Ever since social media stepped on the scene (Blackplanet was my first memory), it has been used by people for various reasons. Whether you use it for networking, love, or just connecting with people that you don't see on a regular basis, it has a huge effect on the way we interact now-a-days. How you represent yourself on social media can paint a vivid picture of the person you are to the people that "friend" or "follow" you. But what if that picture isn't a true depiction of the person that you are?
A few months ago I decided to turn my attention away from the Facebook craze and see just what Twitter had to offer. When I first started I didn't really understand the point. I mean, it just seemed like a Facebook status update with less character use. I quickly saw that Twitter was its own beast with different features and a different set of rules.
I started Twitter with just a few followers. I saw that my followers used Twitter to tweet about whatever they felt. Some would tweet inspirational thoughts for the day. Some would tweet about whatever topics were trending at the moment. Some would just tweet about what was going on in their day. Paying attention to this, I tried to find out exactly what I would use Twitter for. The primary reason I came up with was to promote the poetry on my blog. I started off doing this and quickly realized that nobody cared or paid much attention. After awhile I realized that the people that received the feedback on Twitter were the people that already had established themselves on the site or the people that said the craziest most controversial stuff. I decided that I would use the latter as my Twitter-dentity.(I know I usually have trouble getting to the point so here it is.)
A few weeks ago I had a friend tweet about her husband and how wonderful he was on their anniversary. I was so moved by that tweet that I decided to take a break from my usual Twitter antics and share how blessed I would be to have my wife tweet stuff like that about me. A couple minutes later I received a text message, from a woman that I thoroughly respect for the way she represents herself, about what I had tweeted. This woman is one of my followers and she let me know that with the way I represent myself on Twitter, I didn't strike her as the "marrying type." I must admit that when I first read this text I was a little upset that she said that. I mean, I believe that if anyone has ever spent any extensive time around me, they would know that the stuff I tweet is extreme and over the top.
After I got over the intial shock of the insult, I accepted what she said. I mean, how could I expect her to make any other assessment about the person I am? We did go out on a date or two, but that's hardly enough time to make an impression that would out-weigh what she reads on Twitter daily.
Even though I understood where she was coming from about the way I represent myself via Twitter, I can't agree with making assessments of people's character solely by the things that they tweet. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and if it's being based on what you learn through social media, I can imagine that you'd misjudge a lot of good people. I know what and who I am, and although I kid around on Twitter about all sorts of randmoness, I know with great certainty that I will be a great boyfriend/husband/father etc. No tweet will take away from that.
4 comments:
I've always been wary of my online persona, simply because it's tracked by potential employers, perverts, and other crazies. However, I never really thought about how it affected my search for a potential mate. I agree that it's unfair to totally judge someone based upon what they say on twitter; however, the making of judgements are as natural to people as breathing, it happens. I guess it all boils down to how much you care. The woman who would make sweeping judgements about your character based upon a few tweets probably isn't deserving of much consideration anyway.
Everything we do that leaves a paper trail also in turn leaves an impression. Now, whether the impression or the person to which it applies is relevant is a completely different question. We just have to decide whether or not the way we represent ourselves publicly- in any social setting- is something that we really want to back up, should it be necessary to do so. I own my tweets, and you should have no reason not to do the same.
Awww....Jarrett don't feed too much into what ole girl has said...Your an amazing person and will one day make the perfect boyfriend/husband and father! Please believe it!! And I know you well enough to be able to say that!
Good to know.
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