I recently received an email from a friend and colleague in television production who, upon clicking on my twitter URL at my email’s footer, wanted to know more about twitter, why I thought it was important, and why I even bothered with it.

I responded by offering a link to “If I Started Today.”, an article by @chrisbrogan.

My friend’s reaction to the article is important (published below, in part, and with his permission), because this is exactly how I thought about social media prior to delving in with reckless — and strategic — abandon.

Michael,

Thanks…like a good book with intellectual questions and pursuit between the covers, I think I’ll have to read this a few times to get it to soak in. Because on the first pass, I can honestly say, I don’t get it.

I hope that’s because social media is currently a shape-shifter, and hard to wrap your mind around, as it develops into what ever it will end up being.

But unfortunately, I think a portion of this is because of my old school way of thinking.  Two examples-

First, I have always thought a person should keep his/her personal stuff personal. Making those things public was a process of developing any  relationship rather than a requirement of modern living.

Second, the quality or act of being humble is dead. This is now the “look at me” “please listen to me” world.  I have never subscribed to the idea that anyone was necessarily interested in what I was saying or thinking – simply because I was saying or thinking it.

To that end, I’m quite sure most people would find disagreeable the things that I generally say or think.  And as a result this new world will have to teach people like me to be more careful of our thoughts and words in the hopes of making them relevant and attractive to…anyone.  Ouch – the mind police are real.

That was about two weeks ago. Today, @cdesmarais follows 5 people, has 5 followers, and 10 updates. His first post reads:

3,2,1, action – O.K. mark this moment in time when I offically enter the new world. adn early resolution?! – Learn the new social media. 3:58PM Nov 24th from web.

Are people reacting any differently when you talk about social media? Better? Worse? Love to know.

Thanks for stopping in. Hope you’re well.