I'm really not sure about Twitter. It's a bit like having access to what used to be called a party line. These were shared telephone connections in the days before each user had a their own dedicated line. If you picked up the phone and found your sharer was in conversation, you were supposed to discreetly replace the receiver. And not listen in to their conversation. But there is great pleasure to be had in eavesdropping, even when most of what you hear is pointless.
I see Twitter as an eavesdropping habit. I keep thinking I will unsubscribe but then I am afraid I will miss out on something. But the truth is, the distilled (and well written) versions of "trending" (ugh) topics appear in the papers every day. I can wait 24hours.
And sorry to sound like Outraged of Dorridge, but, really - a woman tweeting her own miscarriage, here. Well, it's time to slam down the receiver.
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Those were the days! I agree with what you say and like the comparison with shared phone lines. And I love your closing para.
ReplyDeleteI did not get very far at all with twitter. I read a few tweets without having my interest engaged and was happy to put down the receiver and disconnect the line.
party lines - now that takes me back, yes agree can see that and to tweet can be an addictive habit or maybe it can be just an exercise in thinking and writing in a concise format. For now I like the useful links that I have found and as a resource for writing material not a bad habit - one that I can kick when I choose.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog post. Thought your point of view came across very clearly and succinctly. Clever analogy with party lines. And like Kathryn - I think the closing par is excellent. You've written a wonderfully provocative piece here and certainly given your readers something to think about with the boardroom miscarriage example. Sally
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