Twitter is stupid and we’re all narcissists
Sun, 27 May 2007 4:10 pmOkay, so I just signed up for a Twitter account. What that did was further my belief that we are now smack in the middle of the Me Age.
Two hundred years later, history students will read in their textbooks: “The year 2000 marked the start of the Me Age with the proliferation of Internet activity. The possibilities for self-publishing created a social phenomenon that took the world by storm as increasing individuals bought a piece of Internet real estate to advertise one predominant product — themselves.”
I mean, this is totally what is happening and I do not exempt myself from this mounting horror.
In 1996, I made my very first website for my IRC community. I had photos and funny blurbs of all my channel regulars. I wrote a witty article extolling the virtues of IRC. The website’s purpose was to show off my web designing skills (which was then a big deal), my writing skills and my sense of humour.
In 1997, I made my first personal website. Its purpose was to glorify myself and shout to the whole world that an individual such as I existed.
And, you know, that tradition of narcissism continues till today. But I think it’s all good because, really, it’s not only about me.
People who have their own websites and blogs aren’t only saying “look at ME”. They’re also expressing their individuality, creativity and talents through the design of their site, through their written words, through the photographs that they themselves have taken. Creativity must be shared with the world.
But twitter is another matter altogether.
What the hell is twitter?
When I first started seeing it on all my friends’ blogs, my reaction was something like, “Har? Can eat or not one?”
I didn’t get an account because it seemed stupid to me. Like, does anyone care what you were doing at exactly 4.26 pm last Friday? Honestly, no.
And if you must tell the whole world that you are, right this very moment, enjoying your char kuay teow, why must you put an extra box in your blog to say that? Why can’t you just post a one-line blog entry instead?
So, I finally signed up today to see for myself what all the fuss is.
I have posted my first update, clicked all over the site and read a few strangers’ rants.
And I still don’t really get it.
Twitter is totally the spokesperson for the “Me Culture”. In the little pink and blue boxes that are fast invading more and more corners of the Internet, we see nothing more than shouts for attention.
“Look at me! I just did my laundry and wiped the kitchen counter clean!! Can you beat that???”
What the hell? What the hell?
Where is the creativity? The entertainment value? The thing that will make people go, “Ahhh… that was worth my two seconds reading it.”?
And you thought the narcissism of personal web pages and cam whoring couldn’t get any worse.
To all my friends who have twitter, don’t fret. Even though I think twitter is stupid, I still love you and I will read your twitters because you’re my friend.
But allow me to ask you this:
Do you think I should just STFU and get with twitter already?
Thank you for reading.
Categories: Regular Blogs
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25 Responses to “Twitter is stupid and we’re all narcissists”
No.
eh get liow add me hor.
Some people like it for its voyeristic properties. Knowing what friends and loved ones are doing at a point of time can bring a sense of assurance, somewhat.
Lets take for example, I’ve a friend who twittered that they are in a particular location, and I’m in the vicinity, its a useful tool for us to meet up because it broadcasts too all the friends who added us.
At the same time it seems that many of the ones in my contacts only focus on their own selves and dont even read what I have to say, so I find it pointless sometimes.
well, i think its a fad and will pass after a year or two. Unless they can think up a new gimmick every few months to add to the voyeur novelty.
In any case, if anyone wanted to know if i was shitting and reading the papers at the same time 1.5 days ago, all they had to do was sms.. hah.
Huh? This got Tomorrow-ed?
Like wtf?
Loong: Thanks. Short and succinct.
Ruok: lol ok.
marina: yeah I supppose twitter does have its uses, although limited.
vinyarb: haha maybe they will think up new stuff to keep it novel, they always do.
lyn: it did? cool!
I tried twitter but gave up a day later. Very boring.
I still prefer my chalkboard which essentially is the same thing except that I get to doodle on it. No stifling of creativity!
Granted it is not as convenient as twitter, the chalkboard suits me just fine given that I update it only once a week or so.
[…] Sheylara tries out Twitter and is not very impressed by it. “Where is the creativity? The entertainment value? The thing that will make people go, “Ahhh… that was worth my two seconds reading it.”?” (via tomorrow.sg) Share This […]
JayWalk: Your chalkboard is cool!
Hi Sheylara,
I find most posts mundane and uninteresting on Twitter too. I don’t care about what people are eating. So I thought I would start Twittering about my job.
I am a STAND IN (http://tinyurl.com/37mwgk) on a network TV SERIES. I post from behind the scenes on the set about the ACTORS & CREW.
You will see a film set from someone in the middle of it all. I STAND surrounded by the DIRECTOR, ACTORS, CAMERA OPERATORS, PRODUCERS etc and see everything.
I invite you to Follow me for a day or two.
How’s that for creativity and entertainment value?!
Any questions don’t hesitate to Direct Message or eMaIL Me.
SI
Stand In: I humbly stand corrected. :) I think your twitters are highly entertaining. Consider me a follower! ;)
Which is why I didn’t sign up for one. :P
and I think it takes up too much space. A twitter, normally a couple of lines but the space can put many many many lines. (eh, understand what I’m trying to say? :P)
I thought it was silly too when I signed up for the first time.
But when I started to add my friends, and interesting ppl around, it gets quite intersting…and probably addictive. :D
uglyfatchick: Yeah I get you. Most of the twitter box is empty of text. Big waste of blog sidebar space! :P
Herry: Haha… ok. I guess it can be fun if you have friends twittering to each other funny stuff.
I used to have Twitter on my blog but I removed it due to the constant “maintenance”. :)
Does it take effort to type a sentence now and then? :P
No your right, it’s stupid and has no long term biz model.
Haha… thanks for that opinion! ;)
It’s amazing how many people use it. I’m one of them, although I haven’t in a while. I suppose Generation Me wants to know what YOU are going at this very moment. At least that what Twitter hopes.
Twitter is cool… hey everyone, I’m pooping! look at me. aren’t I awesome?
It’s been exactly one year since you wrote this piece and Twitter is still stupid. Nothing has changed.
If I could vote for the most stupid website that has taken hold of certain friends I deemed intelligent at one point, Twitter would be the obvious choice.
Twitter has been acting up the past few days. They must be upgrading again
[…] Not everyone thinks Twitter is wonderful. Sheylara is not so impressed with it, thinks that it is not a nice platform for creative expression and does not see the point of random mundane micro posts, such as reporting to friends how many times the poster farts a day. She also relates Twitter to the ego-culture. You can read about it here. […]
Hi :)
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Thanks! :)
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