There are two extremes when it comes to social media—those who think it’s the most amazing thing to happen this millennium and don’t know how we ever lived without it, and those who hate it, think it’s a complete waste of time, and believe we should all go back to corresponding by phone and the postal service. Bloggers generally fall toward the OMG AMAZING end of the spectrum, but I think I fall somewhere in the middle.
Let’s talk about what I love first. Obviously, I love blogging. I love, love, LOVE Facebook, partly because I’ve probably been on it longer than you, unless you’re one of my college friends or you were an Ivy League student in the spring of 2004. Boston-area schools were on it pretty early, when it was still Thefacebook.com. I was actually slightly late to the party—I held out until December of 2004, when Erin guilted me into it by saying that when she clicked on our dorm room number, I was the only person in our suite who didn’t show up. (Yep, it used to do that—a fun way of finding out who people’s roommates were.) I’ve told you about how much I love my Google Reader (damn you, Google, for the changes you’re making to it!). And I love sites based on a specific interest, like 20sb and Goodreads.
But there are a lot of things on the Internet whose popularity makes me scratch my head. Here are some of them:
-Twitter. I know, I know, I’m one of the very few bloggers out there who doesn’t also use Twitter, but really, I just do not like it. I find it very aesthetically displeasing, for one thing. All those @s and #s and RTs look so damn ugly to me. I don’t like how it forces people to use abbreviations and misspellings because of the character limit. And I’ve never quite gotten the point of it. If you have something quick to say, can’t you just make a Facebook status update? Plus, I know a lot of people are just on it to follow celebrities, but I guess I’m not interested enough in any celebs to be willing to do that. I’ll “like” them on Facebook instead.
I don’t know. I think Twitter speaks to our collective lack of attention span or something—I just find it fundamentally bothersome that people’s thoughts and feelings can be reduced to badly-spelled, misused-symbol-heavy, 140-character posts. I really hope Twitter goes the way of Myspace (for the record, I was never on Myspace, either—all those teenagers with glittery pages where music played when you opened them turned me off).
-Foursquare. Back in the days of AIM, I felt the need to let the world know where I was at all times, but I’ve long since outgrown that. Now, here’s where I sound like a Luddite, but really—if you want to know where I am, can’t you just call me and ask?
-Tumblr. So, I guess technically Tumblr is a blogging platform, but that’s not what people use it for. Mostly, they just share pictures that they find elsewhere on the Internet. And they follow their friends on it and join groups to find the kind of pictures they want and “reblog” the pictures they find from other people. I really, really don’t get it. I don’t even like blogs that have too many pictures in them—I want to READ blogs, not look at photo albums. So I definitely don’t get posts that consist of only one picture.
-Pinterest. This is kind of like taking computer bookmarks and Tumblr pictures, combining them, and laying them out in bulletin board format. I sort of see the appeal of this because you can find new links through it, but it’s nothing I’d want for myself. If I see something I want to bookmark, I just bookmark it.
-Fashion blogging. Now, there are zillions of these out there, so someone must be reading them, but I can’t imagine why. I admit I’m a bit biased because, despite being a pink-wearing, chick-flick-loving girly girl, I’m not the slightest bit interested in fashion. But, no offense, but I genuinely don’t understand why anyone should care what outfit you wore today. If you find a good theme, like Jill did, I get the appeal of that, but I find 99% of fashion blogs ridiculously boring.
I know, I know, GET OFF MY LAWN, KIDS! But I guess the point I’m getting to is that despite the way some people talk about it, social media is not an all-or-nothing thing. Even if you don’t share all my specific views, you probably have your own opinions about what sites you like and don’t like. So I think it’s a bit silly to say you love or hate ALL social media, because the odds are that you probably don’t. I don’t love social media. I love Facebook, blogging, Google Reader, 20sb, and Goodreads. And plenty of people out there have views that are the reverse of mine—Kerri, for instance, loves Twitter but deactivated her Facebook account.
What about you? What do you love and what do you hate out there on the World Wide Web?
Just like you, I'm still trying to find out how Pintrest will make my life easier/better.
Just like you, I'm still trying to find out how Pintrest will make my life easier/better.
Ok, so I feel the need to chime in here with some reasons why I happen to LOVE nearly all the things you despise so much. Maybe it will help you understand a little more about why they exist, and why they're helpful for some of us!
1. Twitter–I didn't get Twitter for a long time either, and there are still many aspects that I don't understand. But, hands down, Twitter is the BEST way to get up-to-the-minute news and information. Was that an earthquake I just felt? Let me get to Twitter and see–yes, everyone is saying the same thing. I follow a good number of venues, restaurants, and bloggers that tell me what's going on in the city–events I wouldn't have heard about otherwise. And, the “celebrities” I follow are primarily writers and comedians–it's a great way to feel connected to the “scene” (whatever scene you want to be connected with). As for the 140 characters, it's an exercise in creativity. If you can be witty, poignant, or make a point in 140 characters, then I probably want to read what you're saying. The folks I follow on Twitter are just not the same as those I follow on Facebook. They are completely different.
2. Foursquare–I don't use it, and it's taken me a while to understand it, but it can function in many of the same ways as Yelp–it gives reviews, and tips, and often discounts at the places you check in. It also offers a unique timeline of the places you've been–it's a good way of checking “Oh, when did we go to that sushi place?”
3. Tumblr: It can seem derivative and boring only to reblog images continuously, but though I'm a word person, I'm also a visual person, and I do appreciate the value of some of these images. Additionally, for a blogger who relies on images, Tumblr is a really good source for inspiration and ideas.
4. Pinterest: Again, another site that took me a little while to come around to. However, it's changed the way I blog and the way I use the Internet. Bookmarks are one thing, and they're fine if you want to be tied to the same computer all the time, but this is a visual bulletin board. If I want to remember the place I saw that awesome scarf on Etsy, Pinterest is the place. It's also really valuable for documenting wedding or other party planning tips, gift ideas, and recipes. It's also been really helpful for me in my blogging to keep track of images and ideas for blog posts. I love it.
5. Fashion blogging: This perhaps goes without saying, but I'm obsessed. It may seem silly to those who don't pay attention to clothing or fashion, but I've always been SUPER into style and clothing and what other people are wearing. I'm constantly taking note of the people around me, taking inspiration and getting ideas of what I want to be wearing (or not wearing). More than outfits, some fashion blogs give tutorials on DIY projects, tips on sales, and hair and beauty tips. Maybe that's not your thing, but it's mine, in a big way, and while I appreciate that not all of them (or even a small percentage) are actually very good, they do have value to some of us out there.
SO, I hope my comments have helped shed a little light on these platforms. I think it all boils down to: we're all different. What works for me may not work for you. What works for you may not work for me. Why try to change that? The Internet is big enough for all of us!
Ok, so I feel the need to chime in here with some reasons why I happen to LOVE nearly all the things you despise so much. Maybe it will help you understand a little more about why they exist, and why they're helpful for some of us!
1. Twitter–I didn't get Twitter for a long time either, and there are still many aspects that I don't understand. But, hands down, Twitter is the BEST way to get up-to-the-minute news and information. Was that an earthquake I just felt? Let me get to Twitter and see–yes, everyone is saying the same thing. I follow a good number of venues, restaurants, and bloggers that tell me what's going on in the city–events I wouldn't have heard about otherwise. And, the “celebrities” I follow are primarily writers and comedians–it's a great way to feel connected to the “scene” (whatever scene you want to be connected with). As for the 140 characters, it's an exercise in creativity. If you can be witty, poignant, or make a point in 140 characters, then I probably want to read what you're saying. The folks I follow on Twitter are just not the same as those I follow on Facebook. They are completely different.
2. Foursquare–I don't use it, and it's taken me a while to understand it, but it can function in many of the same ways as Yelp–it gives reviews, and tips, and often discounts at the places you check in. It also offers a unique timeline of the places you've been–it's a good way of checking “Oh, when did we go to that sushi place?”
3. Tumblr: It can seem derivative and boring only to reblog images continuously, but though I'm a word person, I'm also a visual person, and I do appreciate the value of some of these images. Additionally, for a blogger who relies on images, Tumblr is a really good source for inspiration and ideas.
4. Pinterest: Again, another site that took me a little while to come around to. However, it's changed the way I blog and the way I use the Internet. Bookmarks are one thing, and they're fine if you want to be tied to the same computer all the time, but this is a visual bulletin board. If I want to remember the place I saw that awesome scarf on Etsy, Pinterest is the place. It's also really valuable for documenting wedding or other party planning tips, gift ideas, and recipes. It's also been really helpful for me in my blogging to keep track of images and ideas for blog posts. I love it.
5. Fashion blogging: This perhaps goes without saying, but I'm obsessed. It may seem silly to those who don't pay attention to clothing or fashion, but I've always been SUPER into style and clothing and what other people are wearing. I'm constantly taking note of the people around me, taking inspiration and getting ideas of what I want to be wearing (or not wearing). More than outfits, some fashion blogs give tutorials on DIY projects, tips on sales, and hair and beauty tips. Maybe that's not your thing, but it's mine, in a big way, and while I appreciate that not all of them (or even a small percentage) are actually very good, they do have value to some of us out there.
SO, I hope my comments have helped shed a little light on these platforms. I think it all boils down to: we're all different. What works for me may not work for you. What works for you may not work for me. Why try to change that? The Internet is big enough for all of us!
the main thing I like about Tumblr is it's a good place for fandom. when you want to find other people who are going to squee as excitedly as you do about whatever TV show/actress/etc, it's pretty easy to find that, which is nice.
the main thing I like about Tumblr is it's a good place for fandom. when you want to find other people who are going to squee as excitedly as you do about whatever TV show/actress/etc, it's pretty easy to find that, which is nice.
Jill, I actually LOVE your blog- I think it’s a really original and fun spin on fashion and books, so I hope you don’t come away from this thinking differently! But I’ve seen some fashion blogs that seem like the writers are fishing for compliments, and that just kind of turned me off to the whole genre. But I don’t doubt that they’re useful for some people and that there are good ones out there.
Thanks for your explanation about all these things. This was actually what I was hoping to do with this post- not to say, “Why the hell do people use these things?” but to try to figure out why people do, even if they’re not for me.
Rebekah, I think Tumblr is trying to fill a gap now that Livejournal is less popular (which I join you in being disappointed about).
Jill, I actually LOVE your blog- I think it’s a really original and fun spin on fashion and books, so I hope you don’t come away from this thinking differently! But I’ve seen some fashion blogs that seem like the writers are fishing for compliments, and that just kind of turned me off to the whole genre. But I don’t doubt that they’re useful for some people and that there are good ones out there.
Thanks for your explanation about all these things. This was actually what I was hoping to do with this post- not to say, “Why the hell do people use these things?” but to try to figure out why people do, even if they’re not for me.
Rebekah, I think Tumblr is trying to fill a gap now that Livejournal is less popular (which I join you in being disappointed about).
Oh, also- I didn't realize that Foursquare was also like Yelp. Now it makes a little more sense to me, although I don't feel the need to check in places myself.
Oh, also- I didn't realize that Foursquare was also like Yelp. Now it makes a little more sense to me, although I don't feel the need to check in places myself.
Ran into this via the 20sb page. I completely agree with you. Mainly with the twitter stuff. I really don't need hour to hour updates. the rest of the things you talk about I remain blissfully ignorant of, at least for now.
Will definitely follow you from now on. Check out my blog if you like!
http://koreanendeavors.blogspot.com/
Ran into this via the 20sb page. I completely agree with you. Mainly with the twitter stuff. I really don't need hour to hour updates. the rest of the things you talk about I remain blissfully ignorant of, at least for now.
Will definitely follow you from now on. Check out my blog if you like!
http://koreanendeavors.blogspot.com/
another “i don't get twitter!” post, greaaaat
another “i don't get twitter!” post, greaaaat
This comment has been removed by the author.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Completely agree with Jill about Twitter. Twitter, for me, is about jokes. I agree with Rebekah about Tumblr, but will add that it is a very close, cool, and hilarious community. And you're right–it does remind me of Livejournal!
Twitter is microblogging–and if you do it right, it's clever and hilarious–and Tumbler is mediumblogging–too long for Twitter, but not enough content to commit to a blog. For flawless examples, look at what Dave Holmes, Tara Ariano, and Kelly Oxford have done on both sites.
With Pintrest, I love that it is basically a moodboard–I get a better sense of my friends' tastes and interests by simply glancing at their pages. Also, while it IS just bookmarking things, it's a lot more organized and visually appealing.
I've never used Foursquare and if you're not Tavi Gevinson then I'm not interested in your fashion blog. But the other three are great and serve the same purpose as traditional blogging, just in a different format.
Completely agree with Jill about Twitter. Twitter, for me, is about jokes. I agree with Rebekah about Tumblr, but will add that it is a very close, cool, and hilarious community. And you're right–it does remind me of Livejournal!
Twitter is microblogging–and if you do it right, it's clever and hilarious–and Tumbler is mediumblogging–too long for Twitter, but not enough content to commit to a blog. For flawless examples, look at what Dave Holmes, Tara Ariano, and Kelly Oxford have done on both sites.
With Pintrest, I love that it is basically a moodboard–I get a better sense of my friends' tastes and interests by simply glancing at their pages. Also, while it IS just bookmarking things, it's a lot more organized and visually appealing.
I've never used Foursquare and if you're not Tavi Gevinson then I'm not interested in your fashion blog. But the other three are great and serve the same purpose as traditional blogging, just in a different format.