Mark Schaefer is a long-time social media peer, colleague, and mentor with whom I banter and exchange heated yet friendly discussion about my views that PR Drives Marketing and his view that I’m on crack.
So, I linked to his tweet with intrigue to this magazine I’d not heard about, Social Media Marketing Magazine (which I now have joined), and, lo, here’s Mark’s excellent article “Why Facebook is More Important Than Your House.” He’s writing as adjunct professor at Rutgers University (pretty cool).
I encourage your read of what Mark’s saying, and then I encourage your contemplation of what I’m saying.
In a nutshell, Mark suggests that people are so aligned with Facebook it has become a lifestyle – the Farmville crap, photos of the grandkids readily accessible, and all the other inanities being exchanged among friends. (My words, not Mark’s.) We can’t forget that our kids are officially the Facebook Generation. Gen Y begets Gen FB.
Where others have glommed onto Facebook; I have become absolutely addicted to Twitter. Mark’s article got me thinking…what if there was no Twitter?
- The spark in my life would slowly extinguish, and I’d again be commiserating, ranting, laughing, bantering, and learning from my Google RSS reader (which sadly is a one-way street).
- Blog comments would be more robust because peeps would have to log their commentary directly on a blog as there wouldn’t be Twitter comments about blogs (which happens frequently).
- Alas, I’d go into deep depression because the peeps I’ve met have extraordinarily enriched my life, professionally and personally. It’s these human relationships I can absolutely say are the single-most hidden gifts of Twitter.
- My global network with direct connections and open communications to Hong Kong, Sweden, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Puerto Rico, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Brazil, and hundreds of other cities and countries would be non-existent.
- My learning curve would again be extended (as in take longer) without the immediate knowledge sharing Twitter offers.
- There’d be no place I could let loose a rant, exclamation or share in the fund-raising support for a global natural disaster.
- Most of all I’d have no community in which I could align, be a peer, become a mentor, share in a leadership capacity or move to a thought leadership and influencer role. I’d be relegated to the traditional method of networking by, argh, actually going to a physical meeting.
Perhaps your experience with Twitter has not been as rich as mine; if that’s the case, I encourage your exploration of this channel because Twitter’s hidden gifts bear more than the Three Wise Men.
What would you miss if there was no Twitter?
If there was no twitter? umm well we have lived well and functioned at a high level prior to Twitter, Facebook LinkedIn, Iphones iPads on and on and on..
In fact even before Cell phones and pager some of us “Old Folks” actually went out and met with our clients face to face and talked!
What an awesome concept EH!
Of course, you’re right, Mark! But, the gist of this post is how unexciting my life would be without people like you!! I appreciate you stopping by to lend your cents and sense.
I’d miss the instananeous reaction to events from weather to news, Amber Alerts and business news, and of course great people I’ve met. Some other aspects..like people screaming political insults at each other with a dozen hashtags, not so much
Oops! I think I’d run screaming in the other direction, Brad! Thanks for sharing!
I would miss the realtime conversation, the simplicity and the up-to-the-second news updates. I am a loyal twitter fan. It’s my fav. social media platform to work on.
Hi, Samantha! I am always amazed that we can build relationships without speaking or meeting. But, after awhile, I like to pick up the phone and put a sound to all the words! Thanks for sharing your insight here.
it is a good way to keep updated on a particular topic if we setup twitter alerts…
I’ve not added Twitter alerts yet…I do have Google alerts…assume they are much the same? Thanks for the tip!
I would miss all the conversation, both deep and surface, had between those I admire and those with whom I chuckle. I’d miss all the learning that has taken place in my head about the digital world, not limited to social media but spanning all things digital. I’d miss the more-than-occasional brilliance, the crazy stuff that entices out-loud guffaws. Most of all? I’d miss the connection formed between Tweeps far and near and the friendships that have arisen out of those connections. Twitter as a business source has been a good thing too, however the connections have equal value. You can place food on the kitchen table, but food for the soul and heart carries just as much importance. Thanks for your post!
@ginakayRE
Well said, Gina! Thank you for sharing. I love the “out-loud guffaws.” I’m always laughing on Twitter, and that’s one of the best parts.
Great question Jayme. I remember a conversation with @BethHarte last year, on a Twitter outage day, about if and how we’d continue to be “social” without some of the social networks like Twitter.
First, we’d all jump to the next best thing: i.e. Friendfeed, LinkedIn, FB.
Second, if there were no networks, we’d have to use our blogs and old fashion email to find each other, maybe join some forums or BBS but it wouldn’t be the same.
Third we’d all get work done.. okay, other work. 😉
I let loose the rants via a secret account but yeah, I miss the conversations and feedback from Twitter when I’m away. And yet, I can and do walk away when I’m busy, on deadline, traveling, etc. It’s not necessary to me to share what/where I’m eating or every little detail, but it’s the constant stream. People tell me “such and such happened” and I’m like “yeah, I saw that on Twitter.. yesterday.”
What I’d miss the most is the convenience of making and sustaining new relationships. I wouldn’t forget you or Shonali or any of the hundreds of others I know, I’d have to resort to email (the HORROR!). But it’s the speed, the ease of jumping on Twitter. FWIW.
I’d hate to have to jump to FB to “replace” Twitter. Not sure there’s a Tweetdeck for that! And, you’re spot on with the getting work done (that’s not getting done). When I posted the Vitamin D debacle, I “lost” three hours to social media and to what gain? Wasn’t billable, but it sure felt like my old agency days when angst was high to get the hit. Thanks for sharing, banter, input and Twitter talk!
I’d not use FB for Twitter; totally different audiences for me so yeah, have to find something else. Just skimmed a post about Friendfeed, may have to give it a second look though most people cross-post from Twitter.
LOVE that you mention the time waste with finding stories, writing blog posts. Those “how-to” articles on writing a post in 30 minutes or less, I’m like.. takes me that long just to find the appropriate snarky, funny image or link-back to all the posts I reference. Tough being picky.
Not sure how the Brogans of the world really produce all that copy 3x/daily.