x+y=u: speaking the tweet

x+y=u: speaking the tweet

Twitter is back.

Not that it went anywhere, like poor old MySpace. But tweeps have realised they needed to exercise a little patience before getting the hang of it. Social media has its drawbacks. But it’s here to stay, embrace it.

I’ve been tweeting again for about a month now, with around 30 followers. Go me! Unless you have a wider public profile, you can probably forget about having thousands of friends to brag about. With Facebook, you’re usually ‘friends’ because you have some association. With Twitter, you probably need to have something to offer.

Expectations are higher.

Posting things like “tired, but going to the gym” won’t cut it. Unless you’re Ashton Kutcher or Justin Bieber, who could invariably make a fart ‘trend’.

There’s no pressure to attract ‘likes’ or commentary to avow your virtual popularity. Be irreverent and say what you like. I try and keep it to interesting people, so can often be sprung enjoying an iLOL on the sly, or savouring my own digital mirth.

People who criticise Twitter — with no real experience of it — are showing their ignorance.

Notwithstanding tedious celebs, it’s an ingenious and simple tool. Just look at the resources that’d be otherwise unavailable to rural GLBTI youth, for example. Reliable news updates pop up in our Twitter streams long before making mainstream news. Absorbing the associated opinions is also kind of awesome.

Social media makes the world a smaller place.

Fans enjoy more intimate connections with stars, and people love that their idols can see what they’ve said. Personally, it’s also a buzz winding up the homophobic Westboro Baptist Church ratbags. They don’t respond well to logic. But that’s another story.

Don’t spam people and don’t take yourself too seriously. Include links or pics and don’t be afraid to start a conversation. If you have a flair for self-deprecating humour, your Twittersphere awaits. Sometimes, diarising an internal monologue is all it takes.

Q&A is a kicker on Mondays. Twitter makes everyone more accessible. It also gives people a voice. How many are listening may be another matter entirely. But who cares? That’s the beauty of it.

I beep everywhere I go — every few minutes. It’s cool. It’s ‘research’. I’m speaking the tweet. I’d say don’t encourage me, but it’s probably too late for that.

Word to the wise though — avoid ‘multitasking’ with apps like Grindr while you’re texting or emailing your Easter wishes to the family. The last thing you want is to inadvertently ask your dad for a cock shot.

info: Don’t forget to follow SSO at @star_observer and Damien @damientweeting

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3 responses to “x+y=u: speaking the tweet”

  1. oh and yes please keep it up with that Westboro Church lot on Twitter Damian ! They are such a disgrace Love ya work !

  2. Bahahaha !!! I just nearly spat my coffee out when I read the last sentence ! Everyone wanted to know what was wrong but like I could read that out aloud with my narrow minded boss in earshot lol

    I am loving your tweets on Twitter too :-)

  3. I feel the main concern with new media is that it can facilitate irresponsible public commentary, to be used as a PR tool, as we just saw with homophobe Jim Wallace from the so called Christian Lobby. Social media needs to be held more accountable !