I also do not understand the lure of Twitter. Someone please explain the appeal because I am just not getting it. Maybe it’s because it has taken me this long to find blogging and I don’t jump on the latest trend but I also know myself and my tendencies. I don’t need to know what people are doing every few minutes, hourly or on a daily basis especially for celebrities and if I did, I know that would take me away from being present in my own life. I dare not allow myself to get hooked into the tweet world. It is too easy to fantasize that someone else’s life is more exciting and interesting than my own.
This is the human nature of the grass is always greener mentality,
and my own grass is pretty darn verdant.
I need to stay focused so I don’t miss what is under my own feet.
I don’t like to be tethered to technology or constantly available either.
I am notorious for not having my cell phone with me or if I do, there is no juice. It is not unusual for me to retrieve messages two weeks old which is proof if the message was that important they would have called my home. Mr. P. Martini called my friend who I was having a celebratory drink with to get a hold of me just to check in. What for? My desire not to be available 24/7 drives my family nuts at times but Mr. P. Martini is literally on call 24/7 for work so I figure he is the emergency backup.
I long for the day when there were no answering machines and if someone wanted to get a hold of you, they would *gasp* call back which has become an obsolete task and heaven forbid if your machine doesn’t pick up! People get peeved if they can’t leave a message. And what about call waiting? If you don’t answer ‘the beep’ (something I never do unless a child is out of the house) people tend not to understand you are trying not to be rude to whomever you are talking with and that they are not the priority at the moment. When that incoming call goes to a voice mail box then you have to retrieve it after you finish the original call. Perhaps technology is making more work for us with apologies we feel we have to make, rationales for being present with one person at a time and follow ups to return missed calls. I don’t like that.
Texting? Fuddgetaboutit. I think it gives people a perceived excuse that it’s acceptable not to make eye contact and not to interact with people standing right in front of them. What does this teach the younger generation? Most people will view a message coming in immediately and I feel this takes attention away from the conversation at hand which in my world is rude. Never have I been with someone who received a text message that has been an emergency. I am convinced all text messages can wait. They should be checked after you have excused yourself to move away from the table or in the ladies or men’s room. I am the only person I know who does not have texting and does not have it on my children’s phones and although I have offered it to college boy he is not interested. We if have something to say to eachother we call and talk and hear the love on the other end of the line. That, I like.
it’s good that your finding the balance with blogging and “real life”. as of late, I’ve been neglecting the blog world.
also, I’m with you on people being so darn attached to their phones. nothing is more upsetting then being out to dinner, or driving with a friend when they decide to chat away on their phone. it makes it seem as though they don’t appreciate time with me, or find it important.
Oh my gosh, I couldn’t have said it better myself! I agree with every single word you wrote.
I do, however, have texting on my phone. The only time I use it is when my daughter is in class, or working, needs me. I do not always have my phone on me (like you), so sometimes I miss my messages.
Sometimes I feel like I have to get online, just to keep up with readings and comments. Then I start feeling a little excited and guilty, if more than 24 hours pass, without checking in.
You are such a fantastic writer. Are you sure you are not a author? If your not, maybe you should consider writing a book! Have a great tomorrow.
XOXO
First off, how can I text unless I wear my readers 24/7?
Seriously! I cannot see well enough to text.
I am so with you on blogging. Never was a TV watcher and now I am constantly sneaking off to blog or read other’s.
because of this and that my business is computer related… my youngest asked in partial jest, “Do you love the computer more than me?”
Needless to say, I am more selective on when I go on since that question!
I call blogging, “My guilty pleasure!”
Twitter seems self absorbed and couldn’t imagine filling in people on my mundane life anymore than I already do with blogging!
Well, Miss Pink Martini – I think this is the first thing that we do not have in common. Don’t judge 😉 I am on twitter, but I am not faithful to it. I am a text person though. Now I don’t use it for any kind of convo with substance, but it is handy for those one word convos – i.e. what time do you want to meet?, etc. My PD cannot always talk on her phone during the day, but she can usually shoot me a quick text message. However, we talk for hours on end frequently!! I am not really a phone person, so the quickness of a text message is appealing to me. But you and I would for sure be phone buddies 😉 xoxo
Chloe – My pet peeve is also the people who talk too loud on their phones while walking around a store shopping. I thnk being ‘present’ is becoming a rare thing.
Ronda – Thank you for the very nice compliment. 🙂 I thought the phone had to be on for texting. No?
P2 – I’m with you. I can’t do anything without the cheaters so I can’t text. Too labor intensive. Maybe if I didn’t need them I’d feel differently. When I was president of the HS booster group, I wrote emails every night in response to people who needed answers to things and to send out blasts to the general population. This took me hours just about every night and I did hear some concerns from the peanut gallery that I spent more time on the computer than with the family and it was true but it was also my “Calgon, take me away” moment. 🙂
101 – If I had a PD to text with, I’m sure my perspective would entirely different. 🙂 I don’t think guys text much but I could be wrong. I know no text lingo and it would take me forever to spell everything out correctly. My perfectionist tendency probably wouldn’t let me abbriviate. I guess I am showing my age or fuddy-duddiness. 🙂 Is that a word?
I agree it’s hard to find balance, like now I’m suppose to be at the Gym today was might start day. Now it’s 9:30 too late to go don’t you think….tomorrow! Balance whats that!
Oh yes the phone does have to be on to receive a text. What I meant was I don’t always carry or have my phone with me all the time. When I’m at work, I leave it in my purse, and sometimes I leave it in my car. That is what I meant when I said I miss messages or voice mails sometimes. I do, however, have it with me when I know I need it, or have to be close by for someone to get a hold of me. Whew!
Have a great day!
XOXO
Okay, I am so with you on this. I have been planning my own post about twitter and facebook and I KNOW I will get tons of backlash. I think it is bordering on narcissistic behavior (look at me, look at me, this is what I want, what I’m doing…) WHO CARES????? My whole family is hooked on FB and they can’t bother to call or email a nice note, they have to post every message to me on FB for the whole world to see. No thank you. Like you, I have limited myself to my lowly blog and email…or my family will pay the price. Sorry for the rant…I may “quote” you when I get around to sending my message to my family to stop FBing me:-) Whew… I knew you were a smart lady:-) xoxoxox