Social Media / Depth v Breadth

[mlerules]

A friend posited recently that these days (vs a couple decades back when LJ was really a thing) "everyone is just so much more stressed than we all were back then, that taking the time for contemplative connection is more difficult."

This makes me ponder questions of depth v breadth of connections. FB reaches SO many folks, but at what cost? Fewer folks frequent DW/LJ (I conflate 'em, even though it's been ages since DW successfully mirrored to my LJ...sigh), but if'n they read through...they're getting more of me...for whatever that's worth. ;-P

I used to have a strict Do Not Delete policy, preferring to get down all my thoughts and see the progression of shifting thoughts and (more refined) ideas, testing theories, trying to hone down to the truth(s) of the matter. That's what made it journaling (and somehow more appealing), rather than blogging, which would be more polished, having taken the time and thought and energy to edit my words into (more? fully?) coherent ideas. (Laziness?? Hmm, best not to diss myself, my "process" too much.

Perhaps (leaning towards the idea that) it's better (more useful, more what I need and want) to dwell deeply, regardless of who all follows along. *shrug* Especially if'n I spent more time on this and less on ... whatever FB is...it's unmanageable.

I never figured out how to use Twitter, and only had an account (deleted when it got X'tted) because my Dear Friend Jay wanted to tag me in something there years ago. (Which won't be happening again.) It didn't make sense to me, even as I know many got lots outta it.

I've got a friend who's never figured out how to make IG work for him. I joined simply b'c 2 sib-spawn (and my step-sis and her hubby) were on it, and it was a good, nice way to keep in touch with them). I've kept the #s down to a dull roar, so've been able to scroll through it in the entirety daily until the past weekplus. It's just too much now, with "suggested" posts/groups instead of just what I've asked for (my friends). It's still over 1/3 cute corgis, but it might be too much of a time/energy drag these days instead of a source of mellowness/happiness/time to focus on little not too important tbings while getting away from the news.

Hmm, at least I post more on FB than I read. Or do I? Not so sure 'bout this nowadays, even if'n it was once so...

I guess I also want to think more about how I spend my time and energy...plumbing depths or wandering through scattershot snippets. (More to come...perhaps.)

Comments

[solcita]

I definitely get these thinky thoughts. I am really unhappy on FB lately but there are so many people there that I don't have anywhere else and I don't want to lose them.

At the same time, I miss long-form but my attention span is so widely-scattered that I just...forget to come here. And then when I sit down to write, it feels like I don't know what the point is anymore. UGH.

[mlerules]

The recent SoCal firestorm reminded me that FB remains a relatively simple - if exceptionally annoying way - to check in on a mess of folks without bugging them by phone during a trying time.

Yeah, the proliferation of social media means having to bounce around rather than having a central place to see peeps' posts. I do hope things slow down enough at some point soon so you can find/make time to long-form write again at some point. *hugs*

[stacymckenna]

The only thing that makes FB tolerable is the Feeds>Friends option to limit things to chrono intentional content rather than algo suggested malarkey. And I never managed to see the benefit of Twitter/Instagram/Tumblr... Nothing seemed to actually encourage conversation like LJ. And yet when DW became an option the interface was off *just enough* to deter me... But the biggest barrier, as solcita says, is the critical mass of users.

[mlerules]

Hmm, must needs look into the Feeds>Friends option, as it sounds useful. I'm considering creating a Discord channel (or whatever they're called) as another option. As you can see from the lapse between your comment and my response, DW's laptop-only interface is less than idea. Or mebbe I need to back away from feeling like the only/right way to go is "instant-response" mode. Discord's accessible by cell, too.

[stacymckenna]

I am reading/writing Dreamwidth via my phone browser - dedicated app not required. ;) I do the same for FB, because fuck that resource hogging app! I have created desktop shortcuts for both on my android home screen

[mlerules]

Oh, interesting. Extended typing on my cell, especially when trying to think at the same time, doesn't work for me. I far prefer a keyboard. *shrug*

[stacymckenna]

It's way easier to keep up with the brain when using a keyboard. That's where I usually compose my main posts lately (not least because the phone tends to eat them/lose its mind when they get long, and the mobile interface truncates them so I have to go in and copy/paste dangling, left out paragraphs...). But reading/commenting I can usually manage well enough via mobile.

[mlerules]

Nods. I know various peeps who've deleted FB from their phones to reduce the time-suckage. I post more (mainly pics) than I read on FB, and the phone aka my camera's easy-peasy to post from, so there I stay for that. Here's for more long-form via laptop w/keyboard, yet I find myself spending less time on my laptop...sigh.

[stacymckenna]

More time in meat space/outdoor woods instead of virtual is not a failing...(She says as she settles in for another couch potato TV binge)