I just experienced a week of no blogging, with a near-total break from internet and my regular forms of online communication. And, while the time off was relaxing and replenishing in many ways, I’ve discovered that I’ve got to blog. This started as a hobby but has become an outlet, without which I feel voiceless and pretty cranky.
I started this blog because of my growing interest in social media and online networking. Also, blogs are great. You can write about any topic that you know something about - you can even plot to take over the world. (I know, you’re thinking, ‘What sick, twisted individual would ever attempt that,’ but I’VE SEEN IT DONE.)
Anyway, now that I’ve moved through the 6 stages of grief (well, denial and crankiness, it’s been awhile since AP Psych), I’ve compiled a list of 10 Signs that You’re a Die-Hard Social Media User. There are really only 8, I never made it to any of the AP Maths.
- You sign in to Twitter and see that someone is engaging in a pickle relish war. Instead of wondering why the heck she is writing about this (possibly still all relished-up), you think it is fantastic and immediately @ them, asking for the outcome.
- A friend from college leaves you a voice mail, and you respond with a Facebook wall post.
- Logging into your Google Reader is like fresh air after being squashed in a closet for 4 hours, under an old wedding dress and a pile of sheets. (Anyone who successfully played hide-and-go-seek as a child understands this comparison.)
- You start to break down your work emails into short, accessible paragraphs using the word “you” whenever possible to engage the reader. You eliminate every unnecessary phrase, and become impatient with the word “however.”
- You track your followers, site views, RSS subscribers, connections, friends, fans, etc. for more than one site. (ex. Facebook, Plurk, LinkedIn) If there is a god, and he or she is kind to you, you will only do this briefly.
- You’ve gained confidence in your writing ability. (Although if you’re a good writer/blogger, you keep checking out other people’s blogs to learn more.)
- You network, register your social identity or your blog on multiple sites, and never hesitate to comment when you can contribute something useful.
- You come back from vacation, and find yourself sitting on your balcony with your tomato plants, writing a blog post before you’ve unpacked.
Speaking of which, I’ve got to go unpack. Glad to be back, and please do remember to surrender all conquered villages and towns to your local Leanne Heller Center for Evil Blogs and Aspiring World-Conquerors.
You can tell it’s one of mine because it says USPS on the front of it. What, you say? That’s the post office. That’s right. That’s just what we WANT you to think.
