I went to bed feeling like I’d been at a funeral. (Or an awkward 30th high school reunion.)
Still, it was great to see old faces… all those friends who came out of the woodwork to chat on Facebook–some that I haven’t seen or spoken to in decades.
Did democracy just die?
Did you feel it too?
Thank God for Twitter!
Many of us were able to cut the pain with laughter.
But even the snark evaporated as the agonizing hour passed, and the Twitterers fell asleep.
“Wait,” I typed, “He’ll bring it home.”
But he didn’t.
He still has time.
I woke feeling differently.
Not about Obama or Romney, but about us.
About the election.
Maybe about democracy?
Forget t.v. ratings, but if Obama had been the clear winner, my Republican voting friends who came across the aisle to talk to me on Facebook would be discouraged; and those of us who support the Democratic choice, would lose what little edge we still have.
If nothing else, that debacle made us desperate for “human” contact–of any party.
The absence of charismatic leadership or at least political entertainment forced us to rely on each other. And Big Bird.
(Can you believe he combined Big Bird and Lehrer in one sentence? Or that he gave the same schoolgirl, “I like you,” to something as considerable as Green Power?)
Honestly, these debates don’t mean much to me and not because I’ve “given up on politics,” but because I know the difference. I know the taste of pure water.
And it’s not Obama.
And it’s certainly not Mitt Romney.
(I couldn’t follow either of them, and I have a college degree.)
Though the jaded say there’s no difference between the parties or their candidates, those who struggle know that’s not true. And if you’re too comfortable to feel the difference, ask your friends around the world… especially in the places where humanity is really hurting.
Maybe this debate wasn’t such a disaster after all, or maybe it was the disaster we needed.
Kelly Salasin, the day after, October 4, 2012
(And may both candidates refrain from using any further anecdotes about that “woman” they met in… and hey, if you are that “woman,” please stop talking to them.)
This quote from author/speaker/teacher Marianne Williamson sums up the greater meaning of the social media explosion around the world for me~ “It is not only our interconnectedness technologically that promises to shift the world we live in, but our interconnectedness humanly and spiritually.”
Erik Qualman, the author of “Socialnomics,” shares a statistic that points to the triumphant human need for “belonging”: Social Media has overtaken porn as the #1 activity on the Web.
For those doubting the importance of this connection, he also adds, “We don’t have a choice on whether we DO social media, the question is how well we DO it.”
Aren’t Facebook and Twitter the same kind of thing?
It’s true that Facebook & Twitter ARE both forms of “social media,” but they are used quite differently for different purposes.
10 distinctions between Twitter and Facebook
1. You can only use up to 140 characters on Twitter for each post.
2. You don’t have “friends,” you have “followers.”
3. You can generally “follow” anyone you want without approval.
4. Twitter users can check out live conversations on ANY topic by using the search feature.
5. Twitter users can create their own topics of conversation by using a “hashtag” at the end of each post.
eg. On Tuesday mornings I sometimes participate in an informal poetry group by searching the hashtag “#poettues“ and then using that same hashtag at the end of each of my responding posts. In this way, the participants posts are grouped together. (FYI: Tuesday morning’s poetry conversation is moderated by a very friendly poet at Writers Digest–and everyone is welcome–see #10 below.) Other conversations may occur spontaneously or as scheduled events on Twitter. I once participated in an “#ideaparty” where folks who studied with author/presenter Barbara Sher’s “Wishcraft” helped those of us in need with all kinds of ideas and connections.
6. While Facebook can be experienced as an ongoing friends & family reunion, Twitter is more like stopping in at a lively cafe, filled with familiar and new faces–talking about new and familiar topics.
7. I primarily use Facebook for more personal connections though I do share “my work” and I do “network” with my Facebook “friends”–for personal and business needs–even attracting clients.
The vibrant learning community of Twitter (Canaletto II/visipix.com)
8. Twitter has been a place of networking too–but more with colleagues than with friends and family. It’s also been a tremendous place of learningfor me with the latest news from individuals and organizations; and with the latest information– and leads–in each of my areas of interest–from parenting to publishing, and everything in between.
eg. This week, I noticed great tidbits of information (and links) on the topic of social media for authors. Each of these posts had the same hashtag: “#bea.” I discovered that #bea stood for BookExpo America so I did a Twitter “search” with that hashtag and followed hundreds of live Tweets from the event in New York City. From there I was able to add interesting publishers, agents and writers to my list of follows so that I can keep abreast of their work in the future. Additionally, I discovered a related hashtag of “#armchairBEA” which was made up of people like me who couldn’t be at BookExpo America in person, but who wanted to follow and participate in all it had to offer. You probably have a sense already of how quickly learning and networking becomes exponential on Twitter.
A seat for all on Twitter (Steen/visipix.com)
9. Because Twitter has a cafe feeling about it, there’s little if any social responsibility to “show up” or “respond” to others. Many people have hundreds, if not thousands of followers, so expecting a personal response is far fetched.
That said, I have developed treasured friendships on Twitterand have had enjoyed exchanges with well-known authors and the like–which brings me to that which I love most about it:
10. On Twitter, everyone has a seat at the table. And those who come with the biggest purses (of information and love)–are very, very generous.
Kelly Salasin 
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