Mar 31, 2009
It’s good to ask if Twitter is necessarily narcissistic (as long as you answer No).
Like this post?
Conversations with narcissists—whether at the church, bar, or computer—will feel narcissistic.
It’s who you’re talking to that matters, not where.
* * * * *
I would think that the “what” also matters as well.
Do others really need to know what you ate for breakfast today?
Jerry -
Yes, what matters in general, but I don’t think it makes a difference as to whether a conversation is egotistical or not.
There are egotistical ways to talk about myself and selfless ways to talk about myself.
Also, surely you don’t restrict what you say to only things that people need to know?
I’d also like to point out that the people who use Twitter (or any medium) to only discuss things like what they had for breakfast are doing it wrong.
There are far more interesting, worthwhile conversations to be had (or started) on Twitter than ones about breakfast food.
So, is everyone who joins Twitter narcissistic? THAT’S the question!
Jerry,
I don’t think I necessarily need to know what “X” ate for breakfast this morning, but I want to know. It takes me 2 seconds to read a tweet, and I learn something every time. Twitter helps me learn more about the people that are in my sphere of influence.
I believe we can use this tool, for the glory of God, by creating more community in the body of Christ and by reaching out to those who don’t know him.
Challies tweeted the following yesterday:
“Neil Postman, writing in 1992, foreseeing Twitter: ‘Will the computer raise egocentrism to the status of a virtue?’”
My Response:
“This is no more egocentric than making small talk at a social gathering. In fact, it’s less so. Talk about yourself too much here and you’ll be the only friend you have.”
I like this. Growing up in church, I always used to hear people say that you shouldn’t do X in church. That always bothered me. Why is X wrong simply because of my location? Is God any less angry if I stepped outside the church doors to do X?
We are jumping on the guy who only shares what he just had for breakfast, but I don’t think he exists. No one just shares just breakfast foods. At least, I don’t know of anyone.
Like I said earlier, I don’t mind too much knowing what they had for breakfast.
If you figure out a way to believe that Twitter is utterly narcissistic and still tweet, without being a complete hypocrite, please let me know.
Paula – brilliant.
I had an English muffin with egg, cheese, and bacon, in case anyone was interested.
I also like what Barnabas said on this matter: “Twitter promotes blatant narcissism. But is also a way to promote lots of wonderful things other than yourself.”
I just started using it two weeks ago and my friend who, um, follows me on Twitter told me I was a bit narcissistic. I thought about it for a moment and concluded that he puts the same type or messages on Twitter that I do.
It’ great to have friends.
Seriously I see Twitter as just another tool to keep in touch with those I would not normally do so with.
Twitter doesn’t promote narcissism. Narcissists promote narcissism.
I find the association between narcissism and twitter is primarily preached by people who cannot figure out how to tweet themselves. They are the narcissists. They want to squash our twitter-verse because they do not feel as though there is room for them in the twitter inn.
I’d like to know what the guy had for breakfast.
In fact I think it would be interesting to follow a person completely minute by minute through a day. Including all (or most) thoughts and conversations, bathroom breaks, deciding what and why to wear, walking to work, meetings, boredom during meetings, etc.
I had a bagel and some orange juice…
[...] abound on twitter, though as Abraham Piper said, Conversations with narcissists-whether at the church, bar, or computer-will feel [...]
I joined Twitter a couple of months ago, and I’ve already had enough. I think in a lot of cases it is narcissistic, and in a lot of other cases it just appears so because of its one-way nature and the pressure to tweet regularly, resulting in acutely mundane content. I think digital communication has been immensely beneficial, to the point where I can’t imagine living without my mobile or email, but I think Twitter takes it one step too far into the realms of unnecessary and over-exposure. I can now quite happily quit, knowing that I’m not missing out on anything.
[...] may rethink this position. Not only did Abraham Piper point out that a narcissist is a narcissist regardless of where he is or how he spreads his narcissism (i.e. [...]
[...] “I’m eating an old TV dinner!”). Narcissists abound on twitter, though as Abraham Piper said, Conversations with narcissists-whether at the church, bar, or computer-will feel narcissistic. [...]