This is your guide to using Twitter, but first…
A series of pictorial movement
presenting by way body and tongue
Swaying like a pendulum
through the web that weaves
from liking of a spider who feeds
by intricate design,
capturing opposition to standing position
ceasing spreads lacking of ease.
…the poem, in full above, is from my current Twitter bio. Written 01.10.2022
It may or may not be the same at the time of you reading this.
How to Use Twitter (now known as X)
Twitter bios have always been a fascinating thing to me. Why? Idk, I guess… since it’s an app that’s always gave users a very concise limit to express themselves “in 140 characters or less” (yes, I know that limit has changed for regular tweets. there’s still a limit though—and that biography is still 160 characters at the time of writing this blog post).
Think about it though… to say ALL you wanna say in such a brief way… that’s why every one on that app got such a strong opinion on your opinion. You can’t fit EVERY. VIEW. THAT. EXISTS. IN YOUR SOUL. to whoever stumbles across that tweet. Or your entire account at that.
Even when it comes to long-form content like written pieces or videos. It’s simply not possible. Can’t please everyone. And everyone ain’t looking to be pleased. Read that again.
Let’s also be honest… if we tweeted every.thought that came to our mind… and OUR outlook on it… CHILE BOO.
Any ‘tweet and delete,’ tweeting whilst inebriated, or some random tweet we spontaneously spewed from our mind to the web that happens to go viral reminds of us this. Always.
You either agree or you don’t, open to perspectives or closed to them, concerned with facts or not, understand what’s said or misinterpret… are you picking up what these words are saying?
eXit the conversation or don’t join to begin with if it’s not in alignment with your desires/curiosities.
Shake the table and cause a scene respectfully with humor or a bomb of wisdom. People like a lil drama. That’s why trolls do it on purpose 😉
Twitter (X) is an app where you’re “forced” to be creative with your words. Say what you wanna say, but say it in a way that gets the point across -At That Moment In Time-
It’s actually plausible how some folks do it.
Some tweets have serious undertones, some are facetious or flat out meant to be taken lightly.
Other tweets have esoteric resonance where you either get it or you don’t. IYKYK.
It also “forces” you/us as the reader on the receiving end to look at tweets (or any expressed thought for that matter) from multiple perspectives because:
you don’t really know the person’s intention behind the words you read (like anything else). Or, what M O R E they think about the topic at hand or about other things…
Keeping emotions in check is key; on and off the internet. Everybody got a piece of truth and formed opinion to share that you either accept or you don’t. Vice versa.
Everyone got an opinion to open your mind with & a piece of truth to make you aware of.
With that being said… if you see a tweet and you like it… engage if you want.
With that being said… if you see a tweet and it’s triggering or you simply do not like it… control yourself.
I don’t wanna make this blog post too long though. I’ll respect your short attention span.
Quick backstory: I’ve been on Twitter since 2009. When ♥️Hearts were 🌟Stars. After everyone from Myspace went to Facebook, I made a Twitter first. Yes, tweeting to strangers what I’m finna eat or whatever. It was always a “better” platform…in my opinion 😌 2011 was probably Twitter’s BEST year, for obvious reasons only those who were on the app at that time will understand. My account now isn’t the same account I ran then, as I briefly mention in the About Me section on this website, but yeah…
One of my most popular bios used to say something along the lines of… “I’m not a light skinned long hair makeup wearing tatted up chick. I’m actually the complete opposite! Does that make me ugly? God thinks otherwise.”
I was trying to find a unique way to describe myself and the personality of my account at that time… deep, relatable, true… in 160 characters. It was actually a great conversation starter that also led me to be a guest on a radio show…interesting experience.
Anyway.
Receive and interpret the poem shared at the top of this post how you will. That’s one of the reasons why I love art.
*professional voice* You can read more of my released painted words by clicking the link attached to these words. It’s in the ‘Poetry’ section, underneath the About Me tab… aleighanicole[dot]com/poetry
p.s. And for the love of all things Good, you’re not gonna agree with every single thing someone says, how they feel and their views—not even within your closest real life relationships.
I mean, there’s even aspects in versions of yourself, past and future, you don’t align with—it’s called evolving. So, please.
Unfollowing and blocking is a mindset thing before it’s a button pressed. Pun accepted.
Learn the art of ignoring, challenge your triggers (cause we gon get triggered), bless someone with your words, create boundaries, control your algorithm and treat where you give your attention and others with Respect.
Let joy fill the rest of your day!
This post was originally published on January 10, 2022 and is sometimes updated. Post re-published to the site April 8, 2024.
