Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:29a.m.
By Erin Gallagher
Today marks the day I finally joined the 21st century. No more old-fogey Erin here. Everyone put their hands together for the newest Twitterer. Tweeter. Twit. Whatever.
Now I’ve just got to figure out how to use the darn thing.
It was a long time coming, I must admit. I’ve been on the Facebook bandwagon for quite some time now (although I only realised the other day that my profile was public and any Joe Blow could’ve been perving on me – good one, Erin). I had been meaning to do the Twitter thing at some stage, but I couldn’t get my head around the whole 140 characters thing. What can you say in 140 characters? Not enough, I say.
If you know me well – even if you don’t know me well in fact – you’ll agree that I’m not one to get to the point quickly. Sure, if you’re pissing me off, you’ll soon know it. But if I’m telling you a story, it takes a while to get there. Hand actions are usually used to describe the situation further, just in case you haven’t managed to get it through my obsessive verbal explaining. If you’re ever lucky enough to get a birthday text from me, you’d better brace yourself for one heck of an adventure.
So the 140-character limitation is somewhat frightening. How on earth am I going to fit my mundane life that still manages to end up being over-the-top and filled to the brim with excitement into 140 characters or less? And who on earth is going to find that remotely interesting?
Today I’m on a mission to take over the virtual world and try to find some awesome people to be friends with – friends who will actually care what I talk about. (Actually, to be fair, I’m all about the numbers right now, so you don’t have to care, you just have to follow me.) I am now following Barack Obama, John Campbell, Mike McRoberts and Fletch & Vaughan - but now I’m running out of ideas.
Now, I suppose there’s John Key. I’m just not sure I want to receive his tweets during election time. (Can you un-follow people? Now, there’s a thought.) There’s always Britney, because everyone loves a little drama in their lives. There’s always Lindsay too, although if I really wanted to know what was going on with her I could just find out on pretty much every other news website the cyber world over.
I wouldn’t mind following Mother Teresa if she were still around - or Lady Di; imagine her tweets: “I wish Camilla would just go away. She’s really beginning to get up my goat.” Guts this amazing invention wasn’t around back then.
Twitter is the perfect way to get (semi) up close and personal with people who would never be seen dead hanging out with you in real life. You can find out when your favourite musician’s new album is going to be released before the rest of the world finds out. Twitter enables you to stalk your favourite author, your favourite movie star, your heroes, your foes; from Angelina to Kanye, from Barack to Posh and Becks, everyone’s there – and it makes the big wide world a heckava lot smaller.
Isn’t it just a little hilarious how much everyday life is controlled by social media these days? The place I work hires a couple of people who are actually hired to work on social media. Necessary? Absolutely. Am I OK with it? I’m still not entirely sure. Am I more than a little jealous that they get to hang out on Facebook all day and get paid for it? Oh, you know it, baby.
Social media is pretty much running the world as we know it. Because Facebook is so hip and young and funky, business who are uncool and old and dance like your dad are trying to win over the youth of today by meeting them where they hang out most: online. ASB is on Facebook. TradeMe is on Facebook. Heck, even The Department of Building and Housing is on Facebook (albeit with just three friends). And now with the dominance of Twitter in our URLs and our mindsets, you’re really not a viable business if you’re not into the social media world too.
I’ve only been on Twitter for less than five hours, and already some random stalkers are following me. I’m not sure why – the picture I’ve put on as my profile pic is just me with a lambie, nothing too raunchy. I really think I need some more friends, though. My profile currently looks like loserville. Please follow me.
The name’s @Smerin26. The number is because some bastard already had Smerin. That’s what happens when you’re a million years behind the rest – the good names have already been taken.
What I’m watching: Piranha 3D. The.Worst.Movie.I.Have.Ever.Seen.
What I’m looking forward to: Despicable Me. Possibly.The.Greatest.Movie.I.Will.Ever.See. According to Reel Late with Kate, that is.
What I’m dreading: I’m turning 27 in a week and I’m not sure I’m OK with it. Perhaps “dreading” is a strong word, but it’s certainly a feeling of deep unrest.
What’s made me happy this week: I made friends with Jenny Craig. She makes great food. That surprised me a lot. And three days in, I’ve stuck to her dictatorship like glue. Go team.
What’s really annoyed me this week: Getting sick for the first time this winter. At the end of winter.
Final NRL Tipping Score: 101. Not bad for someone who based her tips purely on WhoWouldBeatWhoInTheWild.