Twitter: Are we vain obsessed people?

There has been an article in the Daily Mail recently saying that Twitter is “creating a vain generation of self-obsessed people with child-like need for feedback”.

I both agree and disagree with that.  There are so many different types of people on Twitter.  Businesses looking for followers which could lead to profit, people sending thousands of link tweets trying to do the same, there are also the type that is mentioned in the article, looking for followers, the “automatic follow back” people.

Then, there are us.  The regular people who joined, either for fun or like me, people that had an interest and wanted to gain more information and meet like minded people.  The people who don’t join for a follow, and are always surprised that what you say has interested someone.

I joined Twitter because I love Formula One.  I figured that by joining I would get more info, unknown facts and gain more of an insight in what I loved.  I never intended to actually tweet.

Gradually I have started to follow people and got followers back, all related to what I am interested in or who have something interesting to say.  I don’t look for followers, I don’t think anything I have to say is that interesting.

I don’t profess to say anything monumental or massively intelligent.  But neither do I tell you what I had for breakfast.  In fact thoughts generally go straight from my head to Twitter unfiltered, which is sometimes probably a bad thing ;)

What I have gained from Twitter is, aside from the info and additions to my interests that I wanted, is interesting conversations with people I have met, I have talked to people I never would have before and contrary to what you hear about Twitter, there are no celebrities on my following list.

Twitter, like anything else is what you make it.  You can follow celebs, tweet inane things about what you had for breakfast and follow 1000 people in the hope of a follow or you can do what the regular person does.  Follow people connected with your chosen interest, get information, ideas and points of view you hadn’t even considered, and talk to like minded people, be it about your chosen interest, or just shooting the breeze.

So to those with the holier than thou attitude who dismiss Twitter and all people who tweet, consider this, maybe you just don’t follow the right people. I’m Vicky_Frank, and if you don’t like what I have to say, one of the best things about Twitter, unfollow!

Have a Little Dignity

Today, those, my thoughts are with Amy Winehouse, and the tragedy that has occurred in Oslo.

Amy died today from apparently a drugs overdose, which sadly is not surprising.  Her death is a tragedy, but it should not overshadow, although I bet the tabloids and “celeb” sites and followers will talk about it more, the unbelievable news  of what happened in Oslo.  One famous person dying should not overshadow the death of 91.

The thought that made me write this blog today however is this.  Death is not funny.  You can make jokes about anything, and I for one am a fan of the more sarcastic humour.  I love the jokes that sometimes should not be made but are funny, but I would never joke about, or laugh at, a joke about someone’s death.

Someone, somewhere is a relative, a loved one, a friend of the person you are joking about.  It is  bad enough that they have to suffer the person’s death, without having to experience crass, distasteful and horrible jokes and jibes about the death.

Coming from someone who has lost people dear to me, the grief that you go through is horrible.  Hearing someone joke about your loved one, whatever they were, is beyond cruel.  Compassion costs nothing.  People should have a bit more dignity and humanity.