I loved Twitter in the beginning. I staffed the whole Writer’s Conference by asking, “Who’s your favorite poet, screenwriter, nonfiction guru, etc.”. Most of my writerly besties were found and cultivated there.
I turned away when the orange millionaire shifted the narrative to hate and lies. I deleted it in June. I was afraid I’d feel lost and unheard. But-It was freeing to control what word worms make their way to my brain. I’m thriving like the old days now on Substack.
You might as well be a megaphone for my thoughts, Lisa. I am saddened to see the demise of Twitter and what it's become in turn. I am most likely going to pull out before the year is up.... just now with my book recently published the contacts remain somewhat valuable at this time. I also question the need for social media in my life... what am I expecting from it and what does it give me and honestly do I care. I don't have a ton of followers, not that it ever mattered but I do, like you, have a bunch of very interesting, decent crestives. There is Blue sky but invite only. I don't know why that annoys me, somewhat elitist shit but it does. Maybe I'll go back to my writing pad for longer periods and let social carry on without me x
I find what’s happened with Twitter both infuriating and freeing. In some ways, I wish all social media would disappear, because I (like everyone?) can’t stay away and have no willpower on my own. But now I rarely check Twitter because I have way less FOMO than I had before in the good ol’ pre-Musk days (even though it was still full of toxic garbage). So I think that’s a good thing.
But I do find myself now having thoughts or funny little anecdotes and thinking, where do I post this now/this would make a good tweet! Which in itself is kind of problematic, I suppose, and reflects this need we have to share everything online. I think what I find most confusing is it feels like half of Twitter has flown the coop, and the other half are still at it and having fun. I want it to either totally disappear, or be where everyone is... I don’t like this weird in between space where I barely check it, but it’s still there.
Clearly, your post here has brought up some deep Twitter feelings I didn’t know I had 😂.
Lisa, your post has reinforced my own thoughts about X. It's a crying shame, I used to love that platform. Now it's just too much of a rich-person's play machine. And I'm not playing their game.
Agree so much with this -- loved the goofy stuff like folks live tweeting Downton Abbey. All the writers and thinkers and artists I could connect with! All the environmentalists who share my vocation. RIP indeed.
Thank you for this! While I was never on twitter, I feel that pull of wondering where will I find my people? I'm hoping it's here on Substack and I will keep telling myself, when I get scared to write or scared to publish or scared to comment and make a fool of myself, "Jocelyn, this world is for joy."
I was never a big Twitter-er. I would check in from time to time, but it does seem so Wild West now. It’s causing so much damage and angering so many people who are getting off on vitriol. It’s happening to people close to me. Very sad. So unhealthy! So sad that it once brought joy to so many artistic minded people. A strange and sad nostalgia. Reading your post, though has put this song in my head https://spotify.link/eMZoLso4JDb
It felt good to delete it, if that helps. I took some screenshots of some of my favorite moments and exchanges. Small victory: we're still calling it Twitter as we delete it! HAHAHAHA! I'll take whatever I can get these days.
It feels so hard to leave, but it feels so pointless to still be there. The X app icon is an affront to my senses on my phone. Maybe that is a good way to begin the exit, deleting the app from the phone.
I loved Twitter in the beginning. I staffed the whole Writer’s Conference by asking, “Who’s your favorite poet, screenwriter, nonfiction guru, etc.”. Most of my writerly besties were found and cultivated there.
I turned away when the orange millionaire shifted the narrative to hate and lies. I deleted it in June. I was afraid I’d feel lost and unheard. But-It was freeing to control what word worms make their way to my brain. I’m thriving like the old days now on Substack.
Find your new tribe here, and fuck that bird!
There was a time when Twitter was a treasure trove, I kept discovering and following more writers! More poets! More gardeners! More CATS!
It was a sliver of joy. The format worked for me. I'm not sure where I'll go next. If I go anywhere at all.?
You might as well be a megaphone for my thoughts, Lisa. I am saddened to see the demise of Twitter and what it's become in turn. I am most likely going to pull out before the year is up.... just now with my book recently published the contacts remain somewhat valuable at this time. I also question the need for social media in my life... what am I expecting from it and what does it give me and honestly do I care. I don't have a ton of followers, not that it ever mattered but I do, like you, have a bunch of very interesting, decent crestives. There is Blue sky but invite only. I don't know why that annoys me, somewhat elitist shit but it does. Maybe I'll go back to my writing pad for longer periods and let social carry on without me x
I find what’s happened with Twitter both infuriating and freeing. In some ways, I wish all social media would disappear, because I (like everyone?) can’t stay away and have no willpower on my own. But now I rarely check Twitter because I have way less FOMO than I had before in the good ol’ pre-Musk days (even though it was still full of toxic garbage). So I think that’s a good thing.
But I do find myself now having thoughts or funny little anecdotes and thinking, where do I post this now/this would make a good tweet! Which in itself is kind of problematic, I suppose, and reflects this need we have to share everything online. I think what I find most confusing is it feels like half of Twitter has flown the coop, and the other half are still at it and having fun. I want it to either totally disappear, or be where everyone is... I don’t like this weird in between space where I barely check it, but it’s still there.
Clearly, your post here has brought up some deep Twitter feelings I didn’t know I had 😂.
TLDR: I can relate!
Lisa, your post has reinforced my own thoughts about X. It's a crying shame, I used to love that platform. Now it's just too much of a rich-person's play machine. And I'm not playing their game.
Oh I agree with all of this. It’s not the place it used to be and there isn’t another similar platform yet.
this was an epic post, thanks for this!
Funny but true!
Agree so much with this -- loved the goofy stuff like folks live tweeting Downton Abbey. All the writers and thinkers and artists I could connect with! All the environmentalists who share my vocation. RIP indeed.
Thank you for this! While I was never on twitter, I feel that pull of wondering where will I find my people? I'm hoping it's here on Substack and I will keep telling myself, when I get scared to write or scared to publish or scared to comment and make a fool of myself, "Jocelyn, this world is for joy."
I was never a big Twitter-er. I would check in from time to time, but it does seem so Wild West now. It’s causing so much damage and angering so many people who are getting off on vitriol. It’s happening to people close to me. Very sad. So unhealthy! So sad that it once brought joy to so many artistic minded people. A strange and sad nostalgia. Reading your post, though has put this song in my head https://spotify.link/eMZoLso4JDb
Fully agreed to what you said in your article. I am also missing Twitter bird a lot! Now there's no fun and learning onX, nonsense, idiot!!
I definitely feel the same about Twitter. Now all the writing community that was on there is so splintered.
It felt good to delete it, if that helps. I took some screenshots of some of my favorite moments and exchanges. Small victory: we're still calling it Twitter as we delete it! HAHAHAHA! I'll take whatever I can get these days.
I'm following Sari's advice too.
It feels so hard to leave, but it feels so pointless to still be there. The X app icon is an affront to my senses on my phone. Maybe that is a good way to begin the exit, deleting the app from the phone.