Comments on: We’re all tweeting nuts

By: Harry

Harry — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 01:05:40 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN2HAroA12w

A young man struggles against the pressure to Twitter his life away.

From: “SuperNews!” An animated sketch comedy series airing on Current TV.

By: philippa

philippa — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:02:02 +0000

@Sarah – couldn’t agree more. It’s baffling that so many people still have irrational feelings about the internet when as you say the hard truth is that children are much more at risk from people in their immediate circle. I understand why people feel the need to have this culture of blaming someone or, better still, someTHING for our problems, but in this case, it’s about time people really realised that they have their share of the blame (if there is actually any to be apportioned).

If parents are prepared to buy all manner of computers, phones etc. for their children, it is their responsibility to know what their children may have access to with these tools and deal with that in a sensible manner.

Your myth 1 is so true; if someone has nothing to say offline, then don’t bother ’saying it’ online either.

By: Sarah Dillon

Sarah Dillon — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:42:35 +0000

Great post Philippa, and good point about the demographics of Twitter.

It’s disappointing that otherwise educated, critical thinkers will settle for hyperbole and sloppy ‘facts’ when it comes to the internet.

In fact, I think it’s dangerous because uninformed nonsense like this makes social media a scape goat for all of society’s woes. This means we don’t see the wood for the trees on some very serious issues. For example, isn’t it sad that these denizens of civilised society aren’t asking why THEIR children are spending hours unsupervised in front of a screen, be that a television or a computer?! Who’s the responsible person who BOUGHT the computer or the mobile phone in the first place?!

In the spirit of your post, three more related myths spring to mind:

1. Social media will turn weirdos into social butterflies: believe me, if you lack social skills offline, it’ll be pretty obvious online too. Why is it that people aren’t developing the skills they need to be fully participating members society in the first place?

2. Social media leaves vulnerable people open to sinister predators: Again, if you can’t read the signs of grooming offline, then you won’t be able to read them online either. Why is it that so many people aren’t aware of these in this age of instant information?
Ultimately, here’s one fact the internet hasn’t changed: women and children are more at risk of abuse or attack from family members or close acquaintances than they are from random strangers. But of course the soundbites from that aren’t half as sexy.

I guess it’s much easier to blame a bunch of ones and zeros than ask ourselves what role we’ve played in making ‘real life’ society the way it is.

By: Harry

Harry — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:22:03 +0000

Didn’t realise that. Twitter in this part of the world do have its fair share, there’s even groups/a community spearheading its usage so people are aware of the presences in the public arena. http://tinyurl.com/8aot2n

By: philippa

philippa — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:19:49 +0000

@Serena

Excellent point – the user is ultimately in control of what they read on Twitter.

By: Serena Dorey

Serena Dorey — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:37:31 +0000

I completely agree, Philippa. I’ve only been using Twitter for a month or so but it’s been a positive experience so far. I think the worst description I’ve heard about Twitter is “e-mail on steroids” (by Tim Ferriss, I believe). Twitter is only what you make it: you can choose who you follow, what information you give, what e-mail notifications you receive and when and how often you read and/or send tweets. If someone is sending too many tweets or giving information that isn’t useful to you, you can always unfollow them.