I know I’ve posted on here that I don’t watch the news. I find the “It bleeds, it leads” premise disgusting. There is very rarely anything positive reported. And I just can’t deal with it. I read headlines online, so I’m not completely oblivious to the world around me.
I’ve also posted that I have disconnected cable. I did it at the beginning of the year. If I want to watch something, I have Netflix or Hulu. And so far? I don’t miss it. I missed all the awards shows, which are gross displays of excess and self-congratulations, in my opinion. “Who are you wearing?” “How big is your diamond?” Really? Who cares? $5,000+ for a gown that you can only wear once? That’s disgusting. But, then again, I don’t know who most of the young actors are anymore, anyway. One of the benefits of not having cable is that I don’t see movie trailers, so I don’t know what’s playing or who’s acting in them.
My friend Debra beautifully wrote about giving up Twitter (which I proceeded to twist around to make it all about me.) (It’s a gift.) (Shut up.)
Then she wrote about giving up all social media. I’m not ready for that yet. Her comment that she doesn’t want a 140-character live makes sense to me, but I do like Twitter. I met Debra via Twitter. I’ve “met” a lot of amazing people and found blogs, blogging, stories, websites all because of Twitter.
For months though, I’ve been irritated and logging on to Twitter less and less. I was “muting” people rather than “unfollowing” them. Heaven forbid I unfollow someone and hurt their feelings. (Insert eye-roll, here). I felt like I was sifting through loads of noise to find the posts of people who matter to me.
So, this past weekend, I set up a new Twitter account. And deleted my old one. I am following 40 people (I think) and have 13 following me. And it’s lovely. When I pull up my timeline, I know there are going to be posts by people who I would love to meet. I will get my news. I can keep in touch with people, to a degree.
This is just one more way to turn down the noise.
MagAndMoo's Blog 
Mo
I’ve strayed from Twitter for months for that very reason. The noise, the chaos, the negativity, the crap, it was all too much. I’ve dipped my toes back in the last couple of days (I need to keep a Twitter presence for a job I’m applying for) and I’m ready to retreat again. It’s too much.
magandmoo
Since you need Twitter, I HIGHLY recommend either unfollowing or muting people. Obviously, not everyone should delete their account or start over, but I am liking Twitter again. It’s quite nice again.
Erin
First – I love this post.
Second – I think my reader has somehow rid itself of your blog. THE TRAVESTY! I have no idea how that happened but I have most definitely fixed that. Stupid blogger.
THIRD. The noise. Oh the NOISE. Sometimes I love it – because it distracts me from things that I’d rather not be dealing with…and sometimes I hate it because I know it’s distracting me from things I should be dealing with. I love that I have an amazing group of friends and have met so many amazing people…but I hate that I get so caught up in it and sometimes end up being a person I really don’t like being. Sometimes I think social media breeds these kinds of things..but then other times I think that it’s just a good way to actually vent and deal with things…as long as that’s not all it is, ever.
I’m conflicted. Sometimes all I want to do is hang out on twitter with some awesome people..but other times I’m just frustrated because I don’t like me or get frustrated by people…and I am guilty of the same thing..filtering people out for various reasons. I also keep groups up in tweetdeck to filter who I want to read when I want to read it…and I find that helps to calm some of the noise and keep me focused on what I want to be focused on when I am online..but I have been thinking a lot about going through and deleting the people who followed me, yet NEVER interact…even when I try to engage them.
I did what you did with facebook a few years ago…I cut my 500+ list of friends down to 300, and then was still miserable with it AND got hate messages about how I was such a jerk for deleting people (highschool drama: THE REASON YOU WERE DELETED IN THE FIRST PLACE.) – so I created a completely new account which after quite a few years..still only has around 40 ppl on it. And I couldn’t be happier with it. Simple. Easy. Clear cut. The people I want to interact with are there, and that’s all I need. Now you’ve got me thinking about doing the same for twitter…sounds almost…blissful. The sound of quiet, I mean 🙂
xoxo
magandmoo
I have to say, I was a little hesitant to take a drastic step, but I don’t regret it. I pared down my FB follows too. The sound of silence? Yes. That.
Chibi Jeebs
“For months though, I’ve been irritated and logging on to Twitter less and less. I was “muting” people rather than “unfollowing” them. Heaven forbid I unfollow someone and hurt their feelings. (Insert eye-roll, here). I felt like I was sifting through loads of noise to find the posts of people who matter to me.”
Guilty as charged. I’m finding myself more and more annoyed by the constant snark and/or whining (which I *know* is completely hypocritical of me some days). I use Tweet Deck because I can load a private list and only read who I choose, rather than getting the ovarian fortitude to just unfollow people because, like you, I’m worried about hurting people’s feelings. Blarg.
xoxo
Mary
Oh, please. It’s hypocritical of me, too. But there’s a big difference (in my mind) between having a bad day/fight with your kid/spouse/venting and just a constant barrage of negativity. We ALL have bad days and need to get it out.
I think I have 17 followers now. And I’m following 40ish. Perfect.
Debra
I think we’re all impacted differently by all the “noise,” as you called it, bombarding us… some people thrive on it; others, like me, are overwhelmed. To me, it’s clutter and I’ve never been able to be productive or creative when surrounded by clutter. Social media (at my own doing) became just so much clutter.
I, too, have found amazing people online and I’m forever grateful for that and I hope we continue to be friends. But, something had to give. I’m worth making the effort for my own peace of mind. I’m glad you see yourself in the same light.
xoxo
magandmoo
I love that people thrive on the “noise” or “clutter”. Good on them. There are times when I wish I was one of them. But I like this way better. xo