Thin
Kind of like yesterday’s post about babies, I feel compelled to set your expectations straight. This post has nothing to do with body image. Weight. Nor the color of my hair. But please do read on.
Every once in a while, I wonder whether people (myself included) spread ourselves too thin when it comes to technology. It seems like everyday there are new toys begging us to come out and play. And I want to know when is enough enough?
Let me back up. I’ve never been one to shun technology. I was one of the first people among my friends and co-workers to get a cell phone. I used email when some of you were still in diapers. I am a blogger (and some of my real life friends aren’t even aware of the blogging community at large). Needless to say, if a technology or platform makes sense, I will adopt it. But, I definitely have limits. Today, I am a user of …
- Cell phone (for calls and texts only; no iPhone or Crackberry)
- Email accounts (separated into work, personal and blog)
- Internet (at work and home; it’s wireless in both places)
- LinkedIn (for professional networks)
- Facebook (to see real-life pictures of blogging friends; oh yeah, and of real life friends, too)
- Blogger (though, that’s soon to change … stay tuned)
- Flickr (to share my electronic photos with family and friends)
That, my friends, is a pretty short list (though I’m sure there are things I forgot to add – unintentional, I promise!). And even within this list, I have limits. LinkedIn is passive for now, but armed and ready should I ever begin a job search. Flickr is also passive (I add photos, but do not really participate in their groups or forums).
There’s a much longer list of things I just don’t do at all, not even in a limited capacity. What I especially don’t get is Twitter. Personally, I’d rather waste my time in more than 140 characters. I get that others don’t see it as a waste of time. Well, that’s not true. It’s not that I get it. But, kind of like Sweets accepting the fact that the blogging community is really important to me (even though he doesn’t fully get it) … I just have to accept that Twats (<– I’m not very nice) Tweeps like to Twitter, though don’t expect me to embrace it. =)
I also don’t get Tumblr. Because to me, it’s a blog. Recently a couple gals (whose blogs I’m fond of) started a Tumblr account together. I asked both of them what’s the difference between Tumblr and blogging. Neither of their answers fully satisfied me. (Note: Still adore these gals and am not holding the whole Tumblr conversation against them – to be honest, I’m not sure they could have answered the question to my satisfaction.) Another favorite blogger left her blog for Tumblr only to come back to her blog, because she said people haven’t fully embraced Tumblr (clearly, myself included). To me, Tumblr is blogging without words. It’s pictures. Quotes. I get that it’s a place to hold a lot of stuff. But, so are blogs. And I just don’t get why a different format is necessary for it.
And then there are the countless places that require membership for one reason or another. I’ve lost track of all the invitations I get to become member of this online forum or that one (and I can’t remember their names, so don’t ask). Things to track people’s birthdays. Online address books. Wannabe Facebooks. The list is endless. And I ignore most of these requests.
Personally, I think this social networking blitz has gotten out of control. It’s taking people away from their real lives. I always said the day when I am out living life and begin formulating blog posts in my head (versus forming these posts while sitting at the computer to write) would be the day I know I’ve taken blogging too far. Thankfully, it has yet to happen. But, I realize my tolerance for all these things is limited. And I can only hope that in the survival of the social networking fittest, my favorite technologies survive. Do you think you’re spreading yourself too thin? If not, what’s your rationale for loading up the applications?
April 16th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Ok here’s my list:
Cell phone (calls text, internet when not near a proper connection)
Email (work, home and blog)
Blog (hosted and with WordPress)
MYspace (band updates only, no social interaction)
Twitter* (social networking)
2 forums (book group and dark network)
I don’t have facebook because i see it as a colossal waste of time. I used to have it and spent hours on there (as everyone else i know also does) but realised that if you are actually friends with people you don’t need an application to keep in touch with them.
I don’t think i spread myself technologically thin, i think it’s all about prioritising to make the best interactions for you.
I don’t get Tumblr either mind you.
*which apparently makes me a twat…i only hope that means something different in America
April 16th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Holy wow. This is an excellent blog topic in my opinion.
I completely get what you are saying. I did start out that way. I had Myspace, Facebook, then Blogger, then 20sb, then Twitter, then Etsy, then Tumblr, and in between all of that you sign up for random sites like Flickr, Good Reads, Photobucket, Picnik, etc. I’ve finally scratched Myspace, I’m sick of it. And I have a facebook, but to be completely honest, I hardly ever use it either. Twitter? I’ve basically stopped using it all together too, and not on purpose. I just don’t feel the need to use it I guess. The only time I really do is when I advertise a new post or something. I’m guilty of signing up for everything, at least long enough to give it a shot. But then I usually forget about it. The one constant that has stayed with me is blogging.
And I’ll give explaining Tumblr a shot, since I have one. I didn’t really get it at first, but then I realized that it’s basically a place to store the stuff you don’t want to fill your blog with. It’s more than twitter, but less than blogging. So any photo that you like, quote that you like, audio clip that you like, video (you get the picture) you can post it without having to come up with any substance. It’s the true meaning of a picture speaks 1,000 words I think. If it’s not your thing, no big deal, ya know?
April 16th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Holy wow. This is an excellent blog topic in my opinion.
I completely get what you are saying. I did start out that way. I had Myspace, Facebook, then Blogger, then 20sb, then Twitter, then Etsy, then Tumblr, and in between all of that you sign up for random sites like Flickr, Good Reads, Photobucket, Picnik, etc. I’ve finally scratched Myspace, I’m sick of it. And I have a facebook, but to be completely honest, I hardly ever use it either. Twitter? I’ve basically stopped using it all together too, and not on purpose. I just don’t feel the need to use it I guess. The only time I really do is when I advertise a new post or something. I’m guilty of signing up for everything, at least long enough to give it a shot. But then I usually forget about it. The one constant that has stayed with me is blogging.
And I’ll give explaining Tumblr a shot, since I have one. I didn’t really get it at first, but then I realized that it’s basically a place to store the stuff you don’t want to fill your blog with. It’s more than twitter, but less than blogging. So any photo that you like, quote that you like, audio clip that you like, video (you get the picture) you can post it without having to come up with any substance. It’s the true meaning of a picture speaks 1,000 words I think. If it’s not your thing, no big deal, ya know?
April 16th, 2009 at 11:47 am
I do facebook and blog, but not much else. (I avoid using my phone). I do spend a fair amount of time reading blogs and writing, but it is mostly on my train ride or during my lunch break, so I don’t feel like I am spreading myself too thin. It’s a hobby I enjoy. I did mention that I am addicted to it though, which is true. ;) I am not sure what my outlet would be if it was taken away from me. I just sometimes feel like it is the only place where I have a voice.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Hopefully twat does mean somehting different in America!
I have a blog, twitter, facebook and am setting up linked in(ive been through myspace and bebo)
I think i spread myself right now, twitter helps spread my blog to new readers -- that and gossiping with my readers -- is what i use it for.
Good topic :)
April 16th, 2009 at 11:49 am
I use pretty much the same ones you do.
However, I do have a Crackberry, but without the media plan so it doesn’t really count as much more than a phone with a day planner and wifi where I can get it to work.
I barely use my LinkedIn account at all.
I do use Twitter.
Funny thing about Facebook is that, while it looks like I’m massively into the site, I don’t check it as often as you might think. All that stuff I post is done through RSS feed from my blog, Flickr, Twitter, and Google Reader. It’s all dynamic. People have told me I must be logged into Facebook every minute of every day. So not the case. I love RSS.
April 16th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I just use:
email-work and personal
Cell phone for calls and texts
Linked in
Facebook
I have refused to drink the Twitter kool aid, I see some benefits but I just don’t get it.
At the end of each day I turn everything off and spend time with the BF.
April 16th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I just use:
email-work and personal
Cell phone for calls and texts
Linked in
Facebook
I have refused to drink the Twitter kool aid, I see some benefits but I just don’t get it.
At the end of each day I turn everything off and spend time with the BF.
April 16th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I completely agree with you here (as I read and type on my Crackberry). I heart Facebook and all its fun, time-wasting apps, but yesterday I thought…you know what? If I comment on your status or write on your wall, I don’t need to comment on your blog.
I worry that we are really getting away from knowing how to be still and quiet, and I think that is dangerous.
April 16th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
I don’t remember life before my iphone. Or at least I don’t remember it very fondly. I love the twitter and facebook. I’d soon give up my blog than either of those two things.
For me twitter is a way to send out thoughts, links, info (basically mini blog posts) as often as I like. It aslo is a way I follow the news (CNN, Anderson Cooper, FoxNews, even my local station).
Facebook is mostly for my real life friends and some blogger friends. I love being able to keep in touch and FB makes it so easy!
April 16th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Twitter is addicting. Its almost like texting 230 people at a time…
but wait…
are you switching to wordpress????
April 16th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Twitter is addicting. Its almost like texting 230 people at a time…
but wait…
are you switching to wordpress????
April 16th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
As far as Tumblr goes, I’m a user and a fan. At first I saw it as another blog and something I didn’t want to get involved in.
Most people use it to exchange artistic photography, and their photoshop creations. Quotations and Photographs are where I find inspiration, so I’m really on top of that.
I guess if you look at it, I have 2 blogs; This one for writing, and Tumblr for quotations and photographs.
http://www.dontcallmekathleen.tumblr.com
(If you’re ever interested)
THANKS FOR CALLING ME A TWAT, NILSA! :P
April 16th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
I love this post. LOVE. I keep crying out for a simpler life, telling my husband that I want to abandon this big city splendor for life on a farm, and just turning my cell phone off for days at a time. But me? I’m really part of the problem — aside from Twitter, I’m just as caught up as the next person and I don’t know how to escape.
Excellent post, Nilsa.
April 16th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
At the moment I dont feel like I am spreading myself too thin. I have a cell, email, blog, twitter, tumblr, facebook and a few other things thrown into the mix every now and then. I enjoy using them but I dont let them control my life. Things like twitter and tumblr I started using when I wanted to see what they were all about. Will there be a time in the future when I dont want to use them anymore? Maybe, but for now I think they are fun.
April 16th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Matt beat me to it. Are you switching to wordpress? Curious minds want to know!
I definitely like to try new technologies, programs, what have you (mainly when they are free). If I like it, I’ll stick with it, if not, I drop it. That’s usually been my philosophy.
April 16th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Matt beat me to it. Are you switching to wordpress? Curious minds want to know!
I definitely like to try new technologies, programs, what have you (mainly when they are free). If I like it, I’ll stick with it, if not, I drop it. That’s usually been my philosophy.
April 16th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
I rarely use my cell phone for conversations. It’s more like, “Hi I’m on my way” or “meet me at such and such”. So I guess I haven’t really embrassed cell phones as a social media, more of a convenience.
I opened a Tumblr account once and frankly, don’t even know if I could sign back in to it again as I’m not sure how and have no desire to even try.
Love Facebook as I’ve found so many old friends. I have a page on myspace, but found it to be useless.
Joined Twitter last week. Don’t spend much time on it. The best part is getting Al Gore’s tweets with links to his blog. But I guess I could just get a feed to his blog. The sad part is seeing how many celebrities are addicted to Twitter. I guess there are worse things they could be addicted to.
I guess the other thing i occasionaly do is post on the Etsy community boards, but that is kind of a necessary evil, which I really should do more often
April 16th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
i’m not gonna lie social media has taken over my life in a way that i never expected it to when i started experimenting with it a year and a half ago.
but for now? it’s a good change and when the time comes to pull back i think i’ll do so.
April 16th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
I definitely agree with you as far as spreading ourselves too thin -- it’s why I abandoned my old blog, I had stopped experiencing my life and was just combing through it for blogging material.
There is a really interesting talk on TED (and it's short) about how we need technologies that make us more human, not that separate us from our experiences.
At the same time, lots of people are able to build in a casualness in their approach to technology. For me, blogging about my life wasn't like that -- but for other people it is. I can be casual about Twitter & love being able to tap into essentially a chat stream with all my favourite bloggers. I love seeing what's happening on Facebook…. but I really enjoy them because I can walk away & go do any number of other things just as easily.
It was really hard for me to break away from commenting on over 130 blogs a week, from the commenter's and community….but I know that I can come back to blogging now as something fun & connecting that I love, but that doesn't over ride all my other interests.
I think it's all about balance., in all things.
April 16th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I’ve never even heard of Tumblr, so I don’t think there’s much danger of me getting lost in my computer. I have a twitter account, and used to use it a lot. But for some reason, it is much more impersonal than Facebook.
-Twitter
- Facebook
- a forum for reef aquariums (not very active, but registered in case of emergency)
- two emails
- blog
- cell (it’s a dumb phone, tho)
April 16th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I like to think of Twittering as an immediate conversation with 300+ of my friends whereas blogging is often a one-sided conversation with a smaller group (those that actually comment for feedback). That being said, Twitter HAS impacted the blogging community and my own blogging. It’s just so easy to post one liners and get a reaction on there. And I swear it’s the fastest source of news ever!
Not that I am trying to convert you. To each their own. But I do kind of love it.
We’ll see how I feel when I get back from my beach detox. ;-)
April 16th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
i hear ya sister, and share many of the same sentiments on this stuff. half of the technology out there i have no desire to get into, and even if i did, i know i wouldn’t be able to fully “get it”… it’s too much for me.
give me simple, please.
April 16th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I used to be pretty balanced before I got my iphone. Now I feel myself browsing things on my iphone at the grocery store while standing in line, at the laundry mat and (shudder) if I’m stuck in a traffic jam. I know, I know.
But, I don’t browse it while talking with people or I’m around people I know. I still think that’s super rude unless you have a very, very important call that might be coming in, in which case inform the party you’re with that you might be getting said important call.
April 16th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
You don’t form blog posts in your head? Oh man, maybe that’s my problem! I lie in bed thinking them up (but then clearly never post them)! :)
(Ha ha, you just posted a comment on my blog as I’m writing this! WEIRD.)
As for Twitter? Don’t knock it ’til you try it, girlfriend :) I thought it was pointless too until I started using it regularly and now? LOVE. I don’t necessarily like how everyone uses it, and I’m selective about who I follow, but I think it’s a really awesome app all around.
But on the flip side, it’s extremely addicting and now that I have an iPhone where I can tweet whenever and wherever I want, I have serious issues keeping myself away.
And like Sizzle Says (appropriately enough, right?), it’s the fastest source of news around!
April 16th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I have a medium-ish list but some items are passive (I have twitter but I don’t post daily and I’m not certain that I like it.) The deciding factor for me is if I use it on the weekend. I use facebook on the weekend, so facebook is important to me. I do not use twitter on the weekend so clearly twitter could go if I ever needed to pare things down a bit (which I don’t, not yet, seeing as my job is brain numbingly dull at times.) I like what Kyla said -- it’s all about balance.
April 16th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
I totally agree-technology is addicting. sometimes I have to take some time away from it all because really? I’m going to sit on the internet for 3 STRAIGHT HOURS?!?!
all in moderation…. like sugar
April 16th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
I like my iPhone WAY too much. I can’t even sit for 5 minutes waiting for a doctor, or meeting to start without pulling it out and looking at blogs, or Facebook, or Twitter. I think I love all that stuff because basically I am nosey and want to know what everyone is doing. Well, everyone I like, not just everyone, everyone!
AND, stuff has happened, and I mentally note, “I should blog about this.” It is a sickness.
April 16th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
You know, I love all this stuff and I don’t feel like it interferes with my real life at all. I always kind of roll my eyes when I see the latest article about how Twitter is ruining society. But maybe other people have more issues with this stuff than I do?
April 16th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
I’m not a gadget-o-phile, so I’m not tempted to spread myself too thin. I keep up with e-mail, blogging, Twitter, and a little bit of Facebook without too much of a time commitment. I don’t use my cellphone except for special occasions/emergencies. And I have a paper daytimer.
April 16th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
The biggest issue is that they are all such a time suck! I am guilty of starting to write blog posts in my head while I’m out enjoying life -- or thinking OHH I HAVE to blog about this!
But once you start, it’s hard to dial it down…
April 16th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
The deeper I delve into our technology-driven world, the more I discover that it is a powerful vortex that both enticing and time-consuming. But as much as it enhances my real life, I cannot let it become my life.
Awhile back I promised myself that the day I stop living my life in order to have more time to write about it is the day I give up blogging. In a world where it is possible to be connected 24/7, boundaries are necessary.
Like you, I recognize the dangers of spreading myself too thin, and so I’ve forced myself to learn to “unplug” myself by putting it down or turning it off (whatever ‘it’ may be at the time).
However, I do appreciate the technologies and applications that I believe to be useful and beneficial, which currently include
-Wi-Fi
-email
-LinkedIn
-Blogger
-ffffound and flickr
-iPhone
I also have Facebook and Twitter accounts, although I don’t use them often.
Great post!
April 17th, 2009 at 1:59 am
Really great post here. So here’s my list: e-mail (work, home, blog), Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and work blog.
I need to cut back because it all just takes too much time.
April 17th, 2009 at 2:12 am
I thought I’d hate Twitter, but it seems I’ve become a Twat. ;)