Twitter is one of the many social networks that have proliferated in the internet in recent times. These environments constitute a new reality, without traditions to rely on. We learn to use them as we go, making mistakes, and it will take some time before we handle them adequately. In the meantime, it makes sense to reflect on the experience and to try to decipher the messages, to minimize the damage of our errors.
I started using Twitter at the beginning of this year 2023. I take Twitter as a game, with a set of predetermined rules which are the same for everybody (I´ll leave aside the issue of the blue check) and some objectives which are not necessarily the same ones for all the users. Trying to decode what people play at might be tricky at the beginning, but it´s not that hard when you put yourself at it.
There are people who need to vent out their aggressiveness or want to feel that they are better than others. They might criticize what others say, more or less abruptly; might undermine the arguments they encounter, and might even go as far as insulting other people. These players appear to be in a brawl and their objective is deriding others, counting the heads they cut or, alternatively, aiming to place witty putdowns as a show of their potency.
There are those who are hurt and display their grievances looking for understanding and support. They seem to be recruiting allies for an imaginary war, getting reassured of their righteousness by sympathetic comments. Their objective seems to be the reaffirmation that they are right in what they think or do, and this is provided by other players´ comments.
Other people might look for approval or admiration from others. Rather than putting others down, they might behave somehow seductively so that others appreciate them. They may make positive comments of others´ activity, or show themselves as funny or witty to impress the rest of the players. In Twitter the token of appreciation is the “heart”, or “like”. These might be collected as evidence that one is being valued, and hunted avidly as the objective of the game.
Still others look for followers. They try to build an audience for their show. The more people see them, the better. There is an exhibitionistic trend in this group, who arranges its feathers like a peacock: beautiful expressions, deep reflections, witty arguments, etc. Beyond the multiplicity of presentations, the objective of the game is very simple for these people, moving the counter up.
Yet another group is that of the debaters, people who engage in discussions just for the sake of it. These are players who are thrilled by the interchange of ideas. They don´t need to be right or agreed with. They look for a counterargument to keep the hamster wheel moving with new ideas. The objective of their game is to go on thinking and sharing that process with others in and endless exchange of arguments.
Of course these groups are not discrete. Most people partake in some of them, if not in all, at one time or another. We are not always fixed in the same role. That´s part of our richness.
As for me, I try not to put other people down since I don´t think that´s constructive. Still, I can recognize the impulse to do that sometimes. I enjoy it when people agree with me or say that they like what I say. I don´t deny it, but it doesn´t really fill me.
I see myself as one of the debaters, trying to push new ideas and perspectives to keep my mind active, as well as that of the others.
I see Twitter as a Greek agora in which one can play with the other citizens, trying to tease out what´s the best way to do things. It´s better than that, since the reach of this tool is global. In order to play the game this way, I highly appreciate getting followers who read my messages (and articles like this one) and reply to them.
I reckon vanity has many shapes and when we show ourselves in Twitter ours is in full display. There is nothing wrong with that, as long as we are respectful with others. Since we play different games at the same time, everybody can win and we all get prizes.
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