Twitter, Tweet, Tweeps….Twaddicted

Well, we all started somewhere — we all had some reason, angle, thought, purpose and use for Twitter.  We started for one reason – and ended up using it for another.  Here, in short, is how I, am addressing my addition to Twitter. Here is my story:

1)  I heard about Twitter being the “next best new thing”

2)  Being trendy – I signed up.

3)  I was “on” “Twitter” – I didn’t really use it – nor did I “get it”.

4)  I used the terms “Twitter”, “Tweet”, “Tweeps” and used them incorrectly at first.

5)  Those I spoke about Twitter – thought I was nuts.

6)  I saw others had more followers than I – and they were RT’d.  Why was this?  How could I get someone to follow and RT me?  I was singularly focused on myself – not others. Not a great equation for success.

7)  I started “tweeting” –  thinking I knew what to do.  I did not.  I posted links – and just sent them out.

8)  I thought I was cool.

9)  I sent out “Tweets” on Social Media Technology, Teamwork, Branding – I still did not “get” Twitter.

10)  I started following celebreties

11)  They never talked with me – or anyone else – hmmmm.

12)  I wondered why they tweeted.  Are they so self involved that they must tweet?  OMG!!! Does that mean that person is ME?  Hmmmmmm.  Food for thought.  Make mental note.

13)  I started to actually watch the stream.  I started to read the stream.  I saw so many conversations.  Started to “engage”.  Realized that no one cared that I sent out links.  They did not know me. 

14)  Now – FINALLY – I got it.  It only took me MONTHS to figure it out.  Ugh!

15)  I unfollowed all the celebs.  No offense – I needed to start following ppl that have the same interests in me. 

16)  I followed “tweeps” that were mentioned often, trended under Social Media, Twitter, Facebook and the like.

17)  I realzied I had so much in common with these folks (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!!!)

18)  I tweeted all of the time!

19)  I would come home from work…and log on to Twitter.

20)  I started taking my home PC to work to “Tweet”.  I realized this was not a good idea.

21)  I started having “real”  conversations with the “Tweet” world.

22)  I realized how “real” , how “friendly”, how “kind” and “supportive” my Tweeps are!

23)  I realized I was tweeting until 3 in the morning!  EVERY NIGHT!

24)  I realized that I was not getting much sleep.

25)  I thought about Twitter all of the time.  I had to tweet!

26)  Reading my @ replies – Did someone mention me? Did someone RT? 

27)  Why do people RT things that you never think they will RT? 

28)  Why is it that something I think is so funny…is not funny to the stream?

29)  I think my Tweeting is out of control!

30)  I think I need to head to Twitter Re-Hab.  Yep — cold turkey. 

31)  I can not do it – I will just “Slow Down” and back off a little on my tweeting

30)  De-Tox – in 24 hours I realized I was becoming agitated when I did not “Tweet”

31)  What has happened to me?  And that person who never tweeted before?

32)  I can not imagine my life without Twitter – strange, hmm? 

33)  I will head to my Blog instead.  Yes, my Blog.  This will work!

34)  I will just write down all of these feelings I have about Twitter.  It will work!  It must work!

35)  Oh Wait!  I MUST tweet the link to my blog.

36)  I mean – just a simple tweet about my Blog.  It is for helping others that have this problem.  I can not be the only one, right?

37)  Hmmm… if I “Tweet” this, I wonder if I will get a RT of my blog?

38)  Will this get a mention?  Will someone forward and Tweet about this?

39)  OK I will just check my “mentions” and “@replies” – – checking, checking, checking….

40)  Yes, this will CERTAINLY cure my “Twitaddiction” – right?

TWEET!  I AM TWADDICTED!  ARE YOU?

A little “peek” in to the “peeps” in my Tweetdeck – #140conf LA

This is a personal blog for this week !

To tweet or not to tweet is no longer a question.  Well, at least not for me and many others that attended the #140conf in LA last week.  I had the immense pleasure of hanging out with a group of individuals that are as enthusiastic about Twitter as I am.  I was humbled and honored to be around some very influential folks – and it was nice to put faces with names, connect, laugh, share and learn from everyone there.

Everyone I met accepted me for who I am – avatar and all! (LOL)!  I am ALWAYS laughing, joking, making fun of myself and all of my idiosyncrasies, so it was great to know that although they may have questioned my mental stability; my peeps would never leave me behind.  As an FYI, I have had at least 40 DM’s telling me to change my avatar – which I am sure will be a topic of discussion for years to come. 

Initially, I think our Twitter Posse that formed (consisting most of the time of: @MayhemStudios @CiaoBella50, @JeffRago, @BigAsianHead, @earthXplorer and @LoriMoreno) were a bit surprised at my outgoing and comedic personality.  During our escapades (most of them while eating), I am sure that  my #140conf friends  – and others that ate with us (@aaswartz @vegasbill @24K) may have questioned why they were sitting with me and “is anyone else watching what is going on here?”  LOL!  I should have been in stand up.

As a testament of what I love to do – make people laugh – I have decided to list below some of the most laughable moments (in no particular order) that I recall from this event.  I hope I remember all – and feel free to tweet me if I left anything out.  The great thing about this conference is whether there were personal, professional or unexpected connections – it is the relationships I will never forget. 

• Sharing the “Zen” Moment with @TomJolly – ROFL!!!
• Fun with chopsticks and @earthXplorer catching me on film as a walrus…nice!
• @LoriMoreno @CiaoBella50 and myself trying to take a picture the first night– and LOL the whole time.
• @CaioBella50 and I running – and well, Bella, I hope you remember why we were laughing!!!
• Heading down to the twist party and giving @MayhemStudios 2 Great Big Hugs!
• At breaktime, having fun with @CiaoBella50 while @Mayhemstudios took pictures – we were on to him now!
• Realizing that “the mob” rules when you are sitting alone on the other side of the theater
• Having my sneaks tweeted by @MayHemStudios
• The first night at the VIP party – with @LoriMoreno and @CiaoBella50 – standing like geeks in front of the screen watching ourselves tweet to each other! LOSERS!!! LOL!!!!
• Mr. Fry takes a vacation to the nudist colony with @CiaoBella50, @earthXplorer @aaswartz @mayhemstudios @JeffRago
• Knowing that @BigAsianHead, @LoriMoreno and @Mayhemstudios were oh, laughing at Sushi lunch (HEY! Calvin you owe me some Sushi)
• Mr. Fry’s untimely death (Boo Hoo!)
• Meeting @3Lunches – another #Babealert winner!
• Learning that @MayhemStudios is VERY good at taking pics and vids and you don’t know it!
• Making sure that I gave my card to @OhDoctah so @JeffRago would not get beat up and keep his gorgeous face!
• Ordering Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup with @CiaoBella50 and saying “is this really a sandwich?”
• Discussing with @MayhemStudios how to “better communicate his thoughts” (LOL!)
• Taking pictures of the Casting Couch with @CiaoBella50, @JeffRago, @BigAsianHead @AnythingAnthony (wowza!)
• Knowing that I got @Mayhemstudios with a #thatswhatshesaid he will never live down
• Picking up an extra peep – who was that dude anyway?

 Twitter is something different for everyone that uses it –Some use it to communicate what might be hard for them to say, others use it for business, many for personal use but everyone uses it to connect.

I connected with people at the #140conf I would have never met otherwise.

 Whatever your reason, purpose or use, I have these parting thoughts:

• People that are engaged with Twitter…..LOVE Twitter
• Twitter is addicting to those that “get it”
• Not everyone gets it – and some never will (enough said)