So I’m watching People’s Court, because I love Judge Milian (especially when she starts yelling and quoting things in Cuban – she reminds me of my friend Christina) and she’s doing this case with college aged kids who took pictures of their friends partying and such (basically, in compromising positions) in order to use them against each other to get out of living together – so they could break a lease, pretty much.
And so the judge holds up the pictures, taken on the phone and says something like, you young people don’t get it – all this facebook and twitter and posting everything to your profiles..haven’t you ever heard the phrase, say it, forget it, write it, regret it?
Personally, I’d never heard it put like that but yes, I’ve always heard that you should be careful what you put in writing, and how if you’re angry you should wait 24 hours before sending anything written in said anger. I think they’re good rules.
I’ve said it before – I find social media overwhelming and exhausting. Part of that is my personality for sure – I definitely lean more toward the loner side of things – I need a lot of alone time, which is pretty awesome given that my career requires a lot of time alone. And while I really love hanging out and chatting with readers and writers, sometimes only being able to respond with a certain amount of characters becomes tough and then it’s like, you’re basically using Twitter as an IM. But I get it – it’s a great way to get updated quickly and efficiently.
When we talked about discontinuing the Writeminded Blog (don’t worry – we’re still all there on the reader’s yahoo loop and for now, the monthly chats will for sure continue) I said that I found it really sad that blogs were being replaced by Twitter and Facebook updates. As someone who keeps pages for my author persona and not for personal use per se, I should like that more, find it easier to shoot out an update here and there.
But I’m a writer – I like to spill my thoughts on the page – and keeping this blog is really not much different than keeping a personal journal, which I’ve done since I was literally like eight. Granted, there are things I won’t share here because they’re too personal, but I like knowing that people can come here and feel comfortable to post or not, to learn about Gus or Zoo or to hear about my writing process or the fact that I might be getting another tattoo soon or..whatever.
So this is my way of saying that I like my blog – and sometimes I have to say that to remind myself of how much I do like it, especially when I stop worrying about whether or not I’m saying anything of worth, whether I’m offending someone or being too PC or what. I’ve been blogging for a long time and I’m really hoping that people still enjoying reading them. It’s where I’m most comfortable and, like I told Catherine in an earlier post, it’s home.
So what’s your favorite social media / way of connecting with friends / families / readers, etc? Do you like all the options or did you find it easier when people were all in one place?
Read
an excerpt... 
That’s a tough one. First and foremost, I prefer my blog. I can blather on at great length if I’m so inclined and there’s no Big Brother standing over me with a stick saying ‘You can’t post that much at one time!”
But I’ve become dreadfully addicted to Facebook and now I’m dipping my toes into Twitter waters. But I can share tweets on FB, so that helps a little. Plus, I’ve “met” cousins I never knew before on FB.
They’re definitely making it easy to cross-post on Twitter / FB, etc…
I don’t really go to a lot of FB pages…or play the farming games and stuff. I just post, read and say hi and then I leave.
And I can’t stand when Twitter shrinks the update and then still won’t let you post – it’s like, Twitter sticking out its tongue at you…
Once upon a time I had a blog. Ironically, with blogs things are kept almost anonymous. Facebook etc… you forget every rule there was about the lack of privacy on the Net into the wind and then wonder why your business is known everywhere.
I have never had a facebook page, never will for that very reason. We’re very careful who we socialize with, especially those that have no qualms of posting whatever on their pages… I got a shock at a friend’s house – and I haven’t been back – when she started taking pics of us and said “I can’t wait to post these on facebook”… WT???
Those that say “well I talk to people from… my relatives, my classmates…” Why?? If you won’t talk to them in person… why do you need to online???
*waves to farmwifetwo*
How ‘open’ people are on the pages really frightens me. I’ve always known there were creepy people out there and I guess I see it more since I get some freaky reader mail (like the current one where the guy says I’m too educated and wants to train me to be part of his harem – um, no thanks… – actually, that mail was thru goodreads, which really annoyed me. I blocked him and then he found my website page) so I’m thinking you’re right to keep your pictures off FB. If you’re not comfortable with it, there’s a reason to trust your gut. I don’t post pics of my kid anywhere. The dog is fair game tho…
ANd you made me LOL with the – if I don’t want to talk to them in real life, why do it online? Because seriously…that’s so true.
I sometimes feel out of sync with much of society as the expectation of privacy and personal space seem to decline.
To read a blog like yours is much like reading a thoughtful and well crafted note or letter. It can be read when convenient and responded to, or not, in leisure. A screen with abbreviated and misspelled words just doesn’t have the same feel.
An associated concern…just today I was speaking with a board member for a Safe House for abused women and children. This person was telling me how difficult it is to keep the clients hidden and safe when they are so accustomed to keeping in touch with family and friends through Facebook, Texting and Twittering. Posting pictures that show a school or recognizable location in the background has led to several clients being endangered and as you related, blocking isn’t always effective.
Please continue with your blog. I enjoy reading it and am pleased to know that I am not alone in being content to not be ‘connected’ 24 hours a day.
Donna, this:
“I sometimes feel out of sync with much of society as the expectation of privacy and personal space seem to decline.”
Is worded SO well. Agreed.
And OMG – yes on the safe house / people who need to kind of ‘hide’ for whatever reason – it’s so so easy to find out behind the scenes information on people…scarily easy.
And yes, I’ll be here. I think in a way all the other media forced me back to blogging the way I used to, because it made me realize that blogging is for me more than anything else…
Thanks for your response
I love my blog. It’s my “home” on the internet. We discontinued our group blog recently, too, and I’m glad. There was more pressure on that one. Facebook is too much like going “out,” but Twitter is like conversations in the lunchroom at work, quick and all over the place. I like that. It can be a time suck, though.
I love your blog too!!!
I think a lot of group blogs are closing these days
I like the FB going out analogy…it’s true – especially if your profile is open to everyone…
And I still can’t wait for your milrom
:)
Your post is so interesting. I consider myself quite the loner type and I too benefit from spending time by myself. Thankfully my husband is very understanding and can see the warning signs in me when I need a little “me” time.
I am actually thankful for Facebook. I am not the type of person that would ever just strike up a conversation with another person. I am a listener and a watcher. So facebook has allowed me to communicate and keep in touch with friends in a way that I would never have done before. That being said – I am extremely picky about who I accept friend requests from – so that keeps me feeling very comfortable with the use of it. I have a very public position in local government so that too makes me real choosy about who I become friends with.
And somehow I ended up with a Twitter account from a training I went through at work a few years ago. I don’t really tweet but have come to enjoy Twitter simply for the fact that many of my favorite authors tweet on a semi-regular basis.
However, I got my 60 year old mother hooked up with an iPhone and taught her how to text message me. But somehow she figured out Twitter and now she tweets things and then sends me a text message letting me know she sent me a tweet. I may need to cancel my Twitter account simply based on that madness! Not sure what I was thinking introducing her to the world of “smart phones”.
I love that you blog! As a reader and big time fan of all your books it feels like that little extra while I eagerly wait for your next release.
Samantha -
My mother has a twitter account. She does nothing with it. I’m like, why did you sign up?
Her answer? Because I wanted to.
*shrugs*
I think with the FB stuff, the privacy aspect is important. And even with that, you still have to be careful for sure.
I’m glad you like the blog – thanks for weighing in. I love seeing how everyone uses / likes their social media…
It’s funny to me… I didn’t read blogs or start my own blog until after I joined Twitter!
I use Facebook for keeping tabs on/with my friends and family.
I use Twitter to “chat” with friends, bloggers and authors (insert fangirl squee) about random things as well as books, interests, dieting, etc. It’s a fun easy way to get out information (like when I post something to my blog) and I like having all of the information in one spot. But it’s a busy place and I can’t keep up. So it’s more like a “chat” tool now.
I started a blog just over a month ago. After meeting so many great bloggers via twitter and learning about Google Reader (amen to that!), I decided to give it a try. It’s a place where I can express my thoughts in more than 140 characters. I also enjoy reading other blogs, especially from my favorite authors for the same reason.
I was sad to read about the end of the group blog, but I am happy to continue to read the individual blogs!
Hey Twinmom!
I didn’t know you started a blog – got pulled to the dark side, did you?
And yes, with Twitter, it’s like, so tempting to stay on all the time so you don’t miss anything. I guess that’s why I like Facebook more, because even if you’re behind, you can always catch up with the conversation. With Twitter, it’s kind of in the moment, which I guess is the point…
I think I’m one of the few people left that doesn’t have a FB account. I keep in touch with family in person or on the phone, call gma’s weekly and see MomDad all the time. I honestly don’t think anyone would find our family life that interesting (unless you’re my mother).
With FB, my daughter (13), did an opinion piece in her LangArts class about it. Her premise was people are too open about what they post. Posting that you’re going out of the country for 2 weeks ( before you go), and then you’re house is burglarized.
You’re blogs however, I find wonderfully entertaining. A husband named Zoo and a dog-who on halloween was being “attacked” by kids, yet the neighbor lady thought he was threatening. Go figure
Thanks a peek into your life and I hope you continue to blog and of course–Write!!!!
Catherine
Catherine, it’s SO true about the vacation thing! It’s really easy to forget just how many people can access your pages in general. Your daughter sounds like a smart one
Stephanie like all the others today I enjoy your blog posts and whatever and however much personal information you share just brings home the fact that even though your name is in print on the spine of a book you are a “real” person with “real” issues and all the pressures us “everyday” folk face. I love Twitter now that have gotten used to the short bursts of info and adore visiting a few times a day to see what is happening in that time frame….. Facebook is something I have set up and have been able to talk to family in other parts of the US that would not otherwise be able to other than email. We are old fashioned and do not have all the whistles and bells of unlimited long distance on the land line and since everyone is either hours away or in a different state than us the Internet communication is an actual useful tool…
Jackie B Central Texas
BTW Unleashing The Storm is half way finished and it is a very cool read!!!!
Jackie, it’s true. I mean, this is my author website, but my author persona is…me. And I like being able to share some of my challenges with my daughter, etc, especially with other writers – or anyone who wants to start something new but isn’t sure they have the time, etc. When I first started writing, there weren’t many blogs around, but the ones that were gave tons of great, free advice, and I’ll be forever grateful for that.
And I’m so glad you’re enjoying Unleashing
ENDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I so love coming home at night and going to the Writeminded Blog and laughing my ass off. I have been a member of the blog for some months now and I have learned soooo much about the writing industry, what to read, and made some cool new friends and contacts. If it hadn’t been for the blog Steph, I wouldn’t have known about yours and Larissa’s books and the fact that you both are Sydney Croft. The blog turned me on to sooo many new writers that I had no idea about and hopefully one day, some blogger will write about my books and someone will love them as much as I love yours. I will keep in touch on everyone’s personal blogs but I just loved the idea of literally having a conversation with a bunch of women around the country on who gets Nick, who gets Jake and what flavor of Jello we are gonna wrestle in! I know all of the writers have so much to deal with on a daily basis and God willing, someday I hope to be in your shoes so I understand why the blog is ending but I will still be watching out for all of you (Jaci, Maya, Larissa and of course Steph) and keeping up with all of your writing!!
Writeminded was a really wonderful blog, I have to say – the way it started out was simply a lesson in karma – and we kept that karma going throughout the life of the blog by highlighting other authors / giving away their books, etc. We tried not to make it all about us, and I think that’s why it works so well, because the authors involved are really open about pimping different books
I couldn’t have better friends than the WM women, and the reader’s loop can only get better now that we’ll be concentrating our efforts there.
Gayle, I will be THRILLED to write about your book here – you just let me know when and consider it an open invite, k?
I’ve done all the social media: Myspace, Facebook, Twitter but I’ve since gotten rid of all of my accounts because, to me, social media was just another way of overcrowding others as well as being overcrowded.
I’m a loner too; my philosophy has always been “It’s a damn good thing that when we die, we’re buried alone.” When it came to the medias, I found that I was just pressing “Hide” on all of my friends’ status updates because all of their posts became too much to deal with. Don’t get me wrong, I love my friends and family but how is my life going to get any more interesting or enriched knowing that Carrie has Subway for lunch? (The same thing could be said of Twitter.)
And, considering that I’m currently a Journalism Major in college, I’m also seeing how social media is making such a field obsolete. Who needs a newspaper or a nightly telecast when you literally have all of the information in the palm of your hand within minutes of a major event? It’s a scary thing to see happening because I keep having these “holy-s**t-what-am-I-going-to-do-with-my-life-now?” moments. And that too kind of sucks the fun out of social media for me.
Strangely, or perhaps ironically, I enjoy blogs — especally the blogs of writers because books are my solace. I guess I find that the big differerence with blogs is that one seeks out blogs rather than be submerged in them; they’re much less in-your-face. One makes an active choice to sit down and read the musings of others.
But, I dunno, that’s just me…
Ah, Tiffany, I love your observations
And I do feel badly about how you’re having to rethink career choices b/c of the internet – hopefully it will simply widen options in the end instead of taking some away.
I think with the shorter social media, I can’t get a real feel for the person? Everyone tweets kind of the same stuff – although I do enjoy being able to retweet some really great links and stuff. But we used to do the same thing for blogs.
I guess, like you said, blogs simply inspire me more than the other mediums. But I’m going to keep up FB and see how that goes because I’ve met some really great readers there – and some fun weim owners too!