My Twitter Rules of Engagement

Twitter

I've been thinking about my Twitterholicism and the new 'friends' I've made and the old friends I've found because of my "social networking" (the new buzzword if you haven't noticed)...

How quickly I've gotten into Twitter like almost the rest of the world.

So here are some thoughts off the top of my head on why I Twit, with whom I Twit and what I won't Twit:

I've always found the status message on Yahoo Messenger a good indicator of states of minds - mine or others'. Sometimes they invite interaction; sometimes they don't. But they're there. A beacon telling friends what I'm up to or what I'm planning or reading or surfing. It's been a great way to share without actually sharing. Like talking to everyone and no one; like speaking out loud without actually having to carry on a conversation. Twitter lets me share this randomness without having to be heard.

I officially started 'serious' blogging this February. I joined VOX because Multiply was getting saturated by a different audience and for a different purpose; I joined WordPress because I wanted a 'real' blog; and I joined Blogger because I wanted to have a venue for me and my daughter to co-author a blog.

With all this blogging, I needed another blogging platform that wasn't a full on blogging platform; one which I was sure I would frequently update without having to think. My answer came in the form of Twitter. Now I can micro-blog. My friend, Paul, actually put it much better when he described it as "a constant stream of consciousness that captures snapshots of existence". How profound. I do it because I just like talking without talking.

So with all this twitting going on, I have learned the finer art of whom to follow and when, and whom not to follow and when. As a courtesy, I find myself adding people back who have added me as a friend. I guess it's just the way I'm wired. I like reciprocating, and to show my appreciation, I make it a point to add back when added.

It may sound lame, but my thinking is that if someone took the trouble of adding me, what harm could there be in an answered add? Of course the first thing I do is visit their websites and then poke around other sites they've linked to to find possible points of common ground. Sometimes I'll simply add someone because they are witty, or intelligent, or are living a life I wish were mine.

But what I've discovered with all this adding and growing list of Friends, is that these Friends have Friends who are not my friends so I'm finding myself getting annoyed when I am having to 'listen' in on long conversations that don't include me. I think that's what the Direct Message feature is for... which I use a lot. I don't mind an occasional conversation with an @ here and there, but non-stop @'s that are not meant for me, or have any benefit to me, get on my nerves.

So I've learned how to leave certain people from time to time. No offense meant.

I sometimes go on twitter frenzies but more often than not, I try to limit my posts to one a day when nothing's going on. Or I'll share something that just might strike a chord with someone else. It's great when you find that connection from a twit. I find myself going - "I know how that feels!" And either twit back or simply, smile. I twit about the most random of things, but I draw the line at anything that might potentially offend people. Like bodily functions and other things meant to be kept at home.. or in the bedroom or bathroom. That, and anything that would be a breach of confidentiality.

Happy twittering! Til the next thing comes along! Cheers!

Hmmm... I heard Jaiku is interesting... and growing...