Years ago a client in (yikes) Titonka, IA told me I'd find the town by skimming the MN border, turning sharply right, and stopping just on the edge of hell. I stole that description to use for my home (a couple of counties over)in NW IA. My husband and I feel alone here in what my neighbors believe is the actual God's Country. Twitter was a lovely island getaway, a daily mini- vacation to the land of ideas and clever rejoinders. Miss it. Miss you. Will gladly support your sustack offering.
Oof. I feel this in my bones. As a former reporter and software developer (another profession that thrives on "Have you seen this new thing?") , Real Twitter was the water cooler at which I could keep up with my colleagues' lives and learn about things that wouldn't normally cross my desk on a given day. I've missed you and many other journalists since I "kinda left" and then left for good earlier this year (and I'm still trying to pretend that Mastodon is just as good), but it will certainly be missed.
The main things keeping me on Twitter are the "lunch tables" I found myself sitting with to get information about COVID and to get information about housing and homelessness. I am trying to re-follow all these folks on various new platforms, but that's a huge amount of effort and a lot of them are still sharing info on Twitter so I keep up with them there. Last week I shared a link to a thread in a group chat and one friend replied that he will not be clicking on any links to it because it is a hate site. I don't think he's wrong, but I also haven't stopped using it yet.
Danielle, you are right; you are a fantastic writer. And Twitter is different. I am a stay at home mom with adult children (my youngest is 24), but my family is used to me being available and I don’t mind it. I actually keep quite busy, so I appreciate the brevity of Twitter and the ability to check headlines to see if I want to know more. I’m a news junkie and a nerd, but have a life I need to lead, and old Twitter fit in nicely. Now, I don’t get led to informative places as much and it’s generally more work. I am still on it and get notifications if my favs post (I’ve missed you; congratulations on your new human! Enjoy!), but don’t wander in nearly as often. I’m not leaving yet because I still get something from it, but find myself on Insta more.
Agree Twitter had changed a lot. Lots of folks I really enjoyed have left. But many still are there and I will stick around. But glad to be subscribed member to this Substack. I always enjoy reading what is on your mind. Carry on!
I left Twitter for a few months, came back for a bit only to leave permanently when it became X.
A middle aged to older white male customer with a weird fascination for bald eagles recently showed me some pics on his phone. I noticed the black X icon and while he’s a very friendly guy I can imagine him as my torturer in a near-future scenario.
You were maybe the most clever, most fun person in the lunchroom, but I can’t go back.
Years ago a client in (yikes) Titonka, IA told me I'd find the town by skimming the MN border, turning sharply right, and stopping just on the edge of hell. I stole that description to use for my home (a couple of counties over)in NW IA. My husband and I feel alone here in what my neighbors believe is the actual God's Country. Twitter was a lovely island getaway, a daily mini- vacation to the land of ideas and clever rejoinders. Miss it. Miss you. Will gladly support your sustack offering.
Oof. I feel this in my bones. As a former reporter and software developer (another profession that thrives on "Have you seen this new thing?") , Real Twitter was the water cooler at which I could keep up with my colleagues' lives and learn about things that wouldn't normally cross my desk on a given day. I've missed you and many other journalists since I "kinda left" and then left for good earlier this year (and I'm still trying to pretend that Mastodon is just as good), but it will certainly be missed.
The main things keeping me on Twitter are the "lunch tables" I found myself sitting with to get information about COVID and to get information about housing and homelessness. I am trying to re-follow all these folks on various new platforms, but that's a huge amount of effort and a lot of them are still sharing info on Twitter so I keep up with them there. Last week I shared a link to a thread in a group chat and one friend replied that he will not be clicking on any links to it because it is a hate site. I don't think he's wrong, but I also haven't stopped using it yet.
Danielle, you are right; you are a fantastic writer. And Twitter is different. I am a stay at home mom with adult children (my youngest is 24), but my family is used to me being available and I don’t mind it. I actually keep quite busy, so I appreciate the brevity of Twitter and the ability to check headlines to see if I want to know more. I’m a news junkie and a nerd, but have a life I need to lead, and old Twitter fit in nicely. Now, I don’t get led to informative places as much and it’s generally more work. I am still on it and get notifications if my favs post (I’ve missed you; congratulations on your new human! Enjoy!), but don’t wander in nearly as often. I’m not leaving yet because I still get something from it, but find myself on Insta more.
Agree Twitter had changed a lot. Lots of folks I really enjoyed have left. But many still are there and I will stick around. But glad to be subscribed member to this Substack. I always enjoy reading what is on your mind. Carry on!
I left Twitter for a few months, came back for a bit only to leave permanently when it became X.
A middle aged to older white male customer with a weird fascination for bald eagles recently showed me some pics on his phone. I noticed the black X icon and while he’s a very friendly guy I can imagine him as my torturer in a near-future scenario.
You were maybe the most clever, most fun person in the lunchroom, but I can’t go back.
Glad you’re here. And you were funny - and great - on Twitter!