I have met some wonderful and amazing people on Twitter, and we’re it not for this platform, there is at least one friend I would not have. For that I am grateful the platform exists.
However, I recently discovered that there is a whole NSFW, X-rated side of Twitter that is allowed to exist right alongside the 13 year olds that are allowed to use it.
There are no safeguards in place to protect these children from the vile people that post this crap and no content warnings for parents, letting them k ow that this side of Twitter not only exists, but is not a violation of any of their TOS. It is for that reason my child will not be allowed on Twitter for as long as I have a say in the matter.
I joined in 2017 to keep track of the orange ones tweets. I would post some things but mostly retweeting. It was toxic though. Mean comments, and some funny ones too, but I have not been looking at it every day now and feel better. Your tweets, on the other hand, are always enjoyable to read, as is Steady.
I had a Twitter account long before I actually followed anyone or posted. (My smart-arse response used to be, “I’m not a twit.”) I enjoy seeing people’s personalities and some of the truly clever, insightful, poignant posts. I don’t enjoy Twitter wielded as a weapon, or used to spread misinformation and outright lies.
I’m somewhat torn. Twitter doesn’t mean relinquishing though or sense.
In short, I’m grateful for you, Lin-Manuel Miranda and a few others who tweet truth, humor, and reality.
I have never had a use for Twitter. I was first turned off by the 280-character limit for a tweet. I have been continually turned off by most of the tweets I see posted on other platforms.
When I tell people I get a lot of my news from Twitter they laugh. What they don't understand is that twitter is much more than a person's random thoughts (although of course there is plenty of that also). Typically I will go to what is trending, click on the MANY news articles available to that particular trend, along with politicians, journalists, scientists, doctors, organizations, etc thoughts on that trend, followed by more articles and videos easily at my disposal. I find I can get so much more information through my own research on twitter, than what I will later see on the evening news. Of course I do realize you have to separate the real posts from the bullies, trolls, etc. Personally, I think it's a great tool to use in general, far more so than the bullying, negative, hateful posts I see on Facebook. Tweet on, I say!
I like it, but I have so few followers that no one really sees what I tweet and there's very few, if any, "likes". however, the best part is you can just follow who you want to follow. unlike Facebook where you "have" to add certain friends and family or it will become a "thing".
I just deleted my account...wading thru all the hate language to get to the “good stuff” left me gnashing my teeth (as my Dad used to say) and feeling angry. Just not worth the time suck or emotional toll.
I like, and possibly love, Twitter for a lot of reasons. It has opened professional doors for me. It allows me to easily access content posted by people I admire (ahem, Mr. Rather). It allows me to connect with likeminded individuals around the globe in real time on important issues. During the wildfires in September, I relied on it to stay updated on evacuation orders.
On the flip side, however, it is a breeding ground for misinformation and hate. It can also feed our anxiety and nightmares. So, for all of the good it may bring, there are elements of bad that must be reckoned with. But that's true for most things in life, no?
Book 'em, Danno !!! I want you BACK on the news. I have missed you for so long. Was hoping John Roberts would be in your seat, but poli-TICKS or whatever intervened I suppose. I LOVE the first part of this note you wrote .. to tweet or not to tweet .. I say ... NOT, in thy wildest dreams, not in the middle of the forest .. it isn't even safe THERE !! Wolves live there, you know ! And, they don't even dress up in sheep's clothing.. Reminds me of my dad .. Green Beret .. what you saw was what you got, and you had better be careful what you wished for when he walked in the door .. now, the military is "standing down" for three months ! PERCHANCE, what be the real reason for that? !
Twitter is a thing, but not the only thing. People can get so wrapped up in a hot button issue, they lose all sense of perspective. I deplore the mob rule so prevalent on all social media. People make mistakes; people say stupid things. Often emboldened by the “anonymity” of the internet. I am not sure why the internet lends itself to many of us displaying our worst selves, but some of the social dynamic pressures are off there and folks think they can just let the insults rip. There are truly vile people who want to spread hate and rage via social media. They are sad, small people for sure. But platforms like Twitter can also provide opportunities and community where none existed before. I do think it needs some sort of regulation. I am not comfortable with private companies imposing arbitrary and inconsistent rules and/ or using their platform to either spread misinformation or not take it down. “All about the clicks” aka profit cannot be the lodestar for what are essentially are virtual village greens or town squares.
I have been a Facebook denier ever since, around 20 years ago. I saw on the news that Zuckerberg opened the platform as a freshman class directory, so he/they could grade their fellow female school mates. At that point I recall 2 things; 1) the outrage I had at the blatant misogynistic nature of that, & 2) turning to my husband and proclaiming I would never use FB. I still haven't opened an account with FB, even though Zuckerberg claims that was face smash (or something) he developed before FB. I still hold that it was the thing before FB, therefore it is absolutely related, since the other thing was removed, FB simply took it's place as the upgrade to the other thing.
I have very little online presence, have never really wanted to be a part of any of that, but (u all knew the but was coming, I know) after the last tumultuous, crazy, unbelievable, 4 years of the L. Don Hitler administration, Covid & lock down, & of course the insurrection, I really felt the need to reach out. So, I opened a twitter account while watching the inauguration, to possibly spread some notes of love & humor rather than the animosity or ilk that has been so prolific. I find it somewhat entertaining but mostly, I follow the news outlets to get the current news. There is definitely some nastiness there & you can choose to engage or block. Having that choice is a good thing since in everything we do, we have a choice: in how to proceed, how to act, what to project, what to embrace, how to engage & even how we feel is a choice. I chose Steady through twitter and this idea of inserting the word tweet into almost any phrase is a fun thought. I've thought of a few things but the pervasive one is a line from one of the songs from 'Sound of music' - the children are singing good bye ... "I TWEET, I float, I fleetly flee I fly... good bye". I'm not sure why this one sticks in my head, probably because of the tweet/fly relation to a bird and the fact that it's a song.
I have always thought, and still do, that social media is really not a good thing. I won't call myself a dinosaur because as soon as I could I bought a computer when they first became available. On any social media platform it's unnecessary to own up to who you are if you don't want too--no accountability necessary. Then came donald trump and with him a level of frustration I have never experienced in my 68yrs. and in discussions with my circle of friends it really only became worse and my circle is now smaller. I decided to give Twitter a try and thankfully trump was blocked shortly after I started but I found people of like thinking and I can chose who I want to follow. I have found my frustration starting to give way. I refuse to read the trolls that just want to spew vile comments. I have adjusting it to help me in dealing with our ongoing crisis of democracy. Tweeter for me was something of therapy lol. Will I need it going forward? Only time and the republicans will tell
I have met some wonderful and amazing people on Twitter, and we’re it not for this platform, there is at least one friend I would not have. For that I am grateful the platform exists.
However, I recently discovered that there is a whole NSFW, X-rated side of Twitter that is allowed to exist right alongside the 13 year olds that are allowed to use it.
There are no safeguards in place to protect these children from the vile people that post this crap and no content warnings for parents, letting them k ow that this side of Twitter not only exists, but is not a violation of any of their TOS. It is for that reason my child will not be allowed on Twitter for as long as I have a say in the matter.
I joined in 2017 to keep track of the orange ones tweets. I would post some things but mostly retweeting. It was toxic though. Mean comments, and some funny ones too, but I have not been looking at it every day now and feel better. Your tweets, on the other hand, are always enjoyable to read, as is Steady.
“What are your thoughts on Twitter?“
I had a Twitter account long before I actually followed anyone or posted. (My smart-arse response used to be, “I’m not a twit.”) I enjoy seeing people’s personalities and some of the truly clever, insightful, poignant posts. I don’t enjoy Twitter wielded as a weapon, or used to spread misinformation and outright lies.
I’m somewhat torn. Twitter doesn’t mean relinquishing though or sense.
In short, I’m grateful for you, Lin-Manuel Miranda and a few others who tweet truth, humor, and reality.
60s nonconformer here. still kickin'.
never any social media past text & email. Peace. Love
I have never had a use for Twitter. I was first turned off by the 280-character limit for a tweet. I have been continually turned off by most of the tweets I see posted on other platforms.
I will be brief...I do not use Tweeter.
When I tell people I get a lot of my news from Twitter they laugh. What they don't understand is that twitter is much more than a person's random thoughts (although of course there is plenty of that also). Typically I will go to what is trending, click on the MANY news articles available to that particular trend, along with politicians, journalists, scientists, doctors, organizations, etc thoughts on that trend, followed by more articles and videos easily at my disposal. I find I can get so much more information through my own research on twitter, than what I will later see on the evening news. Of course I do realize you have to separate the real posts from the bullies, trolls, etc. Personally, I think it's a great tool to use in general, far more so than the bullying, negative, hateful posts I see on Facebook. Tweet on, I say!
Twitter's original 140 character limit meant everybody had to learn to write headlines.
I like it, but I have so few followers that no one really sees what I tweet and there's very few, if any, "likes". however, the best part is you can just follow who you want to follow. unlike Facebook where you "have" to add certain friends and family or it will become a "thing".
I just deleted my account...wading thru all the hate language to get to the “good stuff” left me gnashing my teeth (as my Dad used to say) and feeling angry. Just not worth the time suck or emotional toll.
Not on Twitter and never plan to be! LOL!
I like, and possibly love, Twitter for a lot of reasons. It has opened professional doors for me. It allows me to easily access content posted by people I admire (ahem, Mr. Rather). It allows me to connect with likeminded individuals around the globe in real time on important issues. During the wildfires in September, I relied on it to stay updated on evacuation orders.
On the flip side, however, it is a breeding ground for misinformation and hate. It can also feed our anxiety and nightmares. So, for all of the good it may bring, there are elements of bad that must be reckoned with. But that's true for most things in life, no?
Book 'em, Danno !!! I want you BACK on the news. I have missed you for so long. Was hoping John Roberts would be in your seat, but poli-TICKS or whatever intervened I suppose. I LOVE the first part of this note you wrote .. to tweet or not to tweet .. I say ... NOT, in thy wildest dreams, not in the middle of the forest .. it isn't even safe THERE !! Wolves live there, you know ! And, they don't even dress up in sheep's clothing.. Reminds me of my dad .. Green Beret .. what you saw was what you got, and you had better be careful what you wished for when he walked in the door .. now, the military is "standing down" for three months ! PERCHANCE, what be the real reason for that? !
Twitter is a thing, but not the only thing. People can get so wrapped up in a hot button issue, they lose all sense of perspective. I deplore the mob rule so prevalent on all social media. People make mistakes; people say stupid things. Often emboldened by the “anonymity” of the internet. I am not sure why the internet lends itself to many of us displaying our worst selves, but some of the social dynamic pressures are off there and folks think they can just let the insults rip. There are truly vile people who want to spread hate and rage via social media. They are sad, small people for sure. But platforms like Twitter can also provide opportunities and community where none existed before. I do think it needs some sort of regulation. I am not comfortable with private companies imposing arbitrary and inconsistent rules and/ or using their platform to either spread misinformation or not take it down. “All about the clicks” aka profit cannot be the lodestar for what are essentially are virtual village greens or town squares.
I have been a Facebook denier ever since, around 20 years ago. I saw on the news that Zuckerberg opened the platform as a freshman class directory, so he/they could grade their fellow female school mates. At that point I recall 2 things; 1) the outrage I had at the blatant misogynistic nature of that, & 2) turning to my husband and proclaiming I would never use FB. I still haven't opened an account with FB, even though Zuckerberg claims that was face smash (or something) he developed before FB. I still hold that it was the thing before FB, therefore it is absolutely related, since the other thing was removed, FB simply took it's place as the upgrade to the other thing.
I have very little online presence, have never really wanted to be a part of any of that, but (u all knew the but was coming, I know) after the last tumultuous, crazy, unbelievable, 4 years of the L. Don Hitler administration, Covid & lock down, & of course the insurrection, I really felt the need to reach out. So, I opened a twitter account while watching the inauguration, to possibly spread some notes of love & humor rather than the animosity or ilk that has been so prolific. I find it somewhat entertaining but mostly, I follow the news outlets to get the current news. There is definitely some nastiness there & you can choose to engage or block. Having that choice is a good thing since in everything we do, we have a choice: in how to proceed, how to act, what to project, what to embrace, how to engage & even how we feel is a choice. I chose Steady through twitter and this idea of inserting the word tweet into almost any phrase is a fun thought. I've thought of a few things but the pervasive one is a line from one of the songs from 'Sound of music' - the children are singing good bye ... "I TWEET, I float, I fleetly flee I fly... good bye". I'm not sure why this one sticks in my head, probably because of the tweet/fly relation to a bird and the fact that it's a song.
I have always thought, and still do, that social media is really not a good thing. I won't call myself a dinosaur because as soon as I could I bought a computer when they first became available. On any social media platform it's unnecessary to own up to who you are if you don't want too--no accountability necessary. Then came donald trump and with him a level of frustration I have never experienced in my 68yrs. and in discussions with my circle of friends it really only became worse and my circle is now smaller. I decided to give Twitter a try and thankfully trump was blocked shortly after I started but I found people of like thinking and I can chose who I want to follow. I have found my frustration starting to give way. I refuse to read the trolls that just want to spew vile comments. I have adjusting it to help me in dealing with our ongoing crisis of democracy. Tweeter for me was something of therapy lol. Will I need it going forward? Only time and the republicans will tell