Tag Archives: twitter

What if there were no numbers?

Posted on
8

I just had a long convo with a friend about social media and its positive and negative consequences.

And she had lots of questions about the relational and social and developmental ramifications of this mode of hyper-controlled semi-anonymous interaction. And the differences between virtual and real relationships. And how to navigate those waters. And I didn’t have all the answers.

And, yes I told her about Gitz’ life and legacy, and the countless people that I’ve virtual-met and real-life-met because of this medium. But, can I be honest? I also used phrases like “not real” and “point systems” and “game” and “winning.”

And I felt like I betrayed all of you in saying those things. Because you are real people and you’re more than a number on my stats page and comment link and twitter profile and facebook page and…….

I think the numbers can ruin it for us. They are there, in all social mediums, and they are impossible to ignore. They are enticing when they climb, and they are disheartening when they drop. And they make us focus on them instead of on the actually people who are on the other side of the screen. They betray us. The numbers simultaneously suck us into a point-system and dehumanize the experience. Everything that can be quantified will be quantified: likes, RTs, comments, clicks, mentions, etc.

But, you know, I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if there were no numbers? Seriously. Think about it. What would happen to Blogging and Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and LinkedIn and Youtube and…….?

Would as many people be involved? Would they “play” the social media game? Would I? Would you?

My brain hurts.

It also likes the idea of no numbers.

If I had more time…

Posted on
14

1) I don’t even know how, but I started following (or following-back?) @PreMiddleAge on twitter. (For those who might not understand the previous jargon, just know: I somehow found this chick on the internet.) Eventually, I started paying attention to the little things she wrote the twitter-net, and in a late-Saturday-night-wandering I decided to click on over to her blog. It is fantastic, y’all. Funny. Witty. Sarcastic. Witty-some-more. And, if I had more time, I’d read on…

2) I sat on my couch with a friend recently, and the more she told me about Madeleine L’Engle’s writings, the more I wanted her books in my hands. ”Our truest responsibility to the irrationality of the world is to paint or sing or write, for only in such response do we find the truth.” See? How could I not want more of that wisdom in my life? According to my friend, this woman knew faith, knew doubt, and knew the fitful path of creativity. If I had more time, I’d let her words mentor me…

3) My kitchen is avocado green. A wall in my bedroom is Boston-Legacy brown, with white birch trees stretching up it. (Yes, it’s my fave wall in the whole house and it was Alece’s idea.)Everything else is a pale creamy off-white. If I had more time, I’d paint our living and dining rooms a corresponding color.

4) Well, let’s just be honest. If I had more time, I’d think of a fourth thing to put on this list.

What would you do if you had more time?

My Trippin’ Tweets ~~~~~~~>>

Posted on
6

Thanks for stopping by!!

I won’t have any posts going for the rest of the week, since I’ve been in packing/cleaning/goodbying mode for a few days weeks now.

If you want to keep an eye the Thompson Trip over the next week or so, you can check the twitter feed to the right. Things to look forward to: fun facts about the drive, crazy pictures, and sad nostalgia.

(This is really for my mom. And Sarah. And Krissy. And Shelly. And Jo. And Keri. And a few others.)

This is where y’all can find updates until we get settled in Brunswick.

See ya on the other side.

I want my two hours back.

Posted on
80

Yesterday, on twitter, somebody mentioned watching the movie Memento.

Now, let me jump in and say that I like most movie genres, well, excluding Horror Films (unless Shyamalan is somehow involved).

But occasionally, I am subjected to a film that I simply cannot connect with. Yes, I have been known to walk out of a movie theater on occasion.

Unfortunately, I could not escape the torture of Memento. I was at a friend’s house, with an entire group of Memento fans, one being this VERY handsome young gentlemen who would later be my husband. Suffice it to say, I had to stay. I kept saying I didn’t like it, but they kept saying “Just watch. Just watch! You’ll understand everything. Just watch.”

When I’d endured until those pivotal last moments, and all had become clear, and the credits were rolling, I looked back at my friends and said, “I want my two hours back.”

Or something like that.

Yesterday I compiled a list in my head of “I want my two hours back” movies:

  • Memento
  • Transformers Revenge of the Fallen
  • The Horse Whisperer
  • There’s Just Something About Mary
  • Scream
  • No Country for Old Men

What would you put on this list?