Monday, February 23, 2009

What are You Doing? Being a Twit!

by Felicia Donovan

twitter

I'm savvy, you know, about all these social networks. If you looked around, you'd find me on MySpace, Facebook, Technorati, Gather, CrimeSpace and so on. Heck, if it's social and it's networked, I'm there. Really. But what I don't get is this new and incessant, "What are you doing" phenomenon born out of sites like Twitter. Even FaceBook has joined the leagues of micro blogging.

Does anyone really care that much about what I'm doing? Does anyone really need to know that I'm checking my e-mail, drinking my tenth cup of tea or working on my next book project? Maybe once in a while, but all day long? I think not. Oh, and by the way, I'm on cup eleven now, but that's besides the point. image

Do I really care about what others are doing every minute of the day? Trust me, there's stuff people do that I don't want to know about. I'm all for hearing about the highlights at the end of the day, but to me, this is almost like some creepy form of textual voyeurism.

I don't text much and I don't Twit well. If you want to know what I'm doing, just ask. Maybe I'll tell you, maybe I won't, but in the spirit of things, I'll ask it anyway:

"What are you doing right now?"

10 comments:

Sue Ann Jaffarian said...

"What am I doing right now?" Laughing over this blog posting because I couldn't agree with you more.

I'm waiting for someone to post "picking my nose" or "cleaning lint from my navel."

G.M. Malliet said...

I post to Twitter occasionally but I'm with you, Felicia: I imagine the interest in what I'm doing all day is low to nonexistent.

I am just getting the hang of Facebook, sort of, apart from the "gift" thing...it helps me keep in touch with people I'd otherwise not hear from until Christmas or until I see them at conferences. And by the way, I saw on Facebook that you're preparing a package for Hollywood? Care to share?

MySpace I absolutely cannot navigate my way around.

Jessica Lourey said...

The screen shots you included are hilarious, Felicia.

About these by-the-minute updates: it definitely appeals to those in their teens and 20s. Is it the next step in communication or simply a new version of the precious youthful belief that their every thought is important? Having kids or reaching age 30'll knock that right out of you, but until then, media (think reality TV) and technology are having a heyday with that phase most young Americans go through and grow out of it.

Felicia Donovan said...

What am I doing right now? Laughing over Sue Ann's suggestions for postings on Twitter, agreeing with G.M. and thinking about Jess's very apt comments. It must be a generational thing.

Gin, the "Hollywood package" will have to wait a bit. I'll let you know if/when there's more news to talk about, promise!

I'm working up a proposal for a new book. Working title is: "We Don't Care What You Are Doing Right Now. We Really Don't." Anyone else care to contribute a chapter here and there?

I really don't want to know about noses, navels or other bodily parts, thank you...

Keith Raffel said...

What am I doing? Wishing I could be sitting in the cafe spinning tales rather than paying bills (as I am).

G.M. Malliet said...

What really drives me wild is seeing someone fiddling with their cell phone while they're driving. I suspect a lot of that is twittering. As in, "What I'm doing right now is trying to cause an accident and injure as many pedestrians as possible."

And...in my state, this is perfectly legal. Cell phone use while driving? Yep, we're fine with that.

Is that crazy or what?

Felicia Donovan said...

Many states are attempting to introduce legislation prohibiting cell phone use while driving (excluding a hands free setup) but few have been able to pass it.

What are you doing right now? "About to plow into the back end of a car because I'm not minding the road!"

G.M. Malliet said...

Gotta tell you guys, interrupting this message to do so: Joanna Slan and I are both up for Agathas for best first novel. :-)

Felicia Donovan said...

G.M. and Joanna: That's fantastic! Many congratulations.

What are you doing now? Giving big pats on the back for very talented authors!

Jessica Lourey said...

Gin and Joanna, HUGE CONGRATS!!!! That is amazing. Well done!