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What’s The Point?
Elmer Fudd Said It Was Hunting Season
All of us here at Three Ways have made our respective comments about social networks and I have to admit, I’ve debated with whether or not to resign from them all. With all these social media sites, I’m very connected… to the same people. I’m friends with my actual friends on one site, I follow them on another and we buzz on yet another. Well, we used to. Lately I don’t see the point. Especially since I actually see a lot of my friends in real life. I know, it’s a novel sentiment. It all makes me question Twitter.
In order to tweet about something I’m doing, I have to stop what I’m doing, take out my iPhone (yes there’s a difference), click the app, wait for it to load, get distracted, check my @replies, then go in and type in a succinct and sometimes humorous statement about what I’m doing at that time. All of that takes me away from actually interacting and continuing to enjoy myself. Now I’m just reporting about it. And for who’s information or entertainment? I really don’t know. That’s the ultimate irony of Twitter – we tweet about what we’re doing, but that in turn takes us away from what we’re doing.
Not to mention it’s very rude to stop having a good time with people and whip out your phone. I found myself ruining an actual interaction in order to send a message out to people online. Which is backwards to me. The internet is supposed to help induce more actual interactions. I know I’ve been M.I.A. on Twitter lately and the reason is because I’m actually living life. I’ve made a conscious effort to not tweet when I’m out because I want to be in the moment.
I’ve had discussions with people about Twitter and their reasons for not joining. Some people have said it’s narcissistic. I have to agree. I question my own vanity as I tweet. To think someone else actually cares about what you think and/or what you’re doing is crazy to me. Others have said it’s nothing but a big chat room – also quite true only you can disregard the opinions of those you don’t want to hear. And others have called it pointless – which is debatable. I get some relevant news from certain people I follow and it’s an efficient way to keep up to date with certain companies.
All-in-all, I’m just not sure how relevant this social medium will be anymore. Word on the street is that they’re losing followers by the day. People are growing tired of seeing the Fail Whale and are searching for the next big thing. I can see why Facebook and LinkedIn will remain in the mix, but Twitter might end up like Friendster, Black Planet and MySpace. And I think 4Square will join it on the walk down the Green Mile too.
Just a few thoughts that are swirling around my head as I debate on whether or not it’s even practical to have a Twitter account that I barely use. Aside from tweeting about something I or my cohorts here have written. But, what do y’all think? Do you think Twitter is still as cool as it was day 1 or is it beginning to lose its luster? For those who aren’t Tweeters, why aren’t you on there? And for those hardcore Tweeters, what’s the appeal?
There’s always Facebook,
RSS & Twitter
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1) I’ve requested your friendship on FB Seattle & its still awaiting confirmation! (That stings a bit, i must admit)
2) I joined a few months back so i had a medium to vent. People were going to my parents (i’m 24 years old, why?!) about things in my statuses & i didn’t feel comfortable stating simple things on my mind anymore on fb. (My mother just joined FB & some other people are on there so i feel like the ends days of my innernet comfort-ability are coming.)
3) It’s comedy to me now…if i’m having a bad day, i can check my timeline & laugh and therefore, feel better.
4) I’m also able to be random there…*shrug*
#thatisall
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I love the insight. I agree with the premise that this whole Twittering thing has become an extra effort that, when we look back at what exactly we just tweeted, seems like overhead.
But I dont think Twitter is disappearing b/c of its pure simplicity. I go through phases on twitter where I go nuts with updates and then dont update a damn thing for a few *gasp* days (Check my feed to see if im lying). From a marketing and publishing point of view, Twitter is pure Gold.
Social media in general is making our lives more complicated by adding extra mundane tasks that people are finding absolutely necessary to undertake.
Ill keep tweeting about nothing for the near future. I just got berated today for questioning The Clipse’s relevancy today which forced me DL their latest ish. You don’t get that on Facebook .
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Twitter is still very new to me (I finally gave it a chance in the last 2 months), and it feels like one big chat room. What can I say, I enjoy talking to the VSB/3Ways/SBM fam, they amuse me. It helps that actual work is slow at my job right now, and I don’t have too much going on. Once things pick up, I may not be as active on it. *shrugs*. I’ve been known to fall off on Myspace and Facebook, as well as other sites, and I actually hope that I don’t on Twitter.
I’m kinda glad to hear you’re exhaustion with Twitter could excuse you not being more concerned with why I can’t follow you.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Yet another reason I’m kinda done with Twitter. I haven’t been able to accept new followers in almost two months. Two months is way too long for any error to not be fixed. Between that and seeing more dead whales than Ahab, I’m kinda done.
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L. Dejean Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
i was having the same issue but now my requests are back…did you comment that you had that problem on the FAQs section?
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I agree with you. As a “hardcore tweeter” it may not look like it but I do. The appeal is gone. I tweet out of boredom and to keep in touch with sbm/3way/vsb people that I haven’t met – which is damn near all of you.
When I’m out, unless I’m alone and I see some crazy sh!t that I might feel like sharing, if I’m not already texting someone, then I would whip out my phone to tweet. I kinda can’t take it anymore and it gives Suki a headache from time to time.
Oy vey. Me and these social networking headaches. Shout out to FB for sticking around for so long. I’ve been through so many of these
H0essites (well just Sconex, MS, hi5 and Twitter) and FB has been the loyal main chick that’s always clutch when these womp-womp types never stick around long enough. But even FB is losing the elasticity and durability from when I first started messing with her. *sigh* poor girlReply
L. Dejean Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 1:26 am
The squeaks made me laugh…one of my friends calls me squeaky & another person i know inquired if i squeak when i…nevermind on that one!
I’ve been rockin with FB since UA (Alabama) joined the network & it was still only like 5 or a little more than that schools on it…She’s still my main, just hate that its open to anyone now…where’s the exclusivity?! #deepsigh
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The main reason I love Twitter is awards shows. And reality shows, second. Which begats live-tweeting. That is probably the main reason Twitter exists. Well, in my world. It’s great to e-chat with folks who I’d probably never have met otherwise.
As far as when I tweet things that happen in real life, I usually leave that for during the train commute. When I’m just sitting there. People watching. I don’t take out my iPhone and haphazardly play with it out in the open. Hells naw…I live in a big city. NO. Not when I’m just walking alone. If there’s something that I see while actively living, I wait to tweet it later if it’s worth mentioning.
I’m somewhat thinking of taking foolish pics of folks who deserve to roasted. I’ll have to do that when I’m feeling evil. I didn’t feel that way today. God is good.
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S0_Flyy Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Co-sign to Cheekie on the award show/reality show tweeting… OMFG. It’s like the peanut gallery on steroids. Now THAT is some hi-lare-ree-us-ness. Lemme tell you… if you are iffy about twitter, wait until a big television showing of any kind and then watch your timeline. BWWHAHAHAHAHAHA. Madness.
I am random. I love tomfoolery. I loathe coonery. Therefore, I love twitter. I don’t think twitter is fading fast… I think it is losing appeal to those folks who never really got the concept to start w/. And those who join that d@mn #teamfollowback. Twitter is not about the number of followers you have, it’s about the quality. I know about 1/2 of my followers in ‘real life’ and the others are mostly blog family and friends of friends. It is a haven of foolishness and I love it.
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Cheekie Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
“Co-sign to Cheekie on the award show/reality show tweeting… OMFG. It’s like the peanut gallery on steroids. Now THAT is some hi-lare-ree-us-ness. Lemme tell you… if you are iffy about twitter, wait until a big television showing of any kind and then watch your timeline. BWWHAHAHAHAHAHA. Madness.”
YES! I think Twitter peeps should be on payroll. Way funnier than every single channel on cable sometimes.
And also cosign on the quality. Team followback is some boosheet…
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I’m not on twitter because I don’t need attention from random ass folks. I barely wanna hear from or speak to the ppl I know so why in the hell would I give a damn you’re watching Headline News (looking at you, Stacia)?? As doctor S stated, Twitter is most def a great marketing tool but most of the ppl on twitter ain’t marketing sh*t and are just in desperate need of attention. I was checking out my nephew’s twitter a couple of months ago which led me to peep out other ppl’s pages… I’ll be damn if this world ain’t full attention whores- it’s ridiculous!
Also, I’m very private. I don’t like ppl in my business AT ALL so, twitter would definitely be a contradiction.
I have friends on different ends of this country and in many other countries and I could see twitter being cool for the purpose of keeping in touch w/ them but thing is, if I really consider them friends, they have my phone number and email so, anything of importance they have to say, they know how to reach me.
couple of weeks ago I was over on Black Girls Are Easy reading this post: http://blackgirlsareeasy.blogspot.com/2010/07/have-black-people-taken-over-twitter.html
about twitter. Hilarious!
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I see both sides of the argument.. last year my tweet count was at 600, now it’s at 8,700 or something.. i can say, since i don’t get out much (thanks for rubbing that in) that it’s allowed me to create a network of people that share similar interests.. i also like to speak with people that live somewhere else other than i do..
Twitter is so unbelieveably random.. not a trait i mind, being that my writing has a tendency to run the same way.. the other day i had a conversation about which biscuits were better KFC or Popeye’s (popeyes FTW!)
it’s interactive. yet very time consuming.. i don’t know many people that say that twitter has actually HELPED their productivity.. so i do need to scale back..
i run across a lot of foolishness when i’m out and about.. but when i’m actually somewhere having a good time (whenever that is)then i don’t think about twitter..
ironically.. most of the people that i deal with on twitter, i now have phone numbers to.. they comment on my blog more than my local friends do.. they’re coming to florida in october..
twitter isn’t all bad.. it helps my days go by faster.. and i love that too..
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Cheekie Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 8:19 am
I remember we had that convo a while ago too, with Humble, Nick! Popeyes runs this town tonight, tomorrow, and for eons to come. In terms of chicken places.
Now if you wanna go to another level with Red Lobster? *swoons*
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kNICKerz Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 11:28 am
i remember when we talked about Red Lobster!! but the middle ain’t always cooked babes.. THE MIDDLE AIN’T ALWAYS COOKED!!
i can’t front though.. i’ll wrap them in my cloth napkin and stuff them in my Puma bag.. #SeeWhatIDidThere
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I love Twitter. I feel like it has so many benefits to my life. First and foremost as a blogger it’s been the most effective way of promoting my blog and engaging with readers…a lot of people won’t comment but they’ll tweet or DM me about a post. I get a lot of new readers from RT’s.
Twitter is my #1 way of communicating with my friends. I’ve also made some good friends on there (Hi Nickerz! Hi Sane!). I find it the fastest and easiest way to make plans with people. And I am guilty of tweeting when I’m out but…in my world everyone does it. We’re always sitting at the dinner table or at a club or a show and everyone’s tweeting.
Twitter is also my source of information. When I was at the lil sis’s graduation and everyone was trying to get information about the earthquake, I just went on Twitter and knew everything I needed to know. I was out of town for the worst of the G20 madness but my Toronto Twitterpeeps kept me up to date. If the subway’s not running, Twitter will tell me before the news does and it’s a much more effective source for weather info than the craptastic weather app on my iphone.
As an evil soulless advertising professional, Twitter is essential. Not just because of the tonnes of articles I come across on there but because if you work in digital media and you don’t participate in social networking you don’t look right. I know a lot of industry peeps will just toss your resume if you’re not on Twitter and Facebook.
Oh and also – I got my current job from a links on Twitter.
Long live Twitter!
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SaneN85 Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 11:45 am
*waves* If Twitter has done nothing else, it has brought good people in my life in the last 2 months.
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kNICKerz Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Hi Max!!!
if i say having you around has gotten me through some madness.. i’d be accused of being too emo..and i gotta keep my thug intact..
so i won’t say that..
i can’t wait for october..
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Co. Sign. I have grown to loathe twitter, mostly because of people who deem it necessary to tweet all day everyday. Don’t you have a job? No one cares that you just put your left leg into your pants with the right to soon follow.
Like you said, some people have developed an overly inflated sense of self as a result of this thing. Going in on how much you don’t have to talk to people or about how you are going to unfollow folks or telling every minute detail about things you do, is nuts.
I also blame the people who feed into the egos of others. The crazies on twitter make this thing what it is.
And I can’t stand the twitter philosophers and preachers. Does everything have to be a cause? Must every tweet be the beginning of a rant or soapbox speech? You are not deep homie. Pause.
I enjoy the quotes, funny trending topics and stories but people, Twitter is not real life.
I only tweet because Slim makes me. It’s in my contract. It’s only a matter of time before I’m a free agent. Then I’ll do what I want and crush the dreams of an entire city. Wait. That’s Lebron’s story, not mine.
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Slim Jackson Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 8:00 am
And if you leave the team, I’ll write a lengthy blog post about you and how we’ll win an award without you and then I’ll get fined for my not so kind words.
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Ok, I’ll be the loser kid in the comments…
Facebook is one thing — I’ve definitely slowed down on my use of facebook, especially because so many people use it for… ridiculousness. I’ve never thought about quitting because I know, at least for me, that’d be a lot of hot air (and if I’m really real this morning, I think for a lot of people who spend a lot of time talmbout they’re deactivating, it is too. Deactivate already, I wanna tell some of ‘em).
But Twitter… I hate the fail whale, I hate that so many people are on it you can’t use it all the time the way you want, and truthfully, I’d like for it to go back to how it was about a year ago when it was only moderately popular — and that’s only because then at least it wouldn’t go down all the time. However, aside from that, I feel like Twitter is as awesome as you make it because you choose what shows up in your timeline.
I’m slowly coming to the realization that people don’t recognize the power of the follow (or unfollow) button. I was on Twitter before a lot of my friends, but even as they’ve gotten on, I”ve been slow to add them to my timeline. For one — you ain’t sayin’ nothing on Twitter I won’t hear about anyway and for two, I got on Twitter because there was a lot of stuff I wanted to post on facebook, but couldn’t because everyone I’m friends with (gasp) KNOWS ME.
Might I recommend all of you unfollow 4 people and start following me? It’ll be all the difference. @ASmith86 Gon’ head. You want to. LOL.
Someone’s going to clear up what I’m missing. I just know it.
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I like Twitter…but that’s probably obvious. It’s great for promotion and the people I do follow are hilarious. When it gets to the point that it’s affecting my ability to interact in real life, I will slowly put my phone down and go to counseling.lol.
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I find that technology in general is eroding ppl’s ability to effectively communicate. I have a strong pet peeve when I am out with friends and they feel the need to check their twitter of FB page every 5-10 seconds. It pisses me off. What are we hanging out for, how about we go to our respective homes, and u hit me up of twitter. Face to face communication as well as a simple phone conversation have been replaced with these other mediums as well as texting. It’s very sad and annoying…..
Anywho, I am on twitter for it’s entertainment purposes and ability to combat my boredom sometimes. It also allows me to see what the new 3ways post is via Slim. So I’m all for twitter. @DedeNiki
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I am on tweeter and I have five followers..lol..but I follow 141 people…but, not regularly. I feel like its a sorority and I am not cool enough to join..like somebody follow me. I have cool things to say, too. lol. Twitter is alot of BS..but its cool to follow people who I genuinely think have funny/enlightening things to say…..
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A.Smith Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 9:23 am
Twitter is definitely high school — but then again, I believe life is just high school on repeat.
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SaneN85 Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 11:48 am
You’re on Twitter and didn’t bother to tell me? SMH
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QueenT Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
My bad Sane..follow me @kizzy2009. LOL…anybody else can follow, too…most likely I will be following you because I rarely tweet. lol,
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You know I am not really into twitter..because I thought it was called “tweeter”..lol. sorry.
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I tweet out of boredom. I also like to read wtf ppl be talking about. That’s cool sometimes. But above all else, I tweet when something is going on that will not believed when I retell the story. Yes, if I’m getting wops while running from the cops and i fall off of a bridge and get rescued by sea mermaids that make me their slave – I’m gonna tweet that. That sh!t is bananananans
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SaneN85 Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 11:49 am
Are they other type of mermaids than sea mermaids?
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N.I.A. naturally Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 11:59 am
Well, there are mer-people in the Black Lake. lol. #harrypottergeek
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SaneN85 Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
true. #alsoHPgeek
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L. Dejean Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
you…are effin amazing! I’m ready for HP 7! #FellowHarryPotterGeek!
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Please Excuse Your Significant Other Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
In the Hudson? There may be all types of sh!t we dont know about
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L. Dejean Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Today, was all about my experience with Delta Airlines…i loathe Delta with all of my being now…i’m just now in Salt Lake City (oh, greetings from Utah all!)
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Bad man nuh fi tweet, seen?
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Miss Jenkins Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Ugh.
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kNICKerz Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 11:33 am
This made me laugh…
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it is very narcissistic and “announcy” as my friends and I say. I I was reluctant to join for a long time, but I agree with Sane–for me its like a big chat room with all my homies I used to chill with on message boards for the most part. I like it, but when I’m with friends in person–especially those that don’t tweet, and I’m out truly enjoying my life, I put the Ubertwitter down. I have to get on my babe sometimes because we are both addicted to our blackberries, but uhm, we have to make the conscious effort to just spend time, not document via social networks.
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Reecie Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 10:08 am
I do enjoy the fun of many Trending Topics though. that makes it a bit more interactive, as long as they are good ones and not bs.
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ehh i like twitter. i tweet. i feel like if you don’t care what i have to say then you didn’t have to follow me. i’ve never asked anyone to follow me but you best believe i’ve asked multiple people to unfollow me. *shrug*
” I question my own vanity as I tweet. To think someone else actually cares about what you think and/or what you’re doing is crazy to me.”
i do agree. with this and then i don’t. i agree with the people actually caring what we do is crazy but caring what we think is the part i don’t agree with. if you are going to apply that to twitter you might as well apply it to facebook and blogs as well. i mean who sits down and writes a blog? why should people care what we have to say? mind you it takes a whole lot longer to read a blog than it does 140 characters.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 11:43 am
When I wrote it, I thought the same thing and I was hoping someone would bring this up. You could say the same thing about blogging too, but only to an extent. I liken that to any writing. Only thing with Twitter is that it’s less of a skill and more of just commentary.
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I LOVE TWITTER!! Where else can I speak casually about my pussy? lol.
I joined twitter so I can say things I don’t want my FB friends and family to see. Twitter gives me a little more anonymity. Not much, but a little. At work when I’m bored, or at night when I’m bored and feeling frisky, I tweet. And the people I follow on twitter make it an enjoyable experience.
Also, let’s not forget twitter helped protesters send out information after the Iranian elections, and helped get info out and raise money for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, along with a host of other causes and issues. Twitter can be a very useful tool if you understand how to use it. It’s all about the dissemination of information.
I think part of the problem is people get too caught up in what other people are tweeting, and then become all befuddled about it. It’s not that serious…
I will say this, there are too many people who tweet negativity all day, every day. I unfollow people weekly because of this.
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Please Excuse Your Significant Other Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 11:01 am
my chinmy bedmy residenceI guess no where ::shrugs::Reply
MadScientist7 Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
last night you had me rolling talking about your pussy. not to mention suki, slim and labakir talking about torrential downpours and all the wetness. lol
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N.I.A. naturally Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Yeah, I saw all that talk about wetness.
You know, cat’s don’t usually like water, but I find that my pussy does very well with a little wetness. In fact, the wetter the better.#itstooearlyforthis
#imsorry
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MadScientist7 Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
hahaha. #3waysbeforedark
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N.I.A. naturally Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
#3waysbeforedark?
lol. #tooeasy
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L. Dejean Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
i saw some of that…i was #dead
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I will say this. I hate that most of my followers/people i follow are women who don’t get into sports the way I do. When I’m watching the playoffs, the last thing I want to see in my timeline is some ish about the basketball *not*wives. I need to follow more men. Or shut down twitter while I’m watching the game… but I would rather just follow more men. lol.
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I have become distant friends w/ FB since twitter started. I was one of those people that updated my FB status like 5 times a day, so I was a destined tweeter. I actually signed up to twitter before the craze hit but I wasn’t quite sure how to work the thing. There weren’t enough people for me to follow to understand.
FB is too much. I’m on it b/c it has 6 years worth of my photos and I don’t know where else to keep em. Lol. Plus it allows the whole tagging feature. However, when they took off the college requirement and opened it to HS I knew it was going down hill. Now that both of my parents have a FB (nah pops, we can’t be friends *deny* love you tho’) and so many individuals who DID NOTHING w/ their lives my hometown and they continue to talk about this nothingness on my mini-feed; I’ve decided we need a break. Not to mention, there is just too much information one can gather from your FB… w/ statuses, pictures, biographical information… too much. And I Know… I’m an internet dectective.
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Twitter is cool to me…
Its comedy – Love seeing the funny ish people have to say
its a comprehensive source of information – Shoot I found out about Steinbrenners Death from twitter before anyone else (although a lot of false info is put out there its a massicve data stream)
I also use it to promote my blogs and other endeavors. A succinct way to make a point and create a buzz
I do agree that I dont tweet as much when Im out having a good time because Im focused on the memories of right now!
And I know people aint gonna front on how twitpic changed the game!!
SW, you mad.
lol
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max Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Plus you have women fighting over you on twitter. That’s always a good thing.
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QueenT Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
I follow YOU..and you tweet more than Nick Cannon..and that is saying alot! LOL:-)
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SaneN85 Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
You might have issues with all my tweets then, missy.
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QueenT Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
No..Its cool. LOL…I was just messin’ with Streetz! LOL
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streetztalk Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Luv u too Queen -_-
lol
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I’m not really a fan of social networks at all. I have facebook (its easy for me to talk with my family around the world without having to buy a calling card lol) However, I find these social networks to be distracting. I am private as well so I wont really tweet or update what I’m doing. Also, if you have a real job… unless you work for a magazine/marketing job….you cant sit on the phone or company computer and social network.
Lastly if you are enjoying your life…..why tweet about it? Just live (I personally hardly have time to read & comment on blogs) I’m just saying…….lol
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“Also, if you have a real job… unless you work for a magazine/marketing job….you cant sit on the phone or company computer and social network.”
Hmmm.
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What in the hell is going on? I’m getting all sorts of notifs in my email >_< *shakes fist*
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I think I need to go to Facebook and Twitter rehab because I have 2 accounts on each and spend too much time on them.
Peace, Love and Chocolate
Tiffany
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Isn’t it funny how Twitter “terminology” has made it into our daily lexicon?
#
@
What did we do before these genius symbols?!
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