I am an Ex-twitterbird

This photo of the cranesbill geranium in my garden has very little to do with my topic – except it may help portray my frosty feelings towards Twitter.

I quit Twitter – just a few days ago. I had several reasons, including the re-instatement of the account of that eedjit south of the border. Had enough of him, don’t need more.

I have enough trouble juggling three email accounts/identities plus associated duties as permanent or occasional “admin” for several other accounts, two facebook pages, and my own webpage/blog.

I joined Twitter at the urging of people who said it would be good for my writing career; and also because I thought I may get police, fire, and other emergency warnings in time to take safety measures.

The latter never happened. My career might have benefitted if I’d used Twitter, but I found it more of a nuisance than a help. It sent me oodles of notices about this or that person who had just posted something allegedly of interest to me, and to whom I felt I should respond.

Later, when I had time.

Later never came.

Then, a bunch of employees at Twitter – real people, not bots – up and quit, and others got fired. At the same time, Sobeys’ info-in-the-sky system got hacked or intruded upon – and no one has explained in a way that I can understand. Coincidence? Probably. But reducing my online footprint seemed like a better idea than expanding it. Twitter was the obvious casualty because 1. I already disliked using it and 2. I get the feeling it is using me.

I may be wrong. But this is a free country and I can quit if I want. So I did. One of my Facebook identities may be next.

Another wintry photo instead of tweeterburble. My psyche is starting to chill out a bit.

My calendar is full of events and appointments and I have a lot of work to do, people to see, places to go. Real work, real people and real places – not virtual (a word which, oddly, means true, not hollow digital items).

I wonder how far I can and will go with this cutback?

It’s hard to carry on business these days without any or all of a website, a telephone, and a Facebook presence. So I won’t disappear altogether into ‘netless silence.

What to do with my tweetless time? Write. Play. Converse in person. Or I may just sit back and smell the roses – or the cookies. The edible kind.

8 comments

  1. I haven’t yet but might. I used to find it great for news awareness, both local and international. Not so much anymore.
    You will have more time for other things, my friend, and that is a good thing. On another note, I miss you and have to visit some day soon.
    Glad to see you promo your website.

  2. Be free! You are free and it’s a wonderful thing to be! You are brilliant, and kind, and wise and someone to look up to. I admire your take on life and skills to preserver through all of it. Let me know how it goes, from a supporter of twitter and it’s resources and freedoms. 🙂

    1. Sarah, I could never quite get the hang of it, and every time was like the first time and I have no time! haha. I admire people who can use it with ease. I don’t miss it at all.

  3. I quit twitter several weeks ago too Monica. Don’t really miss it. It was just something that sucked time away with all the scrolling. But those cookies! Impressive. I haven’t yet been so productive with my regained time.

  4. I think that is how many people including myself feel about twitter. I would rather spend my time with real people and real conversation with people who know me and want to put in the time to develop a deep knowledge of a shared event or book or just opinion. Thanks always enjoy your perspective.

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