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I'm always a little surprised by these sorts of views of Twitter. In my areas, nearly everyone is there. Twitter is full of Academics, and often the most succes

I'm always a little surprised by these sorts of views of Twitter. In my areas, nearly everyone is there. Twitter is full of Academics, and often the most successful ones are the heaviest users.

Barrin92 6y ago
the question is though, do you get anything out of it by reading all that stuff. And I mean actually getting something out of it other than just the feeling you've read something useful? It's not like anyone actually becomes an academic by following academic conversation on twitter, or as if one learns science or maths by reading "mathy" threads on twitter. I think like news even "high-brow" twitter conversations are essentially just infotainment. You can read news for four hours a day and you feel informed, but often you can just drop 90% of it and you don't lose any actual in-depth knowledge.
- deleted 6y ago
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- thejohnconway 6y ago
  Sure I do - I get to see what people in various fields are writing and thinking about at a broad level, which I find interesting. I see the work of the many artists and creators I follow. I get to see what people think of my own work, which is the whole point of producing it in the first place. I don't use Twitter to get in-depth information, and I'm not sure why you'd think that was the purpose (although people might link to where you can get that information, obviously). I'd prefer it if it was an open platform, but it is what it is.
jariel 6y ago
Fair enough - but what do they put in 200 characters that is important, and how often? I mean, when they release a paper? How often is that? What % of their tweets are of interest, and what % are them being 'forced' to play the social media game to improve their 'stature' among funders, peers etc.? I often wonder how much they might loathe it themselves. As someone 'social media adjacent' - having been forced to think of a few things to Tweet once for a company, it was probably one of the more ridiculous things I've ever done as a professional. Invent something out of total thin air, to stir the pot, for no reason other than to stir the pot to garner attention. I understand the dynamic people are pressed into - and I don't blame a soul for it ... however I get this funny feeling that a lot of people Tweeting hate it just as much (ie making up stuff) and resent the fact they feel compelled to do it, and another group who derive way too much sense of false identity out of it.

I'm always a little surprised by these sorts of views of Twitter. In my areas, nearly everyone is there. Twitter is full of Academics, and often the most successful ones are the heaviest users.

Barrin92 6y ago

the question is though, do you get anything out of it by reading all that stuff. And I mean actually getting something out of it other than just the feeling you've read something useful? It's not like anyone actually becomes an academic by following academic conversation on twitter, or as if one learns science or maths by reading "mathy" threads on twitter. I think like news even "high-brow" twitter conversations are essentially just infotainment. You can read news for four hours a day and you feel informed, but often you can just drop 90% of it and you don't lose any actual in-depth knowledge.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
thejohnconway 6y ago
Sure I do - I get to see what people in various fields are writing and thinking about at a broad level, which I find interesting. I see the work of the many artists and creators I follow. I get to see what people think of my own work, which is the whole point of producing it in the first place. I don't use Twitter to get in-depth information, and I'm not sure why you'd think that was the purpose (although people might link to where you can get that information, obviously). I'd prefer it if it was an open platform, but it is what it is.

jariel 6y ago

Fair enough - but what do they put in 200 characters that is important, and how often? I mean, when they release a paper? How often is that? What % of their tweets are of interest, and what % are them being 'forced' to play the social media game to improve their 'stature' among funders, peers etc.? I often wonder how much they might loathe it themselves. As someone 'social media adjacent' - having been forced to think of a few things to Tweet once for a company, it was probably one of the more ridiculous things I've ever done as a professional. Invent something out of total thin air, to stir the pot, for no reason other than to stir the pot to garner attention. I understand the dynamic people are pressed into - and I don't blame a soul for it ... however I get this funny feeling that a lot of people Tweeting hate it just as much (ie making up stuff) and resent the fact they feel compelled to do it, and another group who derive way too much sense of false identity out of it.