Twitter is My Virtual Office

Instead of feeling disconnected I tweet.

It could be about the virtual island @conniereece and I bought or a link to photos of the new crocs inspired by @preppydude @fireton and egged on by @pistachio,

Next might come thanks for the so sweet care package from @wickedstepmom, or grousing about my scrabble score against brainiac @geosteph and twitter-star @AnnOhio just like I'd chat in the elevator . . . if I had an office.

Although twitter began as a way to answer the question "what are you doing" it's now become something else for many of us who do not have traditional coworkers.

We may be involved in projects with a veritable carousel of people from all over the world, but since we don't see them in the hallways or at meetings we miss being able to toss a casual "what's happening" their way.

What would normally be natural, short office chit chat and observation can take endless hours to cultivate by email. We wind up choosing whether to be overwhelmed with email or put up with feeling disconnected.

When I no longer had time or inclination to send updates on what was indeed going on with me to dozens of contacts I gave up. After multiple threats I finally just sent out an email saying that I was going to abandon email, going as cold turkey as I could manage, relying on facebook updates and messages.

Fate smiled on me because shortly thereafter I found twitter.

Although popularly tagged as the food choice of media snackers, twitter can also function as pregnancy reporting, flirtation, business pitches, sports smack, restaurant reviews, trip updates, inside geek tech news, medical reports, social climbing, encouragement, job finding and connection making.

Twitter allowed me to follow Mike and Britt's move across the country, eagerly await news about Ashley delivering, show my concern about Sage's cat, applaud Laura's walk for breast cancer, regularly give Aaron a hard time, laugh at Mitch, cheer FOR Ohio State and against the teams of those LSU and Florida fans, and work on a project to send goodies to troops in Kandahar.

In other words - I'm just being like you - or myself. But in 140 characters at a time.

Other twitter users are enthusiastic, as Twitter user, Leisa Riechelt,told New York Times she thinks the microblog experience is valuable for those listening in on personal details, sharing in what she calls “ambient intimacy.”

She writes that while others may ask: “Who cares? Who wants this level of detail? Isn’t this all just annoying noise?” she counts herself among those “who find great value in this ongoing noise.”

She added, “It helps us get to know people who would otherwise be just acquaintances.”

Will you become one of my virtual office mates by following me at twitter?

 

Comments

[virtual office]

This is great, i've been in twitter for a month, and i'm absolutely enjoying the posting and following my favorites.

-jed

[debra]

Susan,

I shall be joining you on Monday in cheering for the buckeyes ON TWITTER during the game.

And, yes, I describe Twitter as my office back chat, too.

[Ashpreggo]

Love the post, and the "noise". :)

[Ann]

Twitter star? Good grief...extreme flirter and causer of flirtatious moments? I'll take that title.

I feel disconnected when Twitter is not working and I can't check in on my friends. Some days are busy and I can just poke my head in from time to time..Some days Twitter just eases the boredom of a project that might be...not so fun.

I just can't find enough hours in my day to keep up with blog postings and readings..but squeezing in a few tweets here and there helps get me through my day and helps me to feel connected.

Glad that I have you to share my days and my evenings with.

:o)

[Dayngr]

I absolutely loved this post. You summed it up very nicely yet encompassed everything!