What are your thoughts on social media?

[Mirror Image]

I personally think that Web 1.0 forums like GMG are the best forms of social media.

No argument from me.

[James]

I got rid of all of mine a few weeks back, but I'm very interested in what you all think, especially in the ways you use if, if you do.

Never used any of it, never will. I despise it all.

[Philo]

Sweet Moses! I was not expecting so many thoughtful replies. I do thank you for them though.

@ Todd thanks for your input. I liked the frankness of your replies. I signed up for Twitter again, but I think I'm going to delete it again or take your tact. I just don't feel any draw to it. Facebook just depresses me. I think I had a Linked in at some point, but I'm not professional enough for it. Perhaps one day...

@Gurn that's a very practical view. That's sort of what I was hoping to do with Twitter, but I just find it so blase, but I also don't really have a platform that I wish enlarged, as you do. So it seems to serve a purpose for you. I'll be honest. I don't have Snapchat, but I would totally get it if you had one... I also like how you only do Twitter at home. Question though: How much of your time is spent on it?

@XB-70 lol at your LinkedIn story. That's sort of how I thought of that platform. It seemed like a more annoying version of Facebook with the veneer of professionalism. I also love that that won't just pull the plug. Very amsuing. Public figure? I'm intrigued at that. I agree with yoru summation regarding Facebook. That's one of the reasons I left the platform.

@-abe- Do you find it useful for that? I found that to be mostly aggervating.

@NikF I feel you on Facebook, but this time I've stuck to my guns with the deactivation. I think I just don't get it like the rest of social media. I still handwrite a lot of things.  I also agree, as I think Gurn said earlier, that the platform is useful to those who deem it useful.

@jochanaan have you found that sucessful?

Sorry that I couldn't respond to everyone. I really enjoyed what you all had to say. Thanks again.

[Gurn Blanston]

Sweet Moses! I was not expecting so many thoughtful replies. I do thank you for them though.

@Gurn that's a very practical view. That's sort of what I was hoping to do with Twitter, but I just find it so blase, but I also don't really have a platform that I wish enlarged, as you do. So it seems to serve a purpose for you. I'll be honest. I don't have Snapchat, but I would totally get it if you had one... I also like how you only do Twitter at home. Question though: How much of your time is spent on it?

Sorry that I couldn't respond to everyone. I really enjoyed what you all had to say. Thanks again.

Another nice thing about Twitter, and why I chose it to begin with, is that you can be anonymous if you choose to. When I actually began to have some success with my blog, I decided to change my Twitter name to my real name (although my screen name is still there). In FB, this wasn't an option. You must join with your real name and that's what is shown. I understand their reasons but don't agree with them. FB is so f**** all-invasive, I simply can't imagine giving up that level of privacy!

On a weekday evening, I spend about 30 minutes total, usually replying to friends or to inquiries about Haydn.  On weekends, a little longer because some members only post on weekends and the volume is higher. One thing about Twitter, the volume of tweets is so high that if you missed it the first time around, it's gone! Unless it was specifically addressed to you, of course.

I still spend a hell of a lot more time here than there. 140 character limits are as nothing for a typist of my caliber! 

[Philo]

Another nice thing about Twitter, and why I chose it to begin with, is that you can be anonymous if you choose to. When I actually began to have some success with my blog, I decided to change my Twitter name to my real name (although my screen name is still there). In FB, this wasn't an option. You must join with your real name and that's what is shown. I understand their reasons but don't agree with them. FB is so f**** all-invasive, I simply can't imagine giving up that level of privacy!

On a weekday evening, I spend about 30 minutes total, usually replying to friends or to inquiries about Haydn.  On weekends, a little longer because some members only post on weekends and the volume is higher. One thing about Twitter, the volume of tweets is so high that if you missed it the first time around, it's gone! Unless it was specifically addressed to you, of course.

I still spend a hell of a lot more time here than there. 140 character limits are as nothing for a typist of my caliber! 

Twitter seems very useful to you. I agree with you regarding Facebook and privacy. I know within the transgender rights movements this is one of the main complaints they levy against Facebook (ironic given Facebook's seeming progressiveness).

That is one of the things about Twitter that bothers me. It's so impersonal and overwhelming. Perhaps I'm too sensitive a soul for social media. I think that's awesome that you can regulate your time so well. Wisdom comes with age...  0:)

[Gurn Blanston]

Twitter seems very useful to you. I agree with you regarding Facebook and privacy. I know within the transgender rights movements this is one of the main complaints they levy against Facebook (ironic given Facebook's seeming progressiveness).

I read about that controversy. It is purportedly resolved for now, but should have never happened to begin with.

That is one of the things about Twitter that bothers me. It's so impersonal and overwhelming. Perhaps I'm too sensitive a soul for social media. I think that's awesome that you can regulate your time so well. Wisdom comes with age...  0:)

Twitter can be a cruel SOB from time to time. It's easy to find stuff there that sticks to your fingers, but it is equally easy not to, if you know what I mean.   0:)   Much like real life that way.   

Time allocation is huge when you have pressure to get stuff done. My weekly essays are between 2000-3000 words, and the research is major. This leaves me little time for frivvels. That is a good thing! 

[Sergeant Rock]

It's the best (and often only) practical way of getting in touch with people who you've lost contact with over the years.

That's why I joined FB. Attempts to contact my best friend from college failed until I tried FB. It was cool reconnecting with her after nearly 40 years (she'd become a professor of anthropology and was a regular on a popular TV show). Found my french horn playing ex-girlfriend too and have enjoyed following her career and watching videos of her chamber group concerts.

I live far from my family; FB makes the distance seem not so great and I can participate in their lives, at least vicariously.

Sarge

[jochanaan]

@jochanaan have you found that sucessful?

Like I said, some friends appreciate my efforts.

[Brian]

I use Facebook only to keep in touch with certain old friends who are bad at writing emails/letters. I have a few friends who live in New York, Paris, DC, California, etc., and when I can only see them once every 2-3 years, Facebook is at least a practical substitute, though maybe not a desirable one.

I use Twitter (@bgreinhart) to entertain myself, but also to talk about classical music, baseball, and my other interests. Also, overall, Twitter seems to be a better way to keep in touch with people than Facebook, at least among my friends.

I have made a genuine real-life friend off Twitter. We've met twice, exchanged Christmas presents, are regular pen pals (you know...letters!), talk about arts & theatre, and I'm probably staying with her when I visit NYC in February. Our "meeting" was when a mutual real-life friend tweeted at both of us saying that we should check out each other's Twitters.

I use Pinterest to catalog recipes I find online. "Recipes to Try," "Recipes Tested and Approved," "Crockpot," "Desserts to Try," etc.

I don't and will never use Snapchat, Instagram, etc.

My job required me to maintain my organization's Twitter account for over a year. Now, since you asked for thoughts about social media, here is a genuine thought about social media: businesses (and non-profits like mine) are generally greatly over-estimating the use of social media. There is a general perception that social media is the marketing tool of the future, to greatly expand your audience, create new customers, and bring in droves of new fans. I do not think this is true at all. I think social media is best used primarily as a customer service tool for people who already like/use your service. My experience at the college definitely bears this out. When we advertise various programs, nobody clicks. When we tell people to take XYZ class, nobody clicks. But we get tons of messages asking about how to enroll, or that the professor never showed up, or a vending machine is broken, etc.

Social media has been criticized for encouraging "slacktivism," where people "like" a charitable cause and then don't actually do anything about it. Like using #BlackLivesMatter without actually getting involved in helping with any real-life racial issues. But there is another side of this, which I'm not sure what the catchy word is, where your interaction with the brand is reduced to the easiest, laziest means possible. Like, they try to sell you a product? Hell no. They post a silly picture? Much better.

It has also got me an opportunity to 'meet' several famous musicians, some of whom follow me and read my blog. I don't see how I could have got to this point without something like Twitter as a tool. I have also got email from several prominent musicologists to discuss aspects of my blog, this also through Twitter.

Gurn is modest, but I am curious, so I checked.

Some of Gurn's Twitter followers:
Rachel Podger
Jane Booth (clarinetist and Head of Historical Performance at the Guildhall School)
Paul McNulty (piano maker)
Arcangelo
The Indiana University Music Library
Paul McCreesh
Enso String Quartet
Broadwood Pianos
London Haydn Quartet
Hyperion Records
Harmonia Mundi (they also follow me to be fair)
Wigmore Hall (ditto)
Austria's ambassador to Israel

I have a Twitter account, but I've never tweeted.  I still have two followers.  One's a bot, but the other may be a person.  Every once in a while I will check the tweets of the Fart Robot, otherwise I find Twitter a waste of time.

You need to be following Florida Man and Florida Woman.

https://twitter.com/_FloridaMan
https://twitter.com/_Flor1daWoman

How else will you keep in the loop about headlines like:
Florida Man Sets Up Series of Fake Job Interviews to Steal People's Urine
Florida Man Admits Killing Goat and Drinking Its Blood For Pagan Sacrifice, Would Still Like to be U.S. Senator
Florida Man Pulls Gun During Road Rage Incident, Accidentally Shoots Himself
Florida Woman Accidentally Superglues Eye Shut
Florida Woman Assaults Boyfriend With Pooper Scooper

[jochanaan]

...(ironic given Facebook's seeming progressiveness)...

Seeming is the operative word there.

[jochanaan]

...Gurn is modest, but I am curious, so I checked.

Some of Gurn's Twitter followers:
Rachel Podger
Jane Booth (clarinetist and Head of Historical Performance at the Guildhall School)
Paul McNulty (piano maker)
Arcangelo
The Indiana University Music Library
Paul McCreesh
Enso String Quartet
Broadwood Pianos
London Haydn Quartet
Hyperion Records
Harmonia Mundi (they also follow me to be fair)
Wigmore Hall (ditto)
Austria's ambassador to Israel...

And our own estimable Karl Henning (who also follows me).  And I have to say, Karl's tweets are always enlightening, entertaining, or (usually) both.

[Gurn Blanston]

Gurn is modest, but I am curious, so I checked.

Some of Gurn's Twitter followers:
Rachel Podger
Jane Booth (clarinetist and Head of Historical Performance at the Guildhall School)
Paul McNulty (piano maker)
Arcangelo
The Indiana University Music Library
Paul McCreesh
Enso String Quartet
Broadwood Pianos
London Haydn Quartet
Hyperion Records
Harmonia Mundi (they also follow me to be fair)
Wigmore Hall (ditto)
Austria's ambassador to Israel

I also follow Brian Reinhart... and vice versa.

I thought you would pick out Viviana Sofronitzki though.

My largest benefactor is the Haydn Society of Great Britain, who link me on their web page and send a lot of traffic my way. James Boyd (viola, LHQ) offers me material support by way of facsimiles of original printings of string quartet first editions. He is a peach! 

[Gurn Blanston]

Like I said, some friends appreciate my efforts.

I do...

[Brian]

I also follow Brian Reinhart... and vice versa.

I thought you would pick out Viviana Sofronitzki though.

My largest benefactor is the Haydn Society of Great Britain, who link me on their web page and send a lot of traffic my way. James Boyd (viola, LHQ) offers me material support by way of facsimiles of original printings of string quartet first editions. He is a peach! 

Oooh, that is VERY cool. What an awesome connection!

Viviana Sofronitzki is a great pianist, but when I clicked on her Twitter feed, it was very dull (I gained 1 follower, I lost 1 follower...)...

[Gurn Blanston]

Oooh, that is VERY cool. What an awesome connection!

Viviana Sofronitzki is a great pianist, but when I clicked on her Twitter feed, it was very dull (I gained 1 follower, I lost 1 follower...)...

Yes, she has sent me a couple PM's, that's about it. I suggested she blow off Mozart and play Haydn instead.   

[Todd]

Florida Man Pulls Gun During Road Rage Incident, Accidentally Shoots Himself

Honest self-assessment of one's driving skills is rare.

[71 dB]

Sample from Gurns Twitter:

Ever try to figure out how Haydn's music is organized?  Cheat sheet here!
#Haydn Seek - Sunrise over Hoboken...
http://www.fjhaydn.com/my-blog/sunrise-over-hoboken.html ...

Sample from Kesha's Twitter:

pjs as clothes

Sample from David Duchovny's Twitter:

Good to see old friends #NYCC http://ift.tt/1Or6kvC

It does not matter whose Twitter I look, it's always like this. Short weird messages (to whom?). I'm too old (44) for these. I don't even understand why Twitter exists. Does it serve anyone except those behind it? Isn't it just about gathering information about people?

I need real language and substance, old fashioned discussion boards where things can be expressed extensively. Is it ever possible to write longer than 20 word messages on Twitter? What's longest Twitter message in the history and who wrote it? 

Sample from GuinnessWorldRecords Twitter:

Double the record-breaking action with #GWR2016 and #GWRgamers out now!
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/2016 

That's one thing about Twitter, you can't find old messages because it's just a long stream of nonsense. Horrible. 

[Gurn Blanston]

Sample from Gurns Twitter:

Ever try to figure out how Haydn's music is organized?  Cheat sheet here!
#Haydn Seek - Sunrise over Hoboken...
http://www.fjhaydn.com/my-blog/sunrise-over-hoboken.html ...

Sample from Kesha's Twitter:

pjs as clothes

Sample from David Duchovny's Twitter:

Good to see old friends #NYCC http://ift.tt/1Or6kvC

It does not matter whose Twitter I look, it's always like this. Short weird messages (to whom?). I'm too old (44) for these. I don't even understand why Twitter exists. Does it serve anyone except those behind it? Isn't it just about gathering information about people?

I need real language and substance, old fashioned discussion boards where things can be expressed extensively. Is it ever possible to write longer than 20 word messages on Twitter? What's longest Twitter message in the history and who wrote it? 

Sample from GuinnessWorldRecords Twitter:

Double the record-breaking action with #GWR2016 and #GWRgamers out now!
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/2016 

That's one thing about Twitter, you can't find old messages because it's just a long stream of nonsense. Horrible. 

Well, hell, man, you are only allowed 140 characters in a message. How much content do you suppose you can put into 2 lines? 

PS - the tweet of mine you quoted had 139, IIRC...

[Karl Henning]

Some people's content would be greatly improved, if they kept it to 140 characters

[Gurn Blanston]

Some people's content would be greatly improved, if they kept it to 140 characters

...or less...