trying to visit less. I then go through the old tweets and see if there’s any link I want to look up or someone I want to tweet back. I have gained a few things by being there. I’d like to visit but I don’t want to be on the top tweeter list. More power to you! Blessings…Lynn
Lynn Moshers last blog post..The Unkinkable Hose
10.21.08 at 6:33 am
Moms At Work comments:
We will miss you!
But I know the feeling…I think technology is evil. I think about all the things I could be doing instead of sitting in front of my computer. Think volunteering, exercising, exploring the world.
Moms At Works last blog post..Walking to dinner (Or, how a 3-mile trek felt like an eternity)
10.21.08 at 7:53 am
Monica Brand comments:
Exactly, Moms at Work. Technology is great, I love the Internet, email, blogs, and vast amounts of information waiting to be discovered, but not at the expense of living life.
10.21.08 at 9:20 am
Lavonda Pflug comments:
I’ve seen the Twitter link on some blogs but have never gone there. Now that I know what it is, I probably won’t go there. I promise you, you can survive without it!
Maybe I’ll give it a try. Want to join me?
I’ve been trying to grow my readership, and the few avenues I’ve tried have taken more time than I ever imagined. The only thing I have not tried (besides Twitter)…I’m ashamed to admit…is prayer. I wonder–if we spent as much time asking God to grow our readership as we spend on facebook, myspace, twitter etc. how many readers would we have? We write about God being able to do all things. But do we believe it? Do we live it? (I’m preaching to myself here!) I think heaven does have “chat” capabilities.
10.21.08 at 6:56 pm
Monica Brand comments:
Oh, boy. Ask the Lord for more readers. I need to ask for more patience and love before I do that.
10.22.08 at 1:43 pm
Alexis comments:
I am not on Twitter. In fact it confuses me and I have enough addictions as it is.
Alexiss last blog post..The Adventure Begins
10.22.08 at 5:41 pm
Lynn Mosher comments:
Hey, Monica! It’s me again! Thanks, Monica, for your comment on my kinky hose! Not being kinky! That one slipped by me totally! Be blessed…
Lynn Moshers last blog post..The Unkinkable Hose
10.23.08 at 10:46 am
Beth comments:
I can whole heartedly agree! I am supppose to be typing up Latin Charts and tripped onto my gmail and saw your comment about IEW. Thanks, for the comment. I hope to soon write about what IEW looks like in our home. Not one of those post that says “You gotta use this but just give people an inside look.”
Beth
10.24.08 at 9:45 am
Rose comments:
Dear Monica,
I miss you, but understand your feelings. I, too have decided to limit myself on my Twitter visits. And updating on my cell phone has to extremely limited and by text only! I’m trying to not Twitpic as much as well. It is distracting, but I don’t have that many friends and only a conversation or so a day.
But honestly, I’m trying to limit my internet time all together! I want to crochet and do things around the house… enjoy my time being home when I am home.
So just know, you’re always in my thoughts and prayers hon!
*Hugs 2 u*
Rose, your sister in Christ! ?
Roses last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
10.24.08 at 9:46 am
Rose comments:
that ? is suppose to be a smiley face. =) Hugs!
Roses last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
10.24.08 at 1:12 pm
Monica Brand comments:
Rose, you are so sweet. I miss you too. I wish we didn’t live on opposite sides of the country from each other, because I would love to get together for some home school mama “girl talk”.
Here is your smiley: