Why I’m walking away from Twitter

Yep, I’m going to take an extended break. I’m now Twitterless by choice (but not shutting down altogether, because I have the awesome @ name that many have asked for–but funny how I quote them the six-figure price for my giving it up, and I never hear from them again), and here’s why:

  1. Twitter is not designed for interaction. When you think about it, Twitter is basically a vehicle to say, “Look at me and what I’m doing/saying” in 140 characters or less. I know you could say the same about Facebook, but the comment sections (with their unlimited characters) make it more conducive to actual interaction. I like that, and I prefer it to mindless retweets of the same dang thing. Of course, people do interact on Twitter — but at 140 characters, I find it incredibly limiting. Not my style (as you can see, heh).
  2. Twitter makes me mad. Why? Because I follow people like Diane Ravitch, who posts things that make me so mad I could kick a puppy. Why don’t you “unfollow” her? you may ask. Well, because she addresses a subject I am very  much interested in. I like her article links, but…they just make me mad. I start out or finish my day wanting to hurt things, and that is not healthy.
  3. Twitter makes it easy to be mean. I have seen otherwise wonderful, kind people post (and retweet with impunity) the most vile, horrible, mean-spirited vitriol, designed to hurt, humiliate, mock, and deride. I have trouble reconciling that paradox. How can people who profess to be Christians say such filthy, vicious things about others in an open forum? (On my Twitter feed, it’s the president, parents and teachers who get the worst of it, in that order.)
  4. Twitter invites pretentiousness. Again, you could say this about Facebook to an extent, but auto-tweeting for the 634th time about “I just finished Day Whatever of this workout or that bible verse or this daily epithet delivery service” — without ever once engaging in discussion about it on any level — drips with self-importance. To me. Not everyone has to agree with me, mind. That’s why God made the comment section. And to those who check the option to “automatically post my tweets to Facebook” so we can all read your “yay me” post twice: well, I won’t ask you to stop it, but I will tell you that it’s annoying.
  5. Twitter can facilitate big mistakes. Obviously, it’s a public device, so what you say will be viewed by potentially hundreds of people. But it goes further, in that nothing is ever truly deleted. Again, Facebook is the same, but there’s something about posting a rushed, poorly thought out, 140-character rant about how stupid everyone is that makes you look like the selfish, arrogant, unprincipled, entitled, lazy wanker that people undoubtedly think you are. And future employers (and friends, and folks who award scholarships, and *cringe* even the targets of the acrimony) could possibly see them. They can also be extremely costly.

This is not to say that Twitter doesn’t have its value, or that Facebook is any better on some fronts, and there are exceptions, and you can’t make blanket statements like that, blah, blah, whatever. It’s to say that Twitter doesn’t bring me joy right now. Kablam. Too much negativity, man. Harshin’ my mellow. Don’t like it.

Now I shall go ponder the question of whether or not my rehearsal for tonight will be canceled, as we have what I hope is the last of the snow days for the year. Trying to hold it together here…

7 thoughts on “Why I’m walking away from Twitter

  1. David

    I am not a fan of Twitter and for many of the reasons you have already cited Ms Fink so I will refrain from redundancy…:) Facebook even stretches my limit but it allows me to remain connected to long-distance family and friends.

    The other aspect that I simply cannot get around is that I as a pensioner I have so much I want to yet accomplish that I do not want to waste any time at all…even 140 characters of it.

    Peace!

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      Don’t blame you! It really is one more “thing” to keep current on, and really, the only reason I use it is to tweet stuff out to my students, and on occasion, respond to someone’s stuff. But since I’m in it for the interaction, it’s become decidedly unfulfilling.

      I’ve decided to keep up, but just not read anything unless someone tags me, and I get a notification on my phone. That way, I’m still close by, but not really involved. Sometimes I think, “I’ll just pay more attention to all this stuff after I retire,” but every pensioner I’ve ever talked to (you included!) seems to say they’re almost as busy or busier during retirement than they were when they still hit the flagstones every morning. Sheesh!

      Reply
  2. Suzanne

    #Twitter never caught on with me for some reason. I # twitter some stuff now and then, mostly during #LeTourdeFrance when I ask questions or make comments to #eurosportcycling. Once in awhile the commentator @spokesmen will mention one of my #tweets on the air! haaaaa then it’s #definitelyworthit and kind of fun.

    I am glad you are sticking with #Facebook.

    Reply
  3. RD

    Last night one of my grandsons was playing in a basketball tournament in Missouri. His mother and some of his siblings and I were several states away following the game via Twitter posts from someone who was at the game. That was kinda cool. I was considering joining Twitter, but after reading your post, I doubt that I will. I can’t even keep up with Facebook, but will not give it up. I hope you don’t either.

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      Yes! Twitter definitely has a cool side, and that’s it. You can do “live-blogging” on Facebook too, but it’s way more clunky.

      Who knows…you may like the bang-bang pace of Twitter. I follow CNN, the Indians and the Browns, and there’s a ton of new info that comes out by the minute; sometimes it’s overwhelming and I can’t keep up. If you have lots of time to look at a newsfeed, and you like to keep up-to-date (to the very minute), then Twitter might be for you. If you don’t care much about finding out minute-by-minute stuff, then maybe not so much.

      I won’t give up on Facebook – I have too much fun there! Speekina — I hope you’re having fun down in Paradise. When’s the return date?

      Reply

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