Happy Memorial Day - What Social Media Do You Utilize, And What Are the Best and Worst Things About it
Mates,
As anyone who has seem me post knows, I am Fred Flintstone. I know as much about computers as I do about Mandarin Chinese. Mgoblog is as much social media as I 'do'. I don't FB, I don't do Insta, no Kik, or any of a dozen other platforms (not even MySpace!). I realize that in this day and age I am a true minority and I haven't done much to find out about other platforms.
So my question is this: What social media platforms do you use at least once in a while, and what are the best and worst features of those platforms. In other words, what do you like best about them and what bothers you about them.
Happy Memorial Day. I hope you have had an enjoyable long weekend.
XM
Best: Ehhh
Worst: All of it
Lmao. Seconded. Twitter is the worst.
so, why do you guys use it?
Twitter is what you make of it. Follow the right people that break the news about things you’re interested in and you can have a nice experience.
If you find yourself arguing with people, you’re twittering wrong.
That's for damn sure!
Three nights ago I read a link---with video--- about a Texas congresswoman who had very recently held a Republican rally and railed on and on about COVID-19 being a "Dem Hoax", and at the end of her speech called on everyone on stage to remove their protective masks and hug one another.
I made the mistake of engaging in that political discussion; turns out the party who engaged me and a few others in an argument was later that night proven to be a bot. When I clicked on to the "discussion" Saturday morning, Twitter had deleted 'her' account as one of the many many thousands that had been purged overnight when an investigation had exposed massive "bot" invasion on Twitter.
Agreed. I use it for sports and smart people posting interesting thoughts and articles. Of course a lot of the comments are cesspools. I learned to stay away from that mostly. No point arguing with morons. Just yelling back and forth at each other for no reason.
I love twitter. As a science teacher it gets you quick and easy access to scientists as well as many of the best teachers in the world. You can learn about cognitive science, antiracism, physical chemistry, astrophysics, and so much more. Plus you get to see wildly creative lessons and experiments.
Originally, for quick access to news, and here's the key, succinctly and in one place. Still use it for that reason, but now there's a ton of garbage that comes with it. The second something else viable comes along, I'm done with Twitter.
Don’t use any social media. I suppose that makes me something according to this board.. Not sure what.
it makes us alike. except i don't want those two buck teeth you're showing.
Happy Memorial Day too!
I mainly use Facebook as my main social media platform. I don't really post all that often, I more so just 'like' what I see.
(PS but you know what'll be awesome? Showing up to your crushes' house one day pulling a cattle trailer, going up to her and saying, 'Hey there! I brought you a cow!)
most gals won't want a cow, but you find the right one and, well, that could be a heck of a match.
I dont have one. I search what's trending here and there for entertainment. Not a great excuse, but it can be a fun source of a sort of 'niche news' for lack of a better term.
Edit: fuck I replied to the wrong comment of yours xtra. Still going to finish my case of beer, though.
if the 'one' you don't have is a cow then you are talking to the right mgouser. if you don't have a gal then i might not be much use to you but perhaps others are.
I laughed too hard at this.
I tried to respond to your why do you have [Twitter] comment.
You are not alone XM. I do not have a single social media platform. I feel pretty solid with computers even as an old bird...but have zero interest in sharing my toilet paper stash, when I last had a BM, or if my kids are snowflakes in any skillset...working in a middle school the last thing I need is students aware of my social life through media. Though honestly it wouldn't be very entertaining.
well when toilet paper became a thing that one topic you mention got a bit more important....
i am reminded of my old school mate, mike leach (ytml), who had a meme recently: i remember when there was so much toilet paper we used to fling it in the trees of our enemies.
haaa....great point, and Mike Leach...I can only imagine a conversation with that dude. He seems incredibly intelligent and unfiltered. I like it. And yeah that was a classic statement and so true. TP storms were pretty common growing up.
Instagram.
Pros: Love the minimalism. Just pictures and comments. All the beautiful women you could ever want to see. Underrated travel resource. You can look up hotels and venues you may want to visit. None of the terrible trashiness of Facebook.
Cons: None of the hilarious trashiness of Facebook.
Best: find inspiration for tons of cool trips, activities, foods, purchases; see my friends who live other places living their best lives
Worst: FOMO
tai, how are you doing these days? i know there was some real apprehension when this all started. hoping you are coping much better.
My last two months have been...interesting. Terrible depression intermixed with huge opportunities/stress at work, new meds, and too much weed (you win, it nearly killed me). All leading to my first manic episode ever, where I tried to accomplish every major life goal (still hoping to start my own business after I have a chance to recuperate). Ended up taken in handcuffs (for my own safety) to the hospital and admitted against my will for 12 days. Got out 3 weeks ago...
Just starting to get back to work part time. I feel much better than I did in March, all things considered. Wife and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary. We were supposed to be in Cabo right now, but ended up hiking 30 miles over last three days across San Diego County and Joshua Tree. Life is good and I feel blessed.
Hope you and everyone else had a great Memorial weekend and are keeping safe and healthy.
aw man, i didn't know the road had been that tough. glad you are on the comeback trail. blessings to you and congrats on your 3rd anniv.
Appreciate it kindly. I’m very grateful to have such a supportive network of family, friends, and mgostrangers. When I was in the throes of my psychotic break, I made a post on here (that was thankfully taken down). But a few people contacted my wife when she was terrified, and it really meant a lot to her. This blog is a special place.
The FOMO thing is interesting. Instagram is the worst for this reason but not because the FOMO is warranted but because Instagram is nothing but a highlight reel of people's lives and it sucks. Everyone posts their best moments so it makes it seem like you aren't doing anything with your life even though no one posts about their shitty, lazy, or just plain uneventful days. I don't know a fix for this phenomenon, but certainly wish it wasn't the case.
Instagram was particularly unhelpful for me during med school because I got to see the stories of all my classmates doing fun things around Detroit or taking vacations while I was too stressed out with classes and then rotations to have any fun. Made me feel like I was wasting away my 20s.
Now, after having moved to SoCal, quitting my residency, and finding a great new career path in medical education, I flex on all my former classmates hard. 40 hour work week with half day Fridays gives me plenty of time to live it up. Sailing, hiking, dank Mexican food, living the good life. But I still find a way to lose sight of the blessings way too often, and it’s partially because of social media tbh...
Re: not posting about shitty days. Shameful moment, but I actually went on Instagram live from the ED while I was having my manic episode. I’ve always been a performer and I thought it would be cool to channel my saxophone days along with my inner Joseph Beuys (German performance artist who I took a 1 credit seminar about at UofM) to document my descent into mania to the world.
wishing you well.
we lived in SD for a few years before coming back home and i will say this: if forced to go back to cal, that'd be the place i'd go. lots to do and enjoy. i hope it is good for you mind and body.
I am becoming more and more convinced that social media is a society dividing weapon of mass destruction.
I am sure part of it is getting old but...
Considering the Russians have literally used Facebook to do this, I think you’re right.
Newly released Facebook ads revealed Wednesday show that two Russian-linked Facebook groups organized opposing protests last year at the same time outside an Islamic center in Houston.
I find Instagram extremely apolitical. I can honestly say Ive never seen a political fight on there.
If you're looking for a fight you'll find it, but I dont ever run into it there.
Originally I joined Twitter for work.
But I'm just about done with it now.
You can't fool us, Vlady, you and your army of bots influencing the world...
I'm with you XM - no social media of any kind (outside of Linked In). It doesn't feel like I'm missing out either.
Happy Memorial Day to you and all MGoBloggers.
I was on facebook for a while because people in my social circle would talk about something they saw one of the group posted. This happened one to many times, so I jointed and friended them all. Then later, I realised that they enjoyed talking about what they posted, so I began using it less. Then, one of my coworkers spent their entire lunch bashing her husband. That night she posted about how much she loved her husband and soulmate. It broke me of social media for a long time.
FB:
- pros: able to stay in touch with family and friends, sometimes funny, sometimes informative
- cons: annoying douchebaggery from same said friends/family members, ads, Mark Zuckerberg's pursuit to become Satan's dream date
LI: pro's:
- pros: able to stay in touch with professional colleagues and their progress/movements, sometimes learn interesting/relevant items related to business
- cons: getting friend requests by people pretending to know me who just want to sell, platform has devalued its core offering in an attempt to monetize
NextDoor:
- pros: can find some great deals with folks selling stuff (e.g. "grand piano in good shape, free if you can come and get it"), learn about local businesses worth checking out (restaurants etc), helps people find their lost kittens
- cons: by far the WORST regular interaction among humans I've witnessed when it strays into anything beyond the items listed in the pros section above (e.g. "COVID-19 has killed more people than Vietnam"; "there were 7 people at Kroger and only 6 had approve face masks!!!"; "Why are the police ticketing people for speeding in school zones?!" etc.). It makes me wonder how they have managed to acquire/earn enough money to have reliable housing and a computer because they seem to be devoid of any trace of common sense.
If every social media platform disappeared tomorrow i would have two questions.
The world would be .....?
I would be ......?
i am going with smarter and happier
Only use LinkedIn (work related)
best: expanding your business network
worse: its social media, the “look at me”’post are too much.
I'm shocked at the amount of FB-like and Twitter-like garbage on LinkedIn these days. Don't people know that LI is where your professional history is? ... and they are making the same "fuck you" comments for employers to easily see a la as in here?! SMH.
Right, i am dumbfounded by the comments section or insert group X takes this stand and if you don’t agree you are the problem post.
my favorite is the short video clip of some yahoo driving his Rolls posting about his success, which has humbled them.
I’m trying to force myself to use LinkedIn more often, and my company bought a LinkedIn Learning subscription.
Unfortunately I hate them both.
I use Twitter the most these days. I use it as a news source and don’t get entrenched in the drama too much.
I also use Facebook and Snapchat, but much less so.
I’ve said it on here before. Facebook was a blast when it first started and for about 4-5 years after. Now it’s trash and I have logged on for almost a year.
And the pretty girls on Instagram?. They only look like that on the internet.
I limit myself mostly to MGoBlog, but I do still have an account on a very small Detroit Tigers forum and also occasionally still post on another U of M forum (I had been a mod there for several years but I tired of that because we found it impossible to keep the riffraff out).
I also have a Twitter account; I go on a "posting frenzy" every once in a while but usually regret it, mostly I just read and retweet. Twitter can be both enlightening and a cesspool; mostly though, it's a steaming cesspool.
I’m “on” Facebook and Instagram. On Facebook, I Haven’t posted anything personal in over 3 years. I mainly like pictures of my friends kids and occasional humorous memes. I’ll still check it 4-5 times a week.
On Instagram mainly because my kids elementary school posts a lot of pics there. I otherwise find Instagram to be a den of narcissists and self conscious millennials and gen z’s. I’m just glad I grew up before this was the norm. It’s gotta be incredibly difficult for people to be on Instagram and not get depressed by it.
Twitter is pretty funny, and pretty racist to people of every skin color which is sad to see to say the very least. Embarrassing that people are still that ignorant. 99% of the stuff said on there would never be said in real life face to face, Twitter takes away all human decency, same with youtube
None. I got off facebook a few years ago as it was in the best interest of my marriage, and haven't really missed it. Closest I come to twitter is when somebody posts a recruits/players/coaches/analyst tweet on here and I read it.
I have a Flickr account for photography, does that count?
I've been on FB since the days of having to have a .edu email to join and then your school's group verifies you.
It was great for collaborating and such.
Since they opened it up to the masses, it's turned to rubbish. I post maybe once a month now.
I fire up the old C64 and connect to a BBS with my 1200 baud rate modem.
I find Twitter surprisingly useful for physicians and scientists. More for the scientists, there is sometimes an overwhelming number of "feelings" posts from the medical side. All valid, but gets a bit too much when everyone is going through the same thing.
Facebook: I use it a lot. I have friends all over the country and that's how we communicate. We're all creative ad types so that's where I get my witty banter fix that I used to get working in an ad agency.
Twitter: I've grown to hate it but I still use it. The best part is, I've discovered a few comedians that I really like. And I follow sports to a certain extent, mostly Michigan.
That's it. I've come to dislike social media and I would encourage you to continue distancing if your life is happy without it. For me, the worst part is, it's just entertaining enough to distract me from doing real things. I get sucked down the rabbit hole or caught up in some argument or discussion that won't change anything, and all it is, is a major time suck.