Recently, I went on Twitter and mentioned that my uncle passed away. Some of you sent me such beautiful messages. One blogger sent a quote from the Bible. Later that day, I went on Google Reader and noticed that I missed reading about the death of a blogger friend’s mother, a birth of a child, and a woman’s three day stay in the hospital for surgery. After people were so nice to me, I felt like a jerk — and self-absorbed — for not sending support or congrats to others. Sometimes I think I follow TOO many people, only giving superficial attention to everyone.
I wrote a post last week where I said that the blogosphere seemed “conservative,” meaning that this virtual world follows the rules of Adam Smith and Milton Friedman. It is a free market system, each blogger acting out of self-interest and self-promotion, each wanting to network with the more powerful. If you work hard, Write well, meet the right people, and give away wii-fits, you can have 2000 comments just like an A-list blogger. It is up to each of us to work harder to “compete.” The system works well for most of us.
But can we make the blogosphere a little more “liberal” — meaning trying to lessen the differences between the haves and have nots, a strengthening of the human aspect of community while maintaining the free-market, democratic nature of blogging? Wouldn’t it be nice if there was more equality in the attention we get from the community during important life events — birth, death, illness, marriage? It is a sad fact that Dooce’s dog would get more love and attention from readers for getting a splinter in his foot than an unknown blogger electrocuted to death by a faulty laptop (sorry, just made that up, but you know it is true). It’s just human nature, and our limited attention span.
Every once in a while, a grassroots campaign starts up after a tragedy, such as the Nie Nie Benefit Blog. But what about the sad events that aren’t so well-publicized. Do we care only for those when there is sufficient media coverage or the story makes it on Oprah?
I spent this morning trying to think of way to equal the playing field online, not in quality of writing or popularity, but in how we can show more concern to each other, a way to open up the community to helping as many people as possible with a friendly message of hope or congratulations.
And I thought of Twitter. Twitter is the ultimate PR tool (look how marketing companies use Twitter) because “social media” spreads information quickly through word of mouth.
I have noticed that news outlets like the AP now use Twitter. Whenever there is a big news event going on, they broadcast it. Those on Twitter frequently know about an event before CNN. Now that is powerful!
Here’s my idea. Tell me if you think this could work. We set up some new Twitter account and call it something corny like BloggerCares, BloggerNews, or LifeEvents. Whenever one of us reads about a blogger with a big event — a death, a birth, a major surgery, a wedding — even if he is someone we don’t know personally — this information could be sent to this account, and then re-tweeted to hundreds of peoples at once, sort of a personal bloggers AP service. Then each receiver of the tweet could act however they wanted to — sending a message to this blogger acknowledging this happy or sad event, trying to be as personal as they could with someone they don’t really know, posting a comment on the person’s blog, or writing an email showing support. If it all worked well, we would be closer to a blogosphere where every blogger who needs it — can receive a few nice messages from the community, without any thought to who he is or what religious, color, political entity — or clique – he belongs to, or whether he is A-list or C-list.
It wouldn’t require much work from anyone. It is pretty easy to send an “I’m sorry about your loss” or a “congrats on your marriage” in a quick tweet or comment. I know I certainly appreciated getting those messages about my uncle.
There are still some issues that need to be worked out. For instance, wouldn’t too many people submit the same information about the identical surgery? Would it all be too overwhelming to handle? I’m not sure I could do this by myself.
Is this a dumb idea? Any suggestions?
I really enjoyed this...
I like this idea. I think you are a great person for thinking it up. I know after my recent loss of my childhood pet I loved receiving messages from people letting me know that they cared. Even though he was just a cat to some people.
I agree with Danny. I’m curious to see “what would happen”, but personally it doesn’t appeal to me.
It’s like when people pass around a card at the office – I enjoy congrats, sympathies, and well wishes from those whose signatures I recognize, but the unfamiliar names feel obligatory – perhaps they’re genuine, but something isn’t quite right.
I think that is a brilliant idea.
I applaud you for thinking on this level when it comes to blogging. But some people may feel wary of others spreading their “news,” even if they’ve already published it themselves.
If something like that was set up I would use it..I think its a great idea.
FYI.
Sugared Harpy lost her cousin..I knew about this story but not that it was her family.
http://www.sugaredharpy.com/2008/09/10/this-is-my-cousin/
MP — But I think Just Run and others are right. This might end up being more helpful for those who want to help others than the others themselves. They may not even WANT so many messages….
I have never been mad at you that you never commented on my very successful campaign although I have advertized it on all same social media that you are on with me
I love you for who you are, not what you do.
Why am I one of the only people that doesn’t see any problem with the idea of this.
1. As far as getting “Twitter Spammed” goes, people do not have to follow this account through Twitter. They could easily subscribe to the RSS feed and check in on it once a week if necessary.
2. I can’t always get to my blogs, let alone blogs of blogs once removed. It would be a great way to know that something happened to someone when I’ve checked out of the PRB for a few days.
3. Individuals can decide to spread their own news. A service like Ping.FM would allow anyone to share what they wanted out there to the group Twitter account. Soooo, I am not sure where the privacy becomes an issue here.
All in all, I think it is a great thing that you want to do. It comes straight from the heart and I hate to see it so nitpicked to death. But that’s me…blah blah.
Otir — A perfect example of something I totally missed, despite you twittering about it.
Hilly — There are group Twitter accounts.
I like it in theory (and I lurve Carolyn Bahm’s idea about a third, more persistent sort of Twitter, sort of like a Facebook status message), but based on what happened with some of the other group-Twitter projects — I’m thinking specifically of that confessional thing that was active earlier in the year — the potential for abuse is sadly really high.
Which… mean people suck. There, I said it.
But I know what you mean about the power of unsolicited sympathy from random Twitters / remote friends — it’s strangely moving stuff, as if the universe contains infinite small pockets of goodwill for you. Don’t twist yourself up over missed opportunities to be the unsolicited good thing; take ‘em when you cana nd trust the rest of us to catch whatever else needs caught.
And some woman of a conservative bent called — I’m not going to say her name, saying this was just like a “liberal’s idea” — caring for everybody and everything in ideological terms, but not really caring for anyone specifically.
You’re a good egg, Neil.
I think this is a really great idea, Neil. You ARE a good egg.
Jeez, I’m going to have to write a really raunchy post now cause all this “good egg” shit is never going to get me into anyone’s bed. I know what women want. And it isn’t this.
Huh. NOW you’re on to something Neil. Can we start a Twitter account for people who want to read little bits of raunchy text dispensed in easy to absorb 140 character slices? Like a “pay it forward” for the horny?
I like this idea (your original, non-dirty idea) in theory but in practice I think it sounds kind of sterile.
See how much I know about Twitter? Bupkus! Hahaha!
I don’t twitter. Have no desire to twitter. Love and agree with every word V-grrl wrote.
Sign. Me. UP.
This idea really hits home as I think the blogosphere needs the playing field leveled.
I’m torn. I love the idea but I see the point of commenters who point out the more cynical side of it.
There are so many ways for us to use Twitter that haven’t even occurred to us, so bravo for thinking of something selfless and original.
Perhaps a commitment by people who follow you, and other like-minded individuals, to use Twitter to let their own followers about people who might need that support or kudos? A movement of kindness instead of something so structured?
Shall I? I shall. Even though I love the idea of leaving this thread at 69 comments in perpetuity, and thereby leaving you with an eternal bit of excellent, I have to chime in and say…
…
…what were you talking about?
Oh. Something about Twitter and nice things.
I think that even though these missives would not be empty, they would be a burden. I’m all for random acts of internet kindness, and if I ever get my act together the Blogging Justice League (trademark infringing though it would be) would be just one such thing. But maybe soliciting, even indirectly, such kindnesses is, not wrong, but chalk. Tasteless, though not offensive.
I think it’s a brilliant idea, even if the logistics may be tricky. I too would like to find a way to lessen the distance between the haves and have nots, maybe even a simple email chain (like a phone chain) for people who want to be a part of it. Send us all to a certain blogger when they need a pick-me-up. Go down the chain telling people which blogger needs our cheery words/comments.
Or maybe that’s too difficult?
Haha, I honestly don’t care about Dooce’s dogs, but I respect her right to use her blog to talk about them. I just quickly scroll past the photos in my reader to get to her humorous posts.
I think you’ve come up with a fabulous idea. Can’t wait to hear more about it. (Found you thru MissZoot’s shared items.)
I think it’s a great idea, Neil. I,too, have found myself away from the blogosphere only to discover that someone suffered a loss or had their baby and I had not responded. And I felt guilty…even though it wasn’t an intentional lack of response…but one of just being out of the loop. As for Chuck and Coco? I mean…I like dogs just fine, but I don’t understand the public’s response to these two canines. Even a dog that can dial 911 isn’t worth 2,000 comments.
That’s an awesome idea! Do it!
Hey Neil,
I went out of town.. I have no idea of a name for this new twitter caring community : )