Nov 15 2008
Dispatch from the Couch: Microbugging? My use of Twitter and maybe yours! Here are some guidelines!
It has been a long week. Lots of action at work and now my wife and I are just enjoying a quiet day at home with the kids, the cat and the dog. My future career goals are on my mind….
This whole microblogging thing is so new. Whew! I am getting confused and my PLN filter is getting clogged!
I went through my Twitter follower list and unfollowed a few people out there who I was not feeling particularly connected to recently. No offense. I still have your blogs in my aggregator, but I don’t want to get involved on a personal level with your life.
You see, my reason for using twitter is to enhance my professional AND personal learning network. Hey Jeff Utecht... Hey David Warlick…..don’t you think we should call it our PPLN?? Our PPLN must have balance.
This morning I read a post by Jonathan Chambers that states….
One of the problems with the modern ability to publish is that if you’re going to choose to publish a poetic journey through your each and every thought, then you may want to look at which channel/forum/genre you choose to do this with. I’d like to introduce a new word into the discussion of microblogging: “microbugging” – a proclivity to share every thought with one’s social network, as opposed to actively editing one’s thoughts in order to relay and collect useful communication.
Hmmm… interesting! “microbugging”! May I suggest some PPLN Twitter guidelines? (Jonathan goes on further at this post too!)
1. If you can’t say it in 140 characters and have a need to send multiple tweets then use your regular blog (macro-blog). Even if you have just a “few” tweets… consider my 10-20-30 rule! Shorter is probably better. Really short… USE Twitter!
2. Don’t use Twitter to send PUBLIC personal messages. Use a “D” message– direct message, NOT an “@” message. Frankly, a misplaced message in the public forum is poor form and potentially embarrassing. I have seen messages about job apps, arguements and “personal” information shared in @ messages. Sheesh folk! We can all see these messages. TMI!!!
3. Embrace the technology but don’t over apply its use. For a while my family was using twitter for everything but…. in the end we learned a well written email or skype message works so much better.
For those of you out there who are not going to follow these suggestions, well… I suspect you will end up in the filter. Sorry. No offense. I am with my colleague Jonathan. I won’t be a victim of filter failure!
Photo from cc http://www.flickr.com/photos/73514861@N00/1471007491
Technorati Tags: microblogging, macroblogging, twitter
Twitter is still very much an experiment and it’s rules are not quite set. Up to a week ago I kept my follow numbers low at about 100. This week I’m seeing what it feels like to follow up 500 people. I’ve learned twhirl become useless as too many updates really limit you to reading “d” and “@” messages. Switching to Tweetdeck has helped and is keeping the experience personal while still following large number of people. Without it I wouldn’t have caught the announcement of this blog so quickly.
Hi,
I can certainly relate to what you are saying here and sometimes I find myself a bit taken aback by what others post to Twitter, also.
However, I do think that each user has different needs and uses for Twitter. What might seem misplaced or inappropriate to one user is insightful to another. While I do primarily use Twitter for my personal professional learning and networking, I also appreciate knowing a little bit about the people in my PLN. Thus, while I might not care so much about what they’re eating for dinner, I don’t mind the tweets about music, sports, and other hobbies — it makes the people behind the tweets seem more human. And to me, this social interaction is powerful. Likewise, when I post a tweet about yoga or my cats, and another professional in my network responds to that, I feel a connection that is beyond the standard “EdTech” type — not only do we have similar professional goals and interests, but we share interests on a more human level, too.
So, perhaps I like the personal side of Twitter just as much as the professional; many of my PLN members are not into EdTech or teaching / learning professionals at all – they are yoga instructors, or musicians, or small business owners.
I do think it comes down to, “if the shoe fits, wear it.” If you like what someone has to say, follow ‘em. If you don’t, don’t. I know I won’t take it personally.
I’m with you on this one. I’ve dropped users I found to be over the top as well. It think it takes some time to find out Twitter fits in your media mix. For me it’s a blend of entertainment, messaging service (I always use the “d”), and PLN tool.
The beauty of this technology is it’s diversity. Some people tweet their every move. Others seem to use it for self-promotion. My favs are the folks throw out tweets that are little nuggets that make me think, usually once every day or two.
It’s up to everyone to find what they like and create their own “channel.” YOU control what you read and what you like may change from time to time.
Thanks for the moral support, Andy! Strangely enough, I’ve appreciated the experience of going through a bit of ‘Twitter fatigue’, as it forced me to review basic concepts of information management… it’s always good to be able to genuinely empathize with our learners when we’re preparing to present a concept or a skill to them!