Rockin' Robin

To tweet or not to tweet, that is the question. More specifically, should I join Twitter?  I have heard all of the pros from my friends, and I am certainly aware of the popularity of this new internet communication sensation. The thing is, I just don't know if I really care enough to join.  This honestly wouldn't even be a concern if it weren't for the recent loss of my husband. He was my last standing fellow Twitter-hater.  All of a sudden, earlier this week, he announced that he was going to start up an account (Christopherpdx, for those of you interested in following him).

Truth be told, I am already far more technologically integrated than I had ever wanted to be. When I was younger, I used to dream of a life totally disconnected from all things technology related. I imagined myself living in a small cabin somewhere in the mountains of Virginia, cooking my dinners on a wooden stove and falling asleep by the light of a candle. I wanted my own garden and farm animals - not to eat, but to gather milk and eggs from - so that I could live off of the land. I pictured myself sitting on my front porch swing, listening to the sounds of a nearby stream, drinking my cup of coffee, and writing poetry. But most importantly, I didn't want to own a computer, pager (this was the 90s), cell phone, or newfangled car.

Of course, times have changed since then. Modern culture is so technologically reliant that the idea of "escaping" is no longer really an option.  In fact, it would take a great deal of effort to disconnect from the world. When I pictured the previously mentioned life for myself I was still in high school, and, ironically, I had been the first of my friends to even own a cell phone (the brick) and a car (my old, dead green Neon). I can still remember when my family first got AOL and I learned how to use chat rooms and emails. It makes me laugh that the same surveys my friends and I used to send to each other via email are still being sent around through Facebook and Myspace.

It's crazy to think of the advancements that have been made in computer-mediated communication within the past eight years. People are always thinking of newer, better, easier ways to talk to people and network. AOL dial-up was replaced by high-speed internet, which gave way to iChat, Myspace, Facebook, and now Twitter. I honestly can't think of anyone who still actively uses Myspace to communicate with people. And with all of these advancements in programs and chat avenues, we have been shortening our speech to the point where it is almost indecipherable. At least with letters, notes, and early emails we typed more than a paragraph to our friends and family... now everything comes in neat little packages of ten words or less. "Lindsey is dreading her test today." That's all you get. I don't need to tell you which test it is, for what class, or even whether or not I like the professor and think I'm doing well. And you know what?  I don't think people really want or need to know that extra information anymore. I tried entering a long explanation of my day into the Facebook comment box once, and it told me that I had to use less than 140 words to explain my thought.  God forbid I want to really tell my friends a detailed account of my day.  People's attention spans can't last more than 140 words anymore.  I know that, because the internet told me so.

All of this has been a roundabout, rant-heavy, description of why I am hesitant to start a Twitter account.  That being said, I am, as always, open to suggestion. If people really want me to join, and think that it is a good way for me to stay in touch with friends, then I will open an account.  However, I will NOT become one of those people (no offense meant if this describes you) who posts every single, insignificant detail of my daily life.  I know, I know... everyone is dying to know what I buy at the grocery store and whether or not my butt looks good in today's jean selection, but I'm going to need to keep those things private for a little while longer.  Maybe in nine more years we can re-negotiate that deal. Until then, let me know what you all think!  Also, if you think I SHOULD join (or if you just want to have fun), include suggestions for my hypothetical Twitter name.  Linzasaurus is the best I've come up with so far.