I know that advertising and public relations folks are really focusing on these interactive social media, because I’ve seen this happen in several professional environments in which I circulate. But for the average working stiff many of these things are major time sinkholes.
All my colleagues have played with twitter, for example, likewise with facebook–and abandoned them almost immediately because they provide capabilities that we just aren’t that interested in using or exploiting, and–more importantly–our clients don’t use (or rather, some of them MIS-use). One of my clients signed up on facebook, and suddenly I’m inundated with details about his on-line game playing avatars, and his requests for assistance in beating down space creatures. Does he enjoy it? Yes. Do I need to know about this? No.
Sure, I could find a way to control that information flow–but that’s yet another time investment and effort that I don’t really need right now.
There’s a lot of hype being generated about the increased connectivity that results from the use of social media, but to me this hype tends to emphasize a form of social ADD, in which constant communication is the ideal, and isolated thinking time is ignored. In addition, I’ve found that it is difficult to control external inputs when one’s activities are taking place within the social media bubble; I get slammed with other people’s info whether I want it or not, and I’m already having difficulty performing triage on the overwhelming amounts of info coming in over the transom as it is. Not to mention the expectations that are raised in others when participating in all
this: I sent you a facebook invite, are you ignoring me?
Why…er…yes, yes I am. Frankly I’m not that interested in your mood right now, thank you very much.
I’m not someone who is shy about using new methods and technologies, mind you. But, to put it in perspective, neither am I a Crackberry addict either, so that should tell you something. I remember a client once falling into confusion when I refused to provide my cell phone number; how will I reach you, he asked. I have an office, I replied, with a phone and an answering machine. I know it’s old fashioned, I added, but—I DON’T RUN AN AMBULANCE SERVICE. I mean, what kind of architectural emergency can you have, after all. OMFG, I CAN’T DECIDE WHAT KIND OF TOILET TO BUY! AND THE PAINT–SHOULD IT BE OXIDE WHITE, OR SWISS COFFEE??? I HAVE TO KNOW RIGHT AWAY!
Of course, the moment teenagers become my clients, my opinions may change. What do I know.
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