Still Alive

Every now and again I’m like, oh right I have a blog. Like when you’re watching Twitter implode and wondering whether or not it’s worth caring about and if an alternative should be considered. That equals: Oh right, I have a blog.

So, Twitter. These days, or the the last several years really, Twitter is the place I go if I’m in a pretty good mood and want to do something about that. That’s what it feels like anyway. I expect that’s by design or perhaps simply the natural progression of any collection of humans. Nothing fuels engagement like outrage. And I’m inclined to think that’s just the way that people work. They naturally begin to coalesce into these groups and, well George Carlin said it best when it comes to groups:

People are wonderful. I love individuals. I hate groups of people. I hate a group of people with a ‘common purpose’. ‘Cause pretty soon they have little hats. And armbands. And fight songs. And a list of people they’re going to visit at 3am. So, I dislike and despise groups of people but I love individuals. Every person you look at; you can see the universe in their eyes, if you’re really looking.

– George Carlin

There are still times where Twitter doesn’t really have an equal. Live events and so forth like sports, breaking news stories, Apple announcements, awards ceremonies (if that’s your thing). Otherwise, not a whole lot. It was way better back in the day when it was just a bunch of nerds. I’m having an old man yells at cloud moment.

I’ve given Mastodon a try hoping it might recapture some of what made Twitter so much fun in the early days. Several times in fact, but I’m just not feeling it. Maybe that’s the the thing they need to push them into the mainstream. My skepticism that is. I think I also said similar things about iPods, iPhone, reality TV… Trump. Actually I had my doubts about Twitter too, way back in 2007.

Anyway, so Twitter is a slow motion car crash right now and we’ll see where that all winds up. Meanwhile the universe spins on.