Just look at yourself.
All fancy with your MySpace or Facebook page. Social networking. Gettin' all up in every one's grill like that.
It's like I don't even know you anymore.
What, you think you know it all? Is that it? You think you're better than me?
Well, lemme tell you something. You haven't truly reached the pinnacle of self-importance, inflated self-promotion or imagined "celebrity" until you can be sticking your business in every one's face all the time. ALL THE TIME.
Yeah. I know.
So while you quietly finish your "hungryman's" portion of humble pie. I'm gonna be over here droppin' some knowledge on you. Watch out now.
What are you doing?
Social journaling or "microblogging" is something that has gotten a lot of press in the past year. There are a number of services that allow you to chronicle everything you do, all day long, while you're doing it. This isn't Billy Q. Poindexter's blog, no, no. This is an easy way to chronicle and share the things you do, the way you feel, and all the other things in between that make up your life, with the people close to you. It's instant gratification, instant self-indulgence, instant celebrity, instantly YOU. Share your life stream, live your life but do it BIGGER.
Two of the most popular services are:
- Plurk is kind of geared toward the beginner. It's a really snazzy site that allows you to showcase the events that make up your life in deliciously digestible chunks. Low in fat, 5 calories per serving, yet chock full of goodness.
- Twitter is for the more experienced. It is a social networking and microblogging service utilising instant messaging, SMS or a web interface. Communicate and stay connected with friends, family, and co–workers through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?
Go ahead and check out this video, this video or this video to learn a little something about Plurker and Plurking.
Then watch this CommonCraft vid to learn more about Twittering and social journaling.
Uh-huh. See what I'm saying?
OK, now it's time to quit that mouth-breathing thing that you're doing and get in there and start Twittering (or Plurking as the case may be).
1. Set up a Plurk or Twitter account and start fortifying your celebrity.
2. Once you have your account set up, and are logged in, visit AiMN16Things.
3. Click the "follow" button (to become a follower) to show you have completed this Thing.
Blog Prompts
1. Which social journal did you choose? Why?
2. What is unique about the online journaling experience?
3. Can you see this having some application to school work or professional development?
4. What are some ways that these tools could be used for evil, instead of good?
