On Twitter, social media, and bringing people closer together

[mdsteele47]

I'm not sure precisely what it is about Twitter. I didn't see the point initially, and early on it was really an extension of the conversation here on LJ. But for some strange reason, the social media/connections aspect really works (at least for me) on Twitter. I've become connected to people, locally and at a distance, that I would never in a

Comments

[psychowoof]

I agree w/Twitter's abilities. But given the fact that I like to keep parts of my life private from the prying eyes of my students, I tend to lock down any of my communication outlets. I generally only communicate with people I have met in person (there are a few exceptions her on LJ - but none on Twitter).

[mdsteele47]

I usually do the same... but I decided consciously to see what being open might to do the way I used the tool and what I said on it. It's caused me to self-censor a few times, but in general, I'm starting to carefully (and planfully) let the reins out a little bit on the lockdown. I still feel itchy about it sometimes.

[psychowoof]

In general, I'd be less concerned if I had your students.

[wonderpanther]

Students do seriously find everything. I had a prof a few years back who was not comfortable talking about his personal life AT ALL and made that clear. Had he not made it a challenge, I never would have learned that he authored borderline pr0n for a bunch of gay literary magazines and that he himself is gay, not that any of that makes a difference when you are teaching at a law school. I was not the only one who went looking and he was so surprised that anyone learned things about him. He said that he just never thought people would make the connection that he was the same guy.

[fraudirector]

There's an object lesson in pen names for you! Unless you have a really common name, like "Joe Smith" someone will make the connection, particularly in today's uber connected world.

[psychowoof]

Of course, my students don't read, so no one has ever thought to ask if I'm connected to the "Romance" author who shares my name. Oddly, the only person to ever point out the connection of names was a male co-worker.

twitter nd classical music

[anonymous]

Is it me, or are all clasical musicians discovering twitter all at once?

Greetings,
Rolf Netherlands
http://twitter.com/otterhouse