Posts Tagged ‘Social Media’
Are you following me on Twitter?
The blog is only half the story.
On Twitter you will see me currently trying to get an Islamist to read On
The Origin of Species or at least Dawkins on.
Links to articles, pithy short remarks. Some light hearted banter. Informative retweets.
Following me does not mean you are not thinking for yourself. I always hope you do, and like me you use dialogue to improve that capacity.
Night folks!
Article written by John Sargeant on Homo economicus’ Weblog
Follow @JPSargeant78
To Tweet or not to Tweet
A massive thank you to Richard Dawkins and followers on twitter for sharing the previous blog about how Islamic extremists hope to subject Malala to sharia law in the courts and a fatwa for another touch of religious poisoning to humanity.
I have only been tweeting seriously for about four weeks, though blogging (with occasional leave of absence) for four years. In that short space of time PZ Meyers, the British Humanist Association and now Richard Dawkins have shared the blog reaching a wider audience that care about the same things I do.
Which brings me to the question Libby Purves poses that some twitters are not living the good life waving back at us but are actually drowning in misspent time savouring glamour and tittle tattle, drowning in a sea of maliciousness.
“Blogging is graffiti with punctuation” as Elliott Gould says in Contagion. The thing that strikes me about these sort of observations is that with every advance in publishing people have been concerned about how people will make use of the new format.
From pain staking copying by hand to instant publishing from an electrical device to potentially a global audience in seconds, the ease with which we can share our views – and more crucially search out views with a few taps of the fingers – is a tremendous advancement for knowledge, sharing culture and communication. That has had governments, and movements determined to use these techniques to both control and spread the word.
The printing press was a revolution in thought but considered an engine of immorality. Jefferson stated that adverts were the only thing telling truth in newspapers to be relied upon. Groucho Marx said:
I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.
Yet with digital media, more than ever the choice to be informed is there with the ability to instantly share that information. Twitter # feeds exist for most television programmes to discuss what is being broadcast as it happens.
That instant contact is perhaps what is getting people into trouble, and no thought of consequences for what they say on themselves and others. Those that have made slanderous accusations involving naming political figures as child abusers may well hope to be out to sea when writs start circling.
People want their lives witnessed, and have a self image to present to the world at large. Just remember twitter, Facebook and blog sites are publishing formats, like those of old. Increasingly they are leading to legal action for hate speech, slander and libel.
Those values of civility, integrity and truth are not outdated concepts for the social media age. They are essential for civilisation, whatever age humans have lived in, and for the continued good health of human discourse.
Article written by John Sargeant on Homo economicus’ Weblog
Follow @JPSargeant78
Multitasking and Manners
There is only the here and now, is the positive refrain for us to live in the present. Rather than being a prisoner of the past, or distracted with things yet to be, the idea is to give whatever you are doing your full attention. As such your focus is sharper, productivity increases, and your mental health better because multitasking even if done well is stressful.
There is perhaps a more important reason – consideration for those around you. That is the focus of the article by Daniel Gulati Multitasking’s Real Victims. My own experience was hosting a film night, specifically for a friend that had never seen an Al Pacino film. Those of us that had suggested “Scarface” was a good introduction. However for the whole of the film night the uninitiated Pacino friend was on his smartphone texting on social media.
During sexual intercourse, even with a hands free set, no one would dream of calling someone or dictating a Facebook update status. Why should that be different for social intercourse?
There is however a crucial difference regarding intended shared experiences and choosing to do something else. Those old days, when there was only one television in the house and the VCR remote control had a lead connected to the VCR, there really was no other option. Now living standards mean majority have not only several TVs, but devices which mean you can watch something else even while in the same room.
Which brings me to when The Hallowed Crown – Shakespeare’s Henry IV part one and two, and Henry V three were being dramatised by the BBC. In the household there was a difference of opinion what to watch, and it was the last day on iPlayer to watch part one. I explained this, and said I would watch on the iPad having really looked forward to the series yet too busy looking after my disabled brother to watch when live. This led to accusations of my being rude. Neither of us could be in different rooms; “physical disengagement” as suggested in the blog above. I was looking after my brother who was sleeping off a seizure so needed to be next door, and she wanted to watch the TV programme live in the comfort of the lounge.
It does come down to perspective and the situation. If you are at a meeting or at a party that is where your concentration should be, not hypnotised to the screen of your smart phone. Respect for the host and courtesy to those attending would be good manners. Multitasking is not just in the digital age; people read a newspaper while having the radio on; and I remember as a kid being ignored while parents were immersed in print media. What multi media does is allow even more multi tasking. New tablets/smart phones boast the ability to see different apps live – so you can see Facebook status updates while watching a youtube video, and getting a newsfeed from CNN. All from the same screen. As such you see this in the younger generation more.
Yet notifications mean you don’t have to keep watching. You can be told when something that you really want to keep an eye on happens. You could even give someone a heads up. “I’m trying to get something on eBay which will be a great Christmas present. I’m watching the bids so please excuse me if I attend to my phone when it goes off.” Context could be all the difference between an irate friend and one that now understands what is happening.
While writing this blog I received a notification from Twitter regarding my cousin’s theatre company @HotCoalsTheatre. “The first production will be #Trapped, a devised piece exploring being trapped by [your] own body.”
The key is not to be trapped by your multimedia multitasking equipment. They are great communication devices. Just don’t use them at the expense of the person right in front of you. Or enjoying what is happening beyond your finger tips. We do not get to live this life again.
UPDATE: seems topical. After posting Time just tweeted on Multitasking and being distracted in the digital age.
Follow On Blog: I share therefore I am [TED talk on consequences of being constantly connected]
Article written by John Sargeant on Homo economicus’ Weblog
Was it Twitter Wot Won it?
If the American Presidential election was decided by social media it would be a landslide:
On Twitter, Obama has 21.5m followers; Romney has 1.6m. On Facebook, Obama has 31.6m likes; Romney has just 11.6m. The list goes on – Obama’s YouTube channel has 254,000 subscribers, Romney, just 27,000; Obama’s Instagram feed has 1.5m followers, whereas Romney’s has only 68,000.
More on that can be found here.
In reality it will be a handful of swing states (marginals to us Brits) which will tip Romney or Obama via the electoral college into the White House. Though I have occasionally received breaking news via a Facebook status update:
… it’s worth remembering that not everyone is on social media. Recent research from the Pew Research Center points out that, while the number of Americans who regularly go to social media networks to find out their news has doubled since January, it is still only a regular news source for a relatively small number of people: just 17 per cent of the population.
As Talan puts it: “It’s like breakfast. You want to have it – it’s a really important meal – but it’s not the only meal.”
Also twitter is like preaching to the choir rather than converting infidels. Studies that looked at the influence of social media on voting need look at not just voting intention, but whether social media use meant more likely to vote, helped them change their mind, persuade others to vote, campaign for a particular candidate and how. If there was a scale included (not just yes or no) the data may enable us to see whether social media is more a communication tool or an influential opinion maker.
Like “It’s The Sun Wot Won It!” on the front page of the same newspaper in Britain when the Conservative Party narrowly retained power in 1992 claiming their support helped John Major overturn the opinion polls. Traditional media are still the main way we receive news – and whether it is a column in The Wall Street Journal or a video clip of Fox News we make use of Twitter or Facebook to share with others in the digital age.
Celebrity endorsement probably are less about giving a candidate new supporters, rather it is about creating enthusiastic supporters to definitely vote, get campaigning plus all the publicity and campaign finance that helps come polling day. The photo above of Katy Perry was tweeted (sent) to the 28 million people that follow her – that photo was retweeted (sent to others to see) by over 14,000 of them to those following them. So an audience beyond fans of Katy Perry could see that photo.
By the way if you would like to follow me on Twitter feel free @JPSargeant78
Article written by John Sargeant on Homo economicus’ Weblog
