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What does 100,000 tweets mean, anyway?

18 Comments / Creative Insights, Social Media / By /

tweets on TwitterPart of the beauty of Twitter is the brevity. But there are some things you can’t say in 140 characters. Answering the question

What does 100,000 tweets mean, anyway?

Click To Tweet

is one of those.

I don’t know exactly what drew my attention to it. (Probably one of the dozens of Twitter interface remodels.) Suddenly, it was right there in my face. At some point, I had gone past 100,000 tweets. Well, I was really surprised.

stan stewart tweets

 

Tweets and Enjoyment

So, what does it mean? Have I enjoyed it? You bet. I’ve met interesting, fun, delightful, intellectual, inspiring, and crazy (in a good way) people. There are many I’ve supported, collaborated with several more, argued with one or two, apologized to a few, gotten great content to re-share from thousands, and so on. Another bonus: travelling to visit Twitter friends all over the world. I want to do more of this.

Have I had fun? Yes. Some tweeps are very playful and that makes it worthwhile even when there are a few hecklers and too many spammers.  Plus, I’ve been able to share a ton of micro-poetry and what I call a “story in 140” storytelling form. Here’s an example:

Have I benefitted? Oh, yes. The readership on this blog went from about 30 to hundreds subscribed, plus thousands of “anonymous” readers every day, and still growing after I started tweeting regularly. Twitter is one of the main sources of traffic to this blog. My music distribution has benefitted — my best-selling digital-only album was only released a few months ago. Best of all, I’ve been able to share what I’ve learned along the way with others — hopefully allowing a few to avoid the mistakes I’ve made. In other words, I hope it’s benefitted some of you, too.

Tweets and Meaning

I was walking along a local lake with my beloved wife. We both started to notice the beautiful moonrise glistening on the water and looked at each other. Then, I began to have thoughts like “Oh, it’s been a while since I posted a photo to Instagram which will also go to my Twitterfeed.” So, I pulled out my phone. My wife very gently touched my wrist and said something like “I was really hoping we could enjoy this moon. Just the two of us.” (You’ll notice there’s no photo of the moon reflected on the lake here.)

When social media is a distraction from really living, stop.

Click To Tweet

Has tweeting added meaning to my life? It’s helped me to add friends, connections and fun. That counts for something. In some ways, 100,000 tweets has changed my life for the better. But there have been negative impacts on real life relationships that I can never regain as well. Social media (not just Twitter) takes time and can often look to people in my day-to-day life like a distraction from what’s important. And sometimes, it is just that. When social media is a distraction from really living (when it’s an addiction), stop.

Social media may connect us with real people from all walks of life and all around the world. But it does not replace our relationships that happen in physical space with the people who are in our daily lives.

And that, my virtual and real friends, is what 100,000 tweets means to me.

Playful blessings,
Stan

18 thoughts on “What does 100,000 tweets mean, anyway?”

  1. Ivette

    Hi Stan,

    I can relate to your conclusion that social networks can become a distraction and, even worse, an addiction. Some might even call it “common sense”.

    It is often easy to overlook this, as we are normally so immersed in our technology gadgets in general.

    And sometimes it might be too late to realize the “damage” that such distractions/addiction can cause, and some real life relationships might be lost on the way.

    But then again, probably whatever is really meant for each of us will stay for good in our lives, with or without technology distractions/addictions.

    Hugs,

    Ivette
    [Enjoying the beautiful weather of this corner of the planet, which you shortly enjoyed during your visit last year almost around this time… 🙂 ]

    1. muz4now

      Yes, Ivette! I remember my visit to your neighborhood with so much joy and fondness. You are one of the people I’m talking about in this post (as you already know).
      And I agree that we take the path we’re meant to take. I’m on a beautiful journey. Thanks for being a part of it!

      Blessings and hugs,
      Stan

  2. Scott

    Could not agree more. I’ve taken to separating my time with people and social media as much as I can. I don’t allow my self to look at my phone when I’m out with my girlfriend and we’re having a “date night”. Life we are watching a movie together, it’s about us watching that movie. Nobody is holding their breathe waiting for my opinion of what we’re watching.

    Even when we’re out with friends, I try to make my attention about the moment. So many times, going to a bar has turned into four of us sitting around a table looking at our phones. I’m trying (admittedly sometimes unsuccessfully) to stop this trend with friends. I do like the game where you all put your phones facedown on the table and the first to pick theirs up picks up the tab. Seems to help a bit, but this shouldn’t be something we have to force.

    1. muz4now

      Hey, Scott!
      Great to see you here in the blogosphere.
      As you know from this post, we are aligned on this! IRL relationships are too crucial to let all of these virtual ones take over. Not that they don’t have a place, just got to keep them in their place.
      Thanks again and always look forward to your input on Twitter, your site, and the musical world you’re creating.

      Playful blessings,
      Stan

  3. Terri Nakamura

    Dear Stan,

    Thank you for writing this is a lovely post. It embodies all the truths we encounter when we engage on Twitter — good, bad and otherwise.

    I mentioned on the Twitterfeed, I had passed this momentous occasion a while ago (unnoticed), then shockingly discovered I’d passed it twice over. Since I’m on Twitter for an hour a day, how in the heck does it happen?

    For one thing, if you have anything close to a conversation with someone, it can go on for 10 tweets or more. Multiply it over days, weeks, months, years…it adds up! The conversations are what really makes it for me. That’s how you become acquainted with someone.

    You and I were like tweets passing in the night for a long long time. Then one day, I don’t remember when, we started to TALK. Wow. What a cool discovery to find out you are not just a talented musician, but also kind, friendly and caring. I’m SO HAPPY we evolved to become social media friends.

    This is a classic post. I hope you will continue to re-share as it contains such salient experiences and advice.

    Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for allowing me to make my contributions in your first 100K. I hope to be there when you reach the next milestone!

    (((HUGS)))

    Terri

    1. muz4now

      Dear Terri,

      Thank you. 100% true. And you are definitely one of the people that I cherish friendship with while I look forward to meeting IRL (In Real Life).

      Blessings and ((hugs))
      Stan

  4. muz4now

    I’m grateful for my Twitter friends who have noticed this post and offered feedback and tweets about it. Please follow Shekhar Raj Dhain (@SRDHAIN) —

    1. muz4now

      That definitely goes both way. You are a star in the night-sky of social networking. Thanks for connecting in such a real way over the miles. I look forward to our continued friendship.

      Blessings and hugs to you and yours, as well.
      Stan

    1. Keith A. Link

      Thanks, Stan. A great, thoughtful post as always. I was just thinking how the John Mayer song ‘3×5’ has some lyrics that sum it up quite beautifully:

      “Didn’t have a camera by my side this time
      Hoping I would see the world with both my eyes
      Maybe I will tell you all about it when I’m
      In the mood to lose my way with words”

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