It is a helpful exercise to look at tweet stats and clouds of the words I use and the frequency of posts. I think my most common words were #fb, meeting, good, church. Sounds boring, but optimistic.

I think I am the only commenter who wholeheartedly agrees with you. I am not, myself, a twit (my wife might disagree with that statement), but I have many friends who are. It seems to me that the fascination with sharing every bit of minutiae of one’s life keeps one from actually living in the moment. How can you truly experience life when you are preoccupied with using everything that you do as fodder for your next FB status update or tweet? An example: I got together last year with a friend that I hadn’t seen in about seven years. We attended an event in the town where he lives. Instead of reconnecting as old friends, he spent the entire afternoon and evening twittering about the event. Neither of us enjoyed the experience like we could have, because one of us was not fully there.

I guess it all goes back to what is, indeed, “meaningful” as Boyd puts it. What constitutes good fellowship. I’m all for hanging out and being social, don’t get me wrong, but I also do wonder from time to time — and this is a bigger point than Twitter — how those relations and conversations can be best for the kingdom. Maybe a place to start is: what grows the fruit of the spirit? Out of what interactions can peace, love, joy, and hope thrive?

Maybe that’s too ruminative, but you got me thinking. Thanks!

Best wishes anyway–I’ll add your blog to my reader so I can keep up that way

I’m sure you’ll be un-following me on Twitter soon (if not already, based on the above rules and regulations). I don’t maintain any illusion of self-importance, imagining that everything I tweet is deeply interesting to everyone who follows me. It’s not about that, and I’m thankful.

I know it’s futile to try to convince you otherwise, but I think you’re either misunderstanding the medium or at least imposing standards to it that aren’t necessarily in keeping with its purpose. I side with Danah Boyd in noting that most of our interactions (digital and non) aren’t “meaningful” or “informative.” Rather, most of what we do and say is more social than substantive – theologically speaking, it’s fellowship rather than education or some other activity.

For me, Twitter is much more about fellowship and staying connected. It’s a way for me to have an ongoing connection with people all over the country, not because knowing what time they woke up and what they’re eating for dinner is intrinsically interesting, but because I care about them and don’t have the luxury of living with them day-to-day. Does it take the place of real conversations about substantive topics? No. Does it replace the more personal media of phone and even email? No. Does it make me a better friend to them, because I’m more connected to their everyday experiences? Maybe -I hope. Does it enrich those relationships and connect me to those I love, and those in whom I am interested? Yes, absolutely.

By the way, I’m tweeting a link to this blog. Maybe you’ll consider that interesting enough to keep following me, at least for another day!