Comments on: Anti-social Media http://www.shelleysaid.com/2008/11/anti-social-media/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:29:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Shelley http://www.shelleysaid.com/2008/11/anti-social-media/#comment-40 Shelley Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:53:40 +0000 http://www.shelleysaid.com/?p=12#comment-40 @Joan Stewart and also @Joan Stewart The Publicity Hound I so wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt, so before I commented on your comment I did go and download the Twitter Handbook. The Twitter Handbook is a fantastic resource, no doubt about it, but there is no way to customize Twitter to “take what you like and leave the rest”. I looked, because I wanted to believe that your comment was all warm and nice and helpful. I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I also believe that expressing that opinion in a public place is a very good way to stimulate discussion. That seems to be what has happened here, and I am deeply grateful to those who would seek to express what Twitter means to them, and how they have found value (or not). I believe that taking what one doesn’t like about anything and making changes or improvements (see Twitter Apps in The Twitter Handbook) is indeed what makes something palatable that once was unpalatable. I believe that telling someone to “take what you like and leave the rest” is a statement that is designed to stifle differing viewpoints and is not in the spirit of open communication. I could be wrong, but when you spend 8 months twittering (making your point in a sentence or two) misunderstandings are bound to happen. THAT I believe is one of the big downfalls of Twitter. If people get used to communication in little wee bursts, how ever will any meaningful communication take place? :-) @Joan Stewart and also @Joan Stewart The Publicity Hound

I so wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt, so before I commented on your comment I did go and download the Twitter Handbook. The Twitter Handbook is a fantastic resource, no doubt about it, but there is no way to customize Twitter to “take what you like and leave the rest”. I looked, because I wanted to believe that your comment was all warm and nice and helpful.

I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I also believe that expressing that opinion in a public place is a very good way to stimulate discussion. That seems to be what has happened here, and I am deeply grateful to those who would seek to express what Twitter means to them, and how they have found value (or not).

I believe that taking what one doesn’t like about anything and making changes or improvements (see Twitter Apps in The Twitter Handbook) is indeed what makes something palatable that once was unpalatable. I believe that telling someone to “take what you like and leave the rest” is a statement that is designed to stifle differing viewpoints and is not in the spirit of open communication.

I could be wrong, but when you spend 8 months twittering (making your point in a sentence or two) misunderstandings are bound to happen. THAT I believe is one of the big downfalls of Twitter. If people get used to communication in little wee bursts, how ever will any meaningful communication take place?

:-)

]]> By: Shelley http://www.shelleysaid.com/2008/11/anti-social-media/#comment-37 Shelley Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:08:31 +0000 http://www.shelleysaid.com/?p=12#comment-37 No need to mention all of them Joan. If you could just mention the ones that allow me to "take what I like and leave the rest" that would be lovely. No need to mention all of them Joan. If you could just mention the ones that allow me to “take what I like and leave the rest” that would be lovely.

]]> By: Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound http://www.shelleysaid.com/2008/11/anti-social-media/#comment-36 Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:17:58 +0000 http://www.shelleysaid.com/?p=12#comment-36 There are Twitter customizatons galore. Too many to mention here. All are explained in The Twitter Handbook, the best resource on Twitter, by Warren Whitlock and Deb Micek. You can download yours for free at TwitterHandbook.com There are Twitter customizatons galore. Too many to mention here. All are explained in The Twitter Handbook, the best resource on Twitter, by Warren Whitlock and Deb Micek.

You can download yours for free at TwitterHandbook.com

]]> By: Shelley http://www.shelleysaid.com/2008/11/anti-social-media/#comment-33 Shelley Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:37:08 +0000 http://www.shelleysaid.com/?p=12#comment-33 @Cindy... you're sweet! I agree that Twitter is a great place to get exposure that you may not have had from somewhere else. And if you use twitter to get your daily stroke, like Jack seems to do, then asking a bunch of strangers how they like you seems like a fine way to use Twitter, but is there the HUGE value that some people seem to think it is? Or is it an illusion. A distraction that keeps you busy...I've already noticed that some people are twittering every time I pop over there to check messages. They spend hours a day in twitter. When I take hours every day and apply them productively I have a LOT more to show for it than a bunch of people saying "I think you seem like a nice guy". Diane says "Anywhere people gather there will be connections made." and starts another sentence with "as a marketer", which makes one of my points. Dave Evans above clarified my point by saying this "There is a whole lot of “friending” going on that has nothing to with “friends,” certainly in the local sense that remains so essential to physical communities." My point is, these aren't friends you are making, not in the sense of how I grew up feeling friendship. When someone says, "I'll follow anyone who follows me back" that has nothing to do woth relationships and people are kidding themsleves. JMO of course. Someone said to me yesterday in a 'tweet' ... about your post.. how long have you been on Twitter?" I answered 2 days and you? (Of course I realized that she was attempting to make a point that since I had only been participating for 2 days my reference couldn't possibly be relevant, or even important, but I pretended otherwise) So she responded.. ".I've been on about two months, I think, since Sept. Was curious b/c of your blog post, as I have made good friends on here" Which again makes my point that social networking is changing what relationships and friendships actually mean. In the REAL world "good friends" take time to develop. But to have considered that one has made "good friends" in the plural sense... well again, we live in a needy attention starved world. I feel like I am in some kind of alternate reality. If you feel like you've made good friends on twitter, I am not here to say you haven't. I am just interested in examining how that is different from the social and belief structure I grew up with. @Cindy… you’re sweet! I agree that Twitter is a great place to get exposure that you may not have had from somewhere else. And if you use twitter to get your daily stroke, like Jack seems to do, then asking a bunch of strangers how they like you seems like a fine way to use Twitter, but is there the HUGE value that some people seem to think it is? Or is it an illusion. A distraction that keeps you busy…I’ve already noticed that some people are twittering every time I pop over there to check messages. They spend hours a day in twitter. When I take hours every day and apply them productively I have a LOT more to show for it than a bunch of people saying “I think you seem like a nice guy”.

Diane says “Anywhere people gather there will be connections made.” and starts another sentence with “as a marketer”, which makes one of my points. Dave Evans above clarified my point by saying this “There is a whole lot of “friending” going on that has nothing to with “friends,” certainly in the local sense that remains so essential to physical communities.”

My point is, these aren’t friends you are making, not in the sense of how I grew up feeling friendship. When someone says, “I’ll follow anyone who follows me back” that has nothing to do woth relationships and people are kidding themsleves.

JMO of course.
Someone said to me yesterday in a ‘tweet’ … about your post.. how long have you been on Twitter?”

I answered 2 days and you? (Of course I realized that she was attempting to make a point that since I had only been participating for 2 days my reference couldn’t possibly be relevant, or even important, but I pretended otherwise)
So she responded.. “.I’ve been on about two months, I think, since Sept. Was curious b/c of your blog post, as I have made good friends on here”

Which again makes my point that social networking is changing what relationships and friendships actually mean. In the REAL world “good friends” take time to develop. But to have considered that one has made “good friends” in the plural sense… well again, we live in a needy attention starved world. I feel like I am in some kind of alternate reality.

If you feel like you’ve made good friends on twitter, I am not here to say you haven’t. I am just interested in examining how that is different from the social and belief structure I grew up with.

]]> By: Shelley http://www.shelleysaid.com/2008/11/anti-social-media/#comment-32 Shelley Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:14:53 +0000 http://www.shelleysaid.com/?p=12#comment-32 @Joan "If you don’t like an aspect of it, take what you like and leave the rest." OOOOO Fantastic advice Joan! See as a newbie I didn't even realize that customization was an option. Please tell me what I need to do. Thank you so much! @Joan “If you don’t like an aspect of it, take what you like and leave the rest.”

OOOOO Fantastic advice Joan! See as a newbie I didn’t even realize that customization was an option. Please tell me what I need to do.

Thank you so much!

]]> By: Joan Stewart http://www.shelleysaid.com/2008/11/anti-social-media/#comment-31 Joan Stewart Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:55:16 +0000 http://www.shelleysaid.com/?p=12#comment-31 If you think Twitter is confusing, overwhelming, frivolous, time-wasting and anti-social, join the crowd. I had those same reactions when I first discovered it. Eight months later, I couldn't live without Twitter. It's one of the best marketing tools to be found anywhere. And where else can you get an answer to just about any question in minutes? If you don't like an aspect of it, take what you like and leave the rest. If you think Twitter is confusing, overwhelming, frivolous, time-wasting and anti-social, join the crowd. I had those same reactions when I first discovered it.

Eight months later, I couldn’t live without Twitter. It’s one of the best marketing tools to be found anywhere. And where else can you get an answer to just about any question in minutes?

If you don’t like an aspect of it, take what you like and leave the rest.

]]> By: Cindy Schulson http://www.shelleysaid.com/2008/11/anti-social-media/#comment-30 Cindy Schulson Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:34:04 +0000 http://www.shelleysaid.com/?p=12#comment-30 Hi Shelley, What a great discussion. I guess everyone uses Twitter for different purposes and in different ways. You (that's the universal you) will naturally gravitate toward people who are like minded. Those with an attitude of abundance and truly helping others will find others like that. And I think the ones just trying to sell their business or product will eventually understand that that's not the most effective way to go. I have met some great people on Twitter but because there is so little space to write, we've carried the conversation to skype or phone or email (if we really want to get to know one another). Ultimately I'm grateful for Twitter because then I wouldn't have met you and I really like what you have to say. all the best, Cindy Hi Shelley,
What a great discussion. I guess everyone uses Twitter for different purposes and in different ways. You (that’s the universal you) will naturally gravitate toward people who are like minded. Those with an attitude of abundance and truly helping others will find others like that. And I think the ones just trying to sell their business or product will eventually understand that that’s not the most effective way to go.

I have met some great people on Twitter but because there is so little space to write, we’ve carried the conversation to skype or phone or email (if we really want to get to know one another).

Ultimately I’m grateful for Twitter because then I wouldn’t have met you and I really like what you have to say.
all the best,

Cindy

]]> By: Carla http://www.shelleysaid.com/2008/11/anti-social-media/#comment-29 Carla Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:36:56 +0000 http://www.shelleysaid.com/?p=12#comment-29 Twitter is an experience unlike others. Great to find links to information I might not have found elsewhere, great exposure to more people. Relationships? Hm. Simple answer is no. I have renewed friendships misplaced over the years, and keep in touch with those I already know. New relationships/business building? Not yet. It keeps me interested. Don't know if I will build new relationships. Carla Twitter is an experience unlike others. Great to find links to information I might not have found elsewhere, great exposure to more people. Relationships? Hm. Simple answer is no. I have renewed friendships misplaced over the years, and keep in touch with those I already know. New relationships/business building? Not yet.

It keeps me interested. Don’t know if I will build new relationships.

Carla

]]> By: Robyns Online World http://www.shelleysaid.com/2008/11/anti-social-media/#comment-28 Robyns Online World Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:09:46 +0000 http://www.shelleysaid.com/?p=12#comment-28 I think it is possible to build a relationship on Twitter, but it won't be with everyone, and not even all of your own followers. I personally do have a few people that I almost solely talk with on Twitter that I really met through Twitter even. I also have several acquaintances from Twitter. Not people I have a big relationship with, but I tweet back and forth with regularly. Then I have another group that offer me something - whether it is discounts for things they are selling, or biz info I might use, funny links, etc. There is no personal relationship at all. Just like in real life, I have a variety of different relationships with different people. Robyn Blog: http://robynsonlineworld.blogspot.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/RobynsWorld I think it is possible to build a relationship on Twitter, but it won’t be with everyone, and not even all of your own followers. I personally do have a few people that I almost solely talk with on Twitter that I really met through Twitter even.

I also have several acquaintances from Twitter. Not people I have a big relationship with, but I tweet back and forth with regularly.

Then I have another group that offer me something - whether it is discounts for things they are selling, or biz info I might use, funny links, etc. There is no personal relationship at all.

Just like in real life, I have a variety of different relationships with different people.

Robyn
Blog: http://robynsonlineworld.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/RobynsWorld

]]> By: Diane Hochman http://www.shelleysaid.com/2008/11/anti-social-media/#comment-24 Diane Hochman Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:35:41 +0000 http://www.shelleysaid.com/?p=12#comment-24 Hi Shelley, These are my thoughts: Social media sites and communities...when used properly are just big parties where people who are alike naturally find one another. They are places where folks share knowledge and make acquaintances...places where folks exchange ideas. Since the beginning of time at any function anywhere there have been aggressive promoters that people ran from...go to any PTO meeting or town function and there is a real estate agent or over zealous home party rep working the crowd...and people avoid that person... It is inevitably going to be the same on a social site---anywhere people gather there will be buffoons... But on the flip side...anywhere people gather there will be genuine connections made... Business...personal... As humans we were BORN to connect... Social media sites like Twitter just give us places to do that... And the people who WIN are the ones who GIVE ten times more than they get. As we are ALWAYS attracted to people who move in that vein. As a marketer (especially as an internet marketer) I always focus on ways to have more people observe me to see if we connect. Social media sites give us a way to share content and have it seen by THOUSANDS a day as opposed to presenting one by one. Out of the thousands of folks that observe my content...a few are excited by what I do and contact me...the rest hang out with me because I am helping them with all kinds of tips and training while I market. It is a total win-win. There are many I hang out with and get tips from even though what they market is not a match for me. These colleague relationships are as valuable if not more valuable than the customers I may gather. It's all a big party :) Jokes and fun...side conversations on sports and music, tv, marketing and YES...our products and services. I learned a long time ago not to beg folks for their money...I beg for more time with them(figuratively) The longer we spend together the more like we are to do business together. Social media let me do just that---spend time :) So that's my take on all of it. Hi Shelley,

These are my thoughts:

Social media sites and communities…when used properly are just big parties where people who are alike naturally find one another.

They are places where folks share knowledge and make acquaintances…places where folks exchange ideas.

Since the beginning of time at any function anywhere there have been aggressive promoters that people ran from…go to any PTO meeting or town function and there is a real estate agent or over zealous home party rep working the crowd…and people avoid that person…

It is inevitably going to be the same on a social site—anywhere people gather there will be buffoons…

But on the flip side…anywhere people gather there will be genuine connections made…

Business…personal…

As humans we were BORN to connect…

Social media sites like Twitter just give us places to do that…

And the people who WIN are the ones who GIVE ten times more than they get.

As we are ALWAYS attracted to people who move in that vein.

As a marketer (especially as an internet marketer) I always focus on ways to have more people observe me to see if we connect. Social media sites give us a way to share content and have it seen by THOUSANDS a day as opposed to presenting one by one. Out of the thousands of folks that observe my content…a few are excited by what I do and contact me…the rest hang out with me because I am helping them with all kinds of tips and training while I market. It is a total win-win. There are many I hang out with and get tips from even though what they market is not a match for me. These colleague relationships are as valuable if not more valuable than the customers I may gather.

It’s all a big party :)

Jokes and fun…side conversations on sports and music, tv, marketing and YES…our products and services.

I learned a long time ago not to beg folks for their money…I beg for more time with them(figuratively) The longer we spend together the more like we are to do business together.

Social media let me do just that—spend time :)

So that’s my take on all of it.

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