Looking for a nice neighborhood in these Strange Times

What's happening on social media? What's next?

There is a reason I called this Sharon’s Strange Times and why my social media name is Sharon of the Strange Times. Things feel unsettled. They have for several years now. Things are very VERY strange in social media communities these days.

I wonder what I’m supposed to do here. It’s it worth the effort?

Why do I do this? Why do I post so much on Twitter, why do I keep a newsletter going every week, why do I have 3 websites to maintain and WHY, OH WHY, do I still have a Facebook account? There are many reasons. Not all of them are sound. Things are complicated. And the world is strange. 

This week has been especially bonkers.

I have a verified account on Twitter because I was lucky enough to get an application in at the perfect time when Twitter staff were approving accounts of real people who were somewhat notable. I had a Wikipedia page. I wrote a book. It all worked for me to be seen as a credible, critical thinking communicator. Over time, the blue check morphed into a social status symbol of the wrong kind. My kids thought it was cool, rare, and coveted. This week, it’s the opposite of cool. It may be a liability. It certainly has been warped by small, narcissistic minds.

I’ve seen a rise in spam on my Twitter account this week. I don’t advertise my real name on there because I’ve had people secretly stalk me there in the past. I’m a bit concerned about that again. It feels like the social neighborhood, and the country, will turn more violent and unsettled. 

Listen, I just want to share the awesome things I find out about the world and spread my view that reason and critical thinking are useful traits to encourage in a complex society. That’s one reason why I’m on social media. A second reason is that I like interacting with interesting people and learning new things. Reason 1 is why I’m still on Twitter, for now. Reason 2 is why I rejoined Mastodon. 

I’m not feeling good at all about posting to Twitter. It feels icky and wrong to even be there. Out of my 7000+ followers, only a few dozen interact with me regularly. Less than a hundred appear to be even paying attention. I never go “viral”. So, the account looks impressive with the blue check and all, but it no longer feels worth the effort to stay in a network that, right now, is burning from the inside out. I don’t plan to delete my account yet. If I end up getting harassed or spammed even more, I will. But I don’t expect that. I’m not that important. I continue to use Twitter as one of my primary sources of news and information (with caution).

If you want to experience a more friendly community, I do recommend Mastodon. There is a slight learning curve but it’s not difficult to figure out. I have a lot of friends there already. It’s been satisfying to participate in the past few days. I look forward to it. 

I also feel positive about this platform, Substack. While it would be nice to have more subscribers - because I know more people are really interested in weird news stories - I’m not going to worry much about attracting more. I’ve never done my blogs for profit. I just want to share knowledge and maybe make someone think or laugh or change their mind. It’s nice that it goes directly to you instead of into the internet void.

Around the corner is BlueSky, another platform that intends to be an improvement on Twitter. It’s entirely unclear how that will go. 

Also on my agenda before the end of the year is to decide what to do with my websites which are currently on a totally crappy web host. I hate moving websites so I dread that. I’m leaning towards moving my personal site to free WordPress because I’m not active on it and I don’t want to be active on it. No one seems to read blogs anymore. 

I plan on keeping Spooky Geology as my main project. Currently, I’m working on a writeup of my Pop Goes the Cryptid material for publication. And, for part of every day, I turn off the screen and read a book. It’s really great to let go and not participate in social stuff that makes me anxious or angry. 

I appreciate those who follow and read my stuff. It’s such an honor that you consider what I put out there to be worthy of your time. 

I’m still on Twitter @idoubtit

On Mastodon at idoubtit@mstdn.social

Who knows where next week…