Do you do social media? Are you into the latest and greatest of all the Web 2.0 stuff? Keep a blog, maybe Facebook? MySpace? Does the Twitter bird regularly land on your shoulder and tweet in your ear?
I think the big thing about social media is that, these days, everybody is just trying to understand it. It’s like a brave, new world out there. It’s a land where there are no experts and everybody is just sort of left to their own devices, to sort of field their own way. But, if you stop and think about it, there’s nothing wrong with that really. I mean, that’s how the web itself started, right? The only people who don’t make it are the ones who don’t try. The losers in all of this will be the dinosaurs-the stuck-in-the-mud folks who did not choose to adapt and one day woke up to find themselves suddenly left behind, right?
A while ago, maybe it was last year, I signed up for Twitter. I forced myself to sign up, just to see what all of the fuss was about. Now, I don’t consider myself old and I do consider myself to be more than a bit technically savvy but still, for the life of me, at first, I could not see the point in all of it. What’s a Tweet? I kept thinking. And why “Tweet” somebody anyway? It was only when one of the programmers in the next office over explained it to me. “It’s fun,” he said, “and it’s a quick, easy way of communicating with people.” That’s when I started to get it. There is no point to Twitter. It’s pointless. That’s exactly what makes it so much fun. You can go in and Tweet the entire world “I’m having a grilled cheese sandwich today and it’s tasty!” and somebody will read that, somebody else might even respond. It’s not supposed to be rocket science, it’s supposed to be fun.
I really think that’s a lot of the core of social media-for the younger generation, this is their fun. This is how they relax, kick back, chill (to use a word that will surely date me.) They like to sit around, watch a game on TV, maybe surf the net, all the while sharing this with somebody-it’s fun for them to be sort of “on stage” all the time, sharing their every moment with their peers. When you think about it, isn’t that why we do photography too? I mean, yes, it’s a great learning tool, and yes, you can use it to make a thing of lasting beauty, but, crap, it’s all about the fun too. So, go ahead, Tweet those nonsensical things. Go tell all of your little friends, “The cow went over the moon” and get a good laugh.
If we couldn’t laugh, we’d all go insane.
Until next time…
Author
Well, I don't twitter, but I suppose it is fun. I think, in fact, it is much more than fun. Some twitter comments lead to interesting connections. Some of them even are discovered as talented people. Opportunities are often created via twitter. You never know. A lot of it may appear frivolous, but sometimes doors open. I personally don't care, but can see it as a meaningful thing for many. The majority of people in the world don't even have computers. And if you gave them one, would trade it for food.
Author
I am trying the Twitter to see how it goes. So far, I've followed some very interesting people, though I can't say I'm being followed by all that many people.
I am using it as a way to connect and, yes, for fun too.
I might trade a computer for a camera if the situation were right.