Does Twitter Help Or Hurt Your True Connectivity?

Posted on 01. Jan, 2009 by loswhit in Web/Tech

I read an interesting article in Relevant magazine today called “The Problem Of Pride In The Age Of Twitter”.
You almost don’t even need to read the article to guess what it has to say.
That is the power of a title.
It is one of those articles that I felt like I agreed with 90% and disagreed with 10%.
You know what I mean?
Towards the end he had a baller quote.
Which was the part I completely disagreed with.
Obviously the author is not hip on the tidal wave of status and inward focus that is “plaguing” his generation.
Here is a quote from the article, written by Brett McCracken…

Under the guise of increasing our levels of connectivity, these technologies are ultimately just tools to help us isolate, insulate, and unshackle from the outmoded constraints of having to answer to anyone other than ourselves

The dude is a lot smarter than me.
He is much better versed than I.
Yet as I sit here in a hotel lobby in the middle of redneck TN, with a very close friend whom I got to know primarily through his status updates and blog posts, I have to wonder, one, can I use one more comma in a sentence, two, I think I am becoming more shackled in answering to more people than I ever have before.
Rereading that last disaster of a sentence, I almost cut it up and rewrote it. But if you read it at least three times, I think it makes more sense than if I tried to make it work.
So. Brett said some amazing things in his article.
You need to go read it.
I just wonder the validity of that quote when I have and am sharing life with many of you.
Then again, it’s a quote. There is nothing more than a few paragraphs surrounding it.
It just bothered me…
But then again…
It might just be my pride.
Los

6534Comments2009-01-02+05%3A35%3A44loswhit to “Does Twitter Help Or Hurt Your True Connectivity?”

SCBubba

02. Jan, 2009

Man, I always hate commenting after the likes of Tony and Mary Beth. They always take the good words…

And I met them on Twitter, just like I did several other folks that commented above. Is that the only place I make contact with folks? Of course not. Am I one Twitter (or blogs or tokbox or whatever) because I'm egotistical? I hope not.

I'm on social media mainly because it is connective. It allows me to a) meet new people, b) learn lots of things in a directed fashion (vs random internet surfing), and c) try to find ways to be "hands and feet." Every now and again I tweet a link to my blog post, so I guess there is ego/pride in there some, too.

I also read Brett's article yesterday and think he's not getting it yet. Maybe it's like Tony said and he's got a mindset of people earning their voice. Maybe he just hasn't given it the time needed to separate signal from noise.

Peace
Travis Williams

02. Jan, 2009

Let me first say that I love the topics you've been throwing out here to us lately. Really making us think hard. I likey.

Anyways, for myself, twitter has become an awesome way to easily keep in touch with friends who are all across this great big world in between the MAYBE once a month phone conversations. Two of my best friends moved from Atlanta, GA to San Diego, CA to plant a church, then I moved from Atlanta to Charlotte, NC to plant a church. I'll admit that I feel I have a busy life, and I know my friends are very busy too. So twitter is so easy to get a quick glimpse of what's happening in their lives without having to worry about if I'll have enough time in between meetings or whatever to have a real phone conversation.

But currently I only follow tweets I actually know, with the exception of just 4, and I only follow 24 total. So for me it hasn't been a great way to make new connections, but it's a fantastic way to keep up with others. And it's great for me, when my wife is at work and can't talk, she throws something up on twitter about how her manager is going off on everyone today or whatever, then I have the opportunity to pray for her and encourage her right there on twitter. Or she encourages me with "randomly" throwing up some scripture that "just so happens" to speak to the situation I'm in right at that moment.

So twitter has been a fantastic thing for me. Now, I do hate the "Just got out of the shower and brushing my teeth" tweets people throw up there. But on my feed, those are so far and few between that I can deal with it.
Art_Good

02. Jan, 2009

Your last 2 paragraphs there say it all for me. I am a solo pastor in a small church. I feel isolated and alone most of the time. No staff to strategize with. No one to go to lunch with. Just me in an office alone (or at Panera Bread alone, or Starbucks alone). Do I hang out with people from church? Sure. Other pastors? Yep.
Art_Good

02. Jan, 2009

Your last 2 paragraphs there say it all for me. I am a solo pastor in a small church. I feel isolated and alone most of the time. No staff to strategize with. No one to go to lunch with. Just me in an office alone (or at Panera Bread alone, or Starbucks alone). Do I hang out with people from church? Sure. Other pastors? Yep.

But, the interaction and connections I have made online could never have happened any other way, and they have made me not only a better pastor, but a better person. I would be the most uncreative, and bland pastor in America if it weren't for the things I've learned from people online. Would I love to meet some of these people face-to-face? Sure, but time and money make that impossible.
mbstockdale

02. Jan, 2009

Steve - your words are awesome. Love how you use Twitter to be hands and feet - can be a real place to connect as the body of Christ even tho separated by thousands of miles. Thank you for your faithful prayer coverage!
Dean Cooper

02. Jan, 2009

Twitter . . . yawn.
NicCharalambous

02. Jan, 2009

A couple of things: I think a lot of folks don't get twitter. They think it's a bunch of self-oriented status updates. It can be that sometimes, but when it really gets good, it's a party-line phone conversation. Rather than isolating, insulating and unshackeling, it actually can socialize, expose and bind. There are people following me now on Twitter who I care about and sometimes pray about that I have no business being invested in.

Second, isolating and insulating isn't just about Twitter. How many of us like to call people up for no reason and just talk in an open-ended way? How many of us would prefer to text them? Why? I'd suggest it's because we've gotten really savvy about the levels of friendship we want to participate on. Not every friend is going to be lifelong, and not every interaction is going to be deep and meaningful. And it doesn't mean that every other form of interaction is wasted and meaningless.

In my opinion, these types of criticisms fall into uncritical, naive idealism about "the way things used to be always better." Like when we didn't have cities, machines, cars, airplanes, tv, internet, microwaves etc etc. This criticism comes from a heart fundamentally in denial: Blame technology, not the human that created it and uses it.
Cole NeSmith

02. Jan, 2009

This is an interesting accusation to come from a writer whose job it is to continually exert his opinion, and - in this case - through a medium much more distant and less relational than the internet.

That being said, I've never really thought of twitter as an opportunity for fame. I'm not sure how "cole is currently at Publix" or "cole is thankful for the sunny day" is puffing me up.

I completely agree that most of the the Church is self-centered and has a consumerist attitude. No doubt. But Twitter - if anything - is a symptom not a cause.

Anybody know if Brett has a twitter?
loswhit

02. Jan, 2009

I do suggest that everyone read his entire article. He has fantastic points that we, as social media enthusiasts, should apply to our focus.
ryanguard

02. Jan, 2009

I think Twitter's video on their main page is a pretty good rebuttal to whether or not this is all necessary. Some people ARE interested in the small (and big) details of your day. The #1 thing that moves me to unsubscribe (or to never subscribe) to someone's Twitter or blog is if I think they are self-absorbed. If I don't want to be in the same room with someone like that, why would I want updates about them when they aren't in the room!?

But Brett's concern is valid in that this whole thing can be unhealthy if used inappropriately. So can a gun. So can food. So can my keyboard if I walk down the street hitting people with it. It's not a good thing or a bad thing, it's a tool. I started blogging as an outlet, but it quickly became much more useful for networking and idea sharing… now I just have a private blog where I can be as self-absorbed as I want and nobody can see it.
Ben Cotten

02. Jan, 2009

totally right on.
Jam

02. Jan, 2009

Twitter isolates if you let it. I've gone to every single Tweet Up in Atlanta and have made new and exciting friendships. I even went to a New Year's party with some Twitter friends.

Depending on who follows you, there can be accountability in what you Tweet. If it's folks you know IRL then you can get DM's from them and encouragement.

So I disagree with that quote.
Kevin

02. Jan, 2009

I read the same article just before hopping on my laptop. Great points!
thirty3

02. Jan, 2009

I thought he had a lot of good points in the article.

And I think perhaps for the most part it is true.

But I think he misses out on the opportunity it brings. This place is different. It is like the home base of all the different things you have going on. Flickr, Facebook, Twitter. etc.

There are a lot of people doing Facebook, Twitter, etc. that are simply polluting the internet with noise. I know. I was one of them. I stepped away. And decided my best bet was direct interaction and commenting in a few places I felt I had community in.

Honestly, I haven't read your Twitter in months. Your Facebook either.

I just choose to do it via instant messaging and e-mail. A prefer a more direct approach these days.
Kent Shaffer

02. Jan, 2009

It helps connectivity, but it can hurt time management.
Crystal Renaud

02. Jan, 2009

gotta say… my dearest and truest friends in this stage of life are almost all virtual. but i do take the extra effort to visit and call them and vise versa. i can't imagine having not met them but it wouldn't be so without twitter, blogs and online community.
loswhit

02. Jan, 2009

Totally. I loved the article. Which is why I took a pic of it and cropped it. LOL!
Jason Curlee

02. Jan, 2009

There is a sense of truth to all of it….from the article to your post to even the comments…

I have met some great people…I have wasted lots of time….and I've added more noise to the internet.

It does all have a way of balancing itself out….I know I need to balance it for me.
Bunk

02. Jan, 2009

It all depends on the reason behind your connectivity regarding the 'new technologies'. If you are connecting simply to escape reality or to possibly brand yourself to get cult status, then sure I see a problem.

However, as you pointed out….technologies like twitter, or blogs as a whole for that matter, can ultimately enhance relationships or be used as tools to build new ones if one is willing to use it as such.

Balance also is key. Noting that I wouldnt recommend using the internet as your primary resource for making and maintaining connections with people . There is nothing like getting out in the open and dealing with your friends, co workers, and family one on one, in real life, where actual touch is possible.

I hope I didnt butcher this comment like you did that amazing paragraph……which my hat goes off to you for by the way.
loswhit

02. Jan, 2009

True
loswhit

02. Jan, 2009

Dude. You came close.
Will Young

02. Jan, 2009

I haven't read the article yet but, will be soon.
I have to say that I am more connected to more folks now than I ever have. Up until about a year ago I lived my life as a social indolent. I'd be an idiot if I didn't recognize the roll that social media as played in my "coming out of my shell."
anne jackson

02. Jan, 2009

I had an amazing conversation the other day with someone face to face. But if it wasn't for online connections, I probably wouldn't have even met them to begin with. Could we have had the same level of conversation online? Probably not. But for the introduction, I've gotta say thanks to the social internets.
BrianD

02. Jan, 2009

The mistake I think is in the mindset that certain tools are inherently unhelpful and make the user prone to self-centeredness or any other type of sin. This mindset exists in certain parts of the church, but I don't believe it's very helpful in the long run. It's too easy to diss Twitter as enabling someone to "avoid accountability to others" (whatever that is supposed to mean). For some reason, apparently it's harder to tell people "this is a tool, and a potentially great one at that, but you need to exercise responsibility in how you use it."
loswhit

02. Jan, 2009

I feel closer to you at this very moment than I have in years.
2 Reasons.
1. You just DM'd me on twitter.
2. You just commented on my blog.

Take me Lord.
Archiemck

02. Jan, 2009

I'm headed to the bookstore to check this article out on your recommendation, since I haven't read it yet I may be missing the context but… I don't see twitter/FB/MS, any of the social apps being inward focusing. In fact I believe they are just the opposite, connecting us at a level we only dreamed (maybe nightmares) of in the past. They give me insight into the lives of friends, family and like minded individuals. I pray for others problems, share my own and even schedule events through my twitter account.
But, we are all inclined to be selfish.
These applications can do no more than magnify our personalities and the reasons in which we do things. Is my mom selfish for updating her status on FB? Probably not. Is Tila Tequila looking for old friends from high school? Doubtful. It's no different than the non-digital world, just more reading is required. What Brett seems to be implying is that we become so inward focused that our twitter feed just becomes another "chenis."
Sure, but we were doing all that crap long before twitter.
Twitter opens me up to make bigger mistakes, that are now broadcast all over the internet, for me that comes out to more accountability not the other way around. Thanks for the words Brett, keep thinking and keep questioning
Amanda_Sims

02. Jan, 2009

Having met my husband on the internet almost 12 years ago, I can say that the web in general has forever effected my connectivity. I also have several friendships at various levels of closeness that were started online.

That being said, I think that there has to be a balance. If I'm tweeting and posting to the detriment of my face-to-face relationships, that is a problem.

At this point in my journey, I feel like I'm connecting with people online who have inspired and encouraged me to think outside that darn box that the people in my "in-person" realm tend to live in. Los, you and the other folks I've encountered online in the past few weeks are bringing to light some ideas and concepts that seemed years away to this Yankee-born Mississippi transplant. In an area that is 10-15 years "behind" the current church trends, I feel like if I didn't get this kind of interaction, that creative ministry spark in me might fade out.

So I understand how tweeting and blogging your life away could ultimately be isolating. But for me, it's been a growth experience. Thanks for being out there for folks like me.
Suzanne

02. Jan, 2009

I've had people argue this point with me. I think blogging and twitter only make me more connected and genuine. I love that twitter allows me to have a glimpse of other people's "little things" and gives me the chance to share mine. I have only had the positive experience of building relationships through social networking, I don't feel like they have contributed to isolation for me at all.
Steven

02. Jan, 2009

I definitely understand where the author is coming from. Often as I tweet I wonder if my efforts are wasted and if my words are simply sent off to some grand abyss. Lots of times I feel as though I am building zero relationships through Twitter (and other social networking tools, too). The other day I tried to explain Twitter to my grandparents (which went surprisingly well), and after hearing about it they declared it a complete waste of time. They held firmly that I should just call someone if I wanted to share something. To be honest, I find it hard to come up with a strong argument against their opinions and those of the author of this article. However, I do see the fruit of these efforts in my and others' experiences, and this is why I continue to devote time to Twitter. So I think that's where I see your 90%/10% thing: I pretty much agree with their perspective, but for some reason I don't think that's the whole story. I've seen many good things come out of these tools, and so I feel like they're worth my time.
Amanda_Sims

02. Jan, 2009

Oh and if I hadn't been on twitter, I wouldn't have known to pray for the Lamberths, or Shaun King's daughter. I'd say that's pretty connective.
BrianD

02. Jan, 2009

THAT said…Twitter and other internet tools have been very helpful to me in connecting with people. In fact, in some ways they've been a tremendous help to me in improving my offline connections. The question for me is how do I make good use of these tools in my life? I don't want to be a social hermit, but if I find that I'm pretty good at this internet thing, I don't want to chuck it just because someone with a 1980s mindset doesn't get it.
loswhit

02. Jan, 2009

Good points. All of them.
Ben Cotten

02. Jan, 2009

I agree with Kent. It helps me in the connectivity dept. better than most other things (Facebook included), but it is a major time killer for me. I've learned to turn off the popups from twhirl on my desktop and only check it a couple times a day.

That being said, I'm picky about who I follow. I don't follow the megalomaniac tweeters that give you updates on their mood every 5 minutes. I've found that if you're not somewhat choosey with who you follow then the whole thing loses value really fast.
loswhit

02. Jan, 2009

Which is why I only follow under 100 people at any time
Tyler

02. Jan, 2009

I think the things that he brings us are what we should be thinking about when we blog/twitter/facebook/etc rather than stopping us from doing so. we should be trying to move beyond the polluting while doing things that can simply just be polluting and wasting.
Lee Coate

02. Jan, 2009

I was one who thought the whole twitter thing was ridiculous and self-absorbed…until I broke down and tried it as a part of a one week experiment. Now I'm hooked and have built some pretty solid relationships through the Twitter universe. Most of the tweets are people I knew casually prior to, but began to bond with as I read their periodic updates and shared parts of my life that they otherwise would not have known about. It's compatibility with Facebook is a strong asset as well as the twit updates posted to Facebook have created some interesting and fruitful dialogue. As with all things, balance is the key and as with facebook, followers or following merely to build a large contingency of pseudo friends is detrimental. Even discovering your blog, twits, and facebook have been a blessing los whit. Maybe Brian just needs a few more friends.
thirty3

02. Jan, 2009

Here is a question.

And I am asking the general reader….like I said, I think this site is one of community. A gathering place of sorts.

Would you still blog and twitter if you got no feedback? Without knowing how many people came by?
tonysteward

02. Jan, 2009

Well, the quote is light years off… The whole point of twitters creation and why it has value for people is "ultimately" because it can be used in a myriad of ways, one of which is connectivity. Lumping all twitter usage, users and individuals using the service into broad generalizations like that one is just silly and short sighted.

The use of a tool like Twitter reveals the truth about people and their differing motivations like any other gathering point, whether full of pride, generosity, selfishness or humility, etc. Any time I've encountered someone who goes off on the use of social media (blogging, twitter, etc.) as egotistical, isolated, etc. it is because they are still from the frame of mind that the only people who need to have a "voice" are the ones who have earned it or been given permission to have one. The problem (especially for those who only want the "chosen" to have a voice) is that the internet has given permission to everyone to have a voice, to be a part of the "human conversation." It isn't egotistical to chose to join it, it is simply having a voice. You aren't speaking up because you think you're so incredibly interesting (broad generalization there, but you get the point), you are speaking up because it is now okay to have your voice in the human conversation - that is a big deal.

And this has made us more connected than ever in a way that brings both responsibility and tremendous value.

The best part is that nobody has to follow anyone else, all of it is "subscriber" controlled. That is what cracks me up about people who complain about certain bloggers, twitters, etc. Nobody is forcing anyone to listen to them, but everyone has permission to speak up - and to many that is dangerous and very uncomfortable.
Cole NeSmith

02. Jan, 2009

PS… That first sentence isn't an indictment against Brett, it's simply an observation about the nature of being a writer. Even if you're writing fiction or a news story, the writers voice is heard. There's no escaping it, and I think it's okay.
marcpayan

02. Jan, 2009

I understand the urge to purge at the dawn of new year; a time when many evaluate and assess their motives, efforts, and purpose. I'm rather new to twitter, facebook, and sites alike but have been challenged in my life by those I have chosen to interact with or follow. Before this year, I had very little knowledge of LifeChurch.tv, Buckhead, National Community Church, and others. Listening to leaders within these communities comment on life has been enriching to say the least. It goes beyond reading their books or blogs.

As for pride, motives will most certainly arise with time in regardless of tools or setting…at work, online, church, school, etc. Have I questioned my motivations for being social online? YES! It is that very question that has lead me to be more thoughtful and intentional about how I invest my time.
Josiah Potter

02. Jan, 2009

I read the post. Good one Carlos.
I also read McCracken's blog.

:Thoughts:

This guy is a total hipster to the max.
I like to figure out who the author is before I comment on his/her writings in a mainstream print pub.

Check out his top ten albums of 2008; a flood of indie rock with a couple safe pop-main stream bombs (Kanye & Coldplay) that were mediocre at best (not that I have created anything close to those records, just my opinion and on a related note "Viva la Hova" was genius) so considering his musical tastes, top books/movies etc, this guy pretty much goes with whatever is just underground enough to be cool but just mainstream enough that it keeps him in the loop. Which brings me to his article.

This guy writes for a print publication.
Red alert number one…this print to web relationship is akin to the tape to digital relationship in music.

Number dos…check out his wording (yes he's a writer so his wording is key)

"these technologies are ultimately just tools"

ultimately=not to be improved upon or surpassed
tools=Something used in the performance of an operation

So essentially he's saying that facebook/twitter etc are the end all shackles to our solitary confinement of selfishness.

Seriously, this is just like anything else in the world.
Notebooks, novels, music, singing, conversations, preaching, money marketing, network solutions….anything. Anything can be used for selfish reasons, fueling pride and arrogance.

Kudos to him for risking heresy (he's an avid blogger) and putting it out there but this sort of targeting online communities as a whole because there's a POSSIBILITY for personal struggle and ethical downfall is silly. Duh!
Nathan Hov

02. Jan, 2009

Maybe I'm missing it here. But I feel his point is that were are slaves to the technologies we are using, hiding behind them "these technologies are ultimately just tools to help us isolate, insulate, and unshackle from the outmoded constraints of having to answer to anyone other than ourselves" it's not as though we are connecting in person so in that sense we only answer to our selves?
CaroleTurner

02. Jan, 2009

I think Twitter is like all the networking technologies today, kept in check and balanced they all can be great tools to form relationships.
Liege Davis

02. Jan, 2009

I criticized my husband using twitter for some time saying that it was just an opportunity for people to stalk you and that it was stupid. Then I surrendered. I've been using it for less than a year. But it was, and continues to be, an incredible tool in making new friendships. Our best friends now came from a twitter relationship. And, I wouldn't have been in your house in November if it wasn't for it!
That being said, I'm also very selective of who I follow: people who I think are truly interesting, people I know and people I believe there's a chance I'll meet in person.
Thanks for the insight, Los.
Liege
Cole NeSmith

02. Jan, 2009

I like your analysis, Josiah Potter.
Pastor_T

02. Jan, 2009

What Twitter is to me may be different than what it is to you. There are some who do nothing but send links of their last blog post. These folks have 4 million followers and follow 4 people. That's not social, that's advertising. There are others who must love reading about others and don't tweet much. They'll have 4 followers and follow a million peeps. For some, Twitter pads the ego….For others it's about building relationships. Personally, I'm not here to judge any of them. I follow people who have never spoken to me and those who speak to me daily and I see Twitter as a really good excuse to talk to myself and pretend someone is listening :-). There will always be haters, but I didn't know any of you existed before Twitter. For that reason alone, it's a success.
mbstockdale

02. Jan, 2009

I've been told Twitter is for narcissistic people and I just have to laugh. Maybe they have a) never tried it or b) have different motivations for using it. I began twittering out of curiosity, and would just 'listen'. But eventually I began to share more of myself, and my faith, online. Twitter has made it possible to connect with people with common ministry interests, and those who are several steps ahead of where I want to be. The 'playing field' has been leveled. I have found many high-profile ministry peeps enjoy connecting on Twitter, and their wealth of experience and wisdom is available for the asking. Sounds like they're being humble, not narcissistic to me.

I personally had a crisis last week when my husband had a heart attack, followed by open heart surgery. While paramedics crowded me and our sons out of the way, I jumped on twitter w/my fervent prayer request for my husband. The result? Immediate and mind-blowing prayer coverage and offers of help from people I have never met, but who felt connected enough to me to love on my family with prayer.
Hmmm that's not narcissistic, is it?
Dave C

02. Jan, 2009

Type your comment here…
Dave C

02. Jan, 2009

A few somewhat random thoughts:
- It is a tool that can be used, misused and abused just like most other tools.
- it’s probably a lot like alcohol. For some, it’s unwise to be anywhere near it. You know your own heart. Can you use it properly? (General question, not aimed at anyone specific)
- This might not be fair but it seems as though most people (perhaps just the loudest?) use AND abuse it at the same time
- My idea of abuse is essentially quantity over quality. Roughly, the more I post, the more people will follow me, the more popular I will be. You are an abuser if you’ve ever said or thought, “I haven’t posted anything in 3 hours!!! Quick to the twitter-mobile Robin!”
- I agree w/ Tony Steward that it gives a voice to all and that’s generally a good thing (at least, all rich people who can afford computers, et al) but that a lot of noise is an inevitable result (sorry Los, but even on this blog there is sometimes unnecessary noise that I can’t escape unless I just avoid the blog altogether…BUT it’s just a little noise. If it was too much, I’d leave.)
- most people have plenty to say but aren’t great at listening (has nothing to do with twitter directly)
- repeating what I already said, I think the biggest issue is quantity over quality. It seems that lots of communication is preferred over quality communication. But that is a problem with us humans, not with Twitter.
tonysteward

03. Jan, 2009

Would you go to a church where no one talked to you? Would you speak up at meetings or attend if no one ever acknowledged you? Would you date someone who never talked to you? The whole point of these social media tools is the social aspect, just like it is in everyday life. That said, they can be used for other things. But it isn't egotistical to appreciate, value and expect feedback.

Knowing how many people has more to do with one's intent. That said, you can't succeed at what you don't measure. Football teams couldn't win if we didn't keep score, etc. So, to know if you are doing a good job using a tool like a blog or twitter it is sorta a good thing to measure it.

Thoughts?
Dave ©

03. Jan, 2009

A few (OK a lot of) somewhat random thoughts:
* It is a tool that can be used, misused and abused, just like any other tool.
* It is probably a lot like alcohol. For some, it would be extremely unwise to go anywhere near it. You know your heart. Can you use it properly (general question, not aimed at anyone specific)?
* This probably isn't fair but it does seem as though most people use AND abuse it simultaneously. My personal sense/definition of abuse is worrying/focusing more on quantity than on quality. It's the rough equation that if I post a lot, people will think I'm interesting. If people think I'm interesting, they will follow me. If they follow me, I will be ranked higher and then even more people will follow me.
* You know you are an abuser if you've ever said or thought, "I haven't twittered in 3 hours!!! Quick, to the twitter-mobile Robin!!!"
* I agree with Tony Steward that it gives voice to those who didn't have it before (at least, those rich people who can afford computers, et al) and that CAN be a good thing but it isn't automatically a good thing. It also creates unavoidable noise. Yes, you choose who to follow but even those people generate noise (granted, this is the same as talking to someone face-to-face so that's not strictly a twitter issue).
* Repeating what I said, I think the biggest issue is the general focus on quantity over quality. It seems that lots of communication is preferred over quality of communication. That's a human issue, not a Twitter issue.
Dave ©

03. Jan, 2009

Good points in the first paragraph.

Knowing the score? I understand your general point (measuring is a good thing and I agree). However, I'm not sure that measuring the "score" of connectivity or communication should ever be the point. Particularly when one adds the unnecessary and self-serving next step of telling everyone what their score is. For what legitimate purpose other than to say, "Hey, look how cool I am"?

Granted, you did start the 2nd paragraph with, "Knowing how many people has more to do with one's intent." Yes, it usually comes back to the state of one's heart.
Dave ©

03. Jan, 2009

Sorry…two final thoughts after re-reading all of the the comments…

First, does Twitter increase connectivity? Yes, but not as well as face-to-face communication/connection. Reading about Rome, watching a video about Rome or reading a scratch and sniff picture book about Rome is not the same thing as being in Rome. In the same way, reading someone's words is not the same as hearing their voice, seeing their face, feeling their emotion, smelling their scent, sharing the same physical environment & space and maybe even touching them physically (appropriately, of course). Twitter and blogging are helpful when face-to-face is not possible…but they will never be as good. At best, they are decent substitutes.

Second, should we be heralding the age when everyone has a voice or when everyone hears God's voice?
mike brennan

03. Jan, 2009

Twitter has actually increased my connectivity with a few people form my church who i would otherwise only see & speak to for a few moments on a sunday.

On another note - what happened to Creative Chaos? I've been out of the mix for a bit. Did I miss something? If it has gone away, please bring it back. I love seeing what other people are doing. thnx.
Stephanie

03. Jan, 2009

Uh. Why can't I find it on the Relevant site? Searching for the article title or "Twitter" by itself doesn't turn the right thing up.
bleedworship

03. Jan, 2009

Great thought provoking blogpost, batman! I guess I can only draw from my own experience to answer this question… with my fast-paced schedule of full time ministry and husband/father of 3, I noticed instantly when I signed up for twitter that i started to feel more connected to a lot of my friends in ways I had not been connected for quite a while. I even started to reconnect with some friends that are 8 hours away.
HERE'S THE FLIPSIDE….

Though Twitter actually helped me link up with some friends (article has some holes in it - you were right LOS) I did notice that I was indeed isolating myself from my wife and kids in what little time I had with them because I was either: a) following too many people and reading all their updates or b) thinking about what would be cool to twitter instead of what would be cool to impart into the lives of my family.

So for me… I just did what Matthew 5:30 says… "If your right hand causes you to sin cut it off…" So I am now Twitterless. i don't really miss it, ither, which amazes me cause I could have been VP of "Twitterholics Anonymous"
Josiah

03. Jan, 2009

thanks! just shooting from the hip
towncrier86

03. Jan, 2009

I can't find the article on Relevant's site, so I understand I won't be speaking totally in context here. I'm only on the fringes at this point of using Twitter, but like any other Internet activity, I think it can be used to enhance existing face-to-face interactions and develop new contact. If abused for self-indulgence, avoidance or any other misguided use, then it is a distraction or problem. My wife especially seems to be enjoying the new friendships she's developed in the last few days through Internet fellowship, something that - as far as I can tell - is only being enhanced by her interactivity on Twitter.
And I just learned something tonight from looking at her Twitter updates. I'm going to ask her about it soon face to face.
thirty3

03. Jan, 2009

I just think there are so many blogs out there that don't exist for anything other than "look at me" purposes.

This site is one of the rare ones where there is community and there are altering viewpoints.
Sheila

03. Jan, 2009

redneck TN? What the heck does that mean??
Small Pieces and Big Puzzles « The Search

03. Jan, 2009

[...] magazine entitled “The Problem of Pride in the Age of Twitter,” and it’s sparking some pretty interesting discussions. The title probably gives you an idea as to what my point was. Twitter, Facebook, blogging (yes, [...]
Brett McCracken

04. Jan, 2009

Thanks Carlos for posting this and getting a discussion started. And thanks to all those who have posted comments. I wrote the article (“The Problem of Pride in the Age of Twitter”) in part to get people talking about these issues. I don’t think our society has much recourse for taking a step back from technology to critically assess it, and Christians especially seem to wholeheartedly embrace new technologies with very little question or thought as to its pros and cons. I think that Twitter, as with Facebook, blogs, etc, definitely has potential for good. I’ve seen it first hand: developing relationships via these mediated forms that perhaps would not have happened otherwise. But I also think there are certain negative things that Twitter and Facebook can aggravate—things that Christians especially should be mindful of (which I go into detail about in the article). As with everything, we must examine how we are being changed, how we are being formed in the process of using such-and-such technology. There are undoubtedly pros and cons, and for different people there might be different balances of positive and negative. Thus, all I ask—and what I am happy to see this article doing—is that we critically engage these questions, and think deeply about how we can best live and communicate in this rapidly changing word.
Chelsea

04. Jan, 2009

I don't Twit or Tweet or whatever it's called. I just don't get the point. Actually, I kind of think people who Twit are twats.
cristysoh

04. Jan, 2009

I think it would serve you well, Los, to use more semicolons.
Other than that, I think these tools are terrific if you just stay connected with people in real life.
Karen

05. Jan, 2009

The part that stops me is "Redneck, Tennessee." Those are my peeps. Tread lightly. ;o)
greg varney

05. Jan, 2009

i thought you cancelled your subscription to relevant
CJ Casciotta

05. Jan, 2009

Brett's a good friend of mine and expands on some more of his thoughts on his article and the buzz it's generated on his blog here: http://www.conversantlife.com/life-with-god/small...
loswhit

05. Jan, 2009

Dude. I live in freaking GA.
No treading lightly here.
LOL.
loswhit

05. Jan, 2009

Thanks for the heads up CJ. Again. He nailed it.
tjgillies

05. Jan, 2009

when i click your username intense debate says invalid username
adam_herod

07. Jan, 2009

I think we can choose to use twitter/facebook/tokbox etc to isolate ourselves from "real world" interactions or we can use it to increase our connectivity to each other and create greater community. I'd like to think that we're doing the latter.
Hey Hey

31. Jan, 2009

You can find the article "The Problem of Pride in the Age of Twitter" online on page 24 of the free online version of RELEVANT magazine: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/issue/37.php

The Deets

:: This whole Ragamuffin thing is simple. I'm just a screwed up man, in need of adoption, trying to be real. I was poured into, mentored, taught, and sometimes beat into authenticity by my family at Sandals Church. They created this beautiful mess of me and I'm forever grateful.
:: Now in the ATL with my hot wife and kids, I get to create relevant & engaging worship experiences every week. I am being shaped by Jeff Henderson and Andy Stanley at Buckhead Church. From creative sermon planning, to off the hook music experiences. This place is stretching me to my limits and I love it.
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