Last week a friend of mine asked “are you ever coming back to Twitter?” The answer is no. I spent the past six months trying to figure out why Twitter had become such a miserable experience for me – reading everything I could about shame, deference politics, and harm -- and what that had meant for me and my work. Those reflections are below.
Love this! I've "fasted" Twitter during this season of Lent because I found myself losing my sense of being thoughtful. This sparked for me when I was re-reading King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" and was struck by how, in his cell, King said all he could do was "write long letters, think long thoughts, pray long prayers." And for me, Twitter zapped such a discipline and often, as a result, my solidarity. Thanks for sharing and for the links! Looking forward to what's to come and learning to think long thoughts again.
I feel the same way about Twitter and social media in general, but so glad and relieved to see you back here. I’ve learned gobs and gobs from you and so grateful for your voice!
You are 100% in your indictments of Twitter culture. I’m glad you are doing what is best for you.
I still use social media, but have decreased usage tremendously. I decided to really get connected and active in my church, and working with actual people I meet and get to know makes all the difference.
You have always been one of my faves, and I have dearly missed your voice. Happy to subscribe here now 🙂
Thanks for sharing. I resonate with a lot of what you said, especially around platform-building and authorship. I’ll be following along here.
Love this! I've "fasted" Twitter during this season of Lent because I found myself losing my sense of being thoughtful. This sparked for me when I was re-reading King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" and was struck by how, in his cell, King said all he could do was "write long letters, think long thoughts, pray long prayers." And for me, Twitter zapped such a discipline and often, as a result, my solidarity. Thanks for sharing and for the links! Looking forward to what's to come and learning to think long thoughts again.
I feel the same way about Twitter and social media in general, but so glad and relieved to see you back here. I’ve learned gobs and gobs from you and so grateful for your voice!
You are 100% in your indictments of Twitter culture. I’m glad you are doing what is best for you.
I still use social media, but have decreased usage tremendously. I decided to really get connected and active in my church, and working with actual people I meet and get to know makes all the difference.
You have always been one of my faves, and I have dearly missed your voice. Happy to subscribe here now 🙂
yessss.... so much in this feels true, and honest, and good. Thank you, Melissa, for who you are.
I applause this article multiple times over and also extent an apology if I ever treated you as such.
i'm here for it, Melissa.