I’ll be in New York for Inman Connect this week, but I’ll be leaving most of social media behind.
On December 8th, 2012, I tweeted, “Twitter off. I might be back Monday. We’ll see. :)” I needed a break to get some distance and perhaps gain some perspective on why I use Twitter. And except for the errant automatic tweet sent from my blog that required me to respond on 12/19, I haven’t been back since. I’m sure I’ll return at some point, but it won’t be this week, contrary to the hopes of Chris Drayer. This morning, I went to see exactly when I signed off of Twitter and found this in response:
@jeffturner may have to make a sacrifice to the twitter gods this week. cc @iamphilkells
— Chris Drayer (@FPO) January 14, 2013
Sorry, Chris. There will be no sacrifice to the Twitter gods this week. And I won’t be posting live updates to Facebook, or Path or Google+, or checking in via Foursquare, or posting photos to Instagram. Frankly, I’ve grown tired of heading to conferences like this where everyone says, “The real value is in connecting with people,” only to watch everyone get together and stare at their phones while they frantically try to tell everyone who is not there what they’re doing. I’m going to battle my infinite appetite for distraction and focus on the moment, perhaps snap a photo or two, but if I’m with the people I came to connect with, the phone will be in my pocket.
I’m tired of technology being in the saddle. So, I’ll be checking Facebook in the morning and at night, I’ll post some of my favorite photos from the day, and send a few birthday videos. What I won’t be doing is attempting to alert everyone who is NOT at Inman about what I’m doing the moment I’m doing it. That can wait.
This week is about face-to-face.
Great post Jeff! You have a valid point and I will say I have thought the same thing! Wish I could make it to Inman, it would be great to hang with you! But too many trips in January already!
Jeff, great point! Being face to face and focused on social media toys is ridiculous! Looking forward to being face to face with you this week in NYC! Michelle
I am thinking about doing a daily recap of the conference so that no one misses out.
I will look forward to it.
There you go. Well said Jeff. One of my pet peeves. I even see it in church of all places.
wow, i so totally agree. I’ve backed so far off of all social media in the last 12 months. It’s not that I don’t love it. It’s not that it’s not fun. But, it needs to reflect who I really am. I’m really more of a one post every other day kinda guy. I don’t ‘have a strategy’. I don’t ‘leverage’. I just post when I feel like posting. crazy I know (and Ironic that I just used FB to post here 🙂 )
Sounds like a good plan to me. I think you will enjoy the conference more and get more out on it.
How 20th Century of you … He says logging in with Facebook
I plan to check in and occasionally follow the Twitter stream from #ICNY over the next few days, and will be interested to note the “gist” of what is going on.
hear hear! Thank you for saying what I have feeling for the last year. I make time to be with my friends, or time to attend an all important class or meeting and guess what? Most folks are too engaged in their iPhone or iPad to give full attention!
I love the technology and instant info as much as the next person, but as with the good comes the bad. Wake up people, it’s still the people that matter most…
Look forward to speaking face to face
I really prefer talking to Drew only online
Could not agree more. Enjoy the moments/people while you’re face to face. Social will always be there waiting for you. 🙂 Have a blast at Inman ~ See you next week in Banff 🙂
As I’ve always said, the best stuff happens in the hallways. Looking somebody in the eye and gauging the sincerity of a handshake. I applaud your efforts Jeff and wish I could be there to join in on the social media sabbatical with you.
I completely get it and I too decided Jan 1, to back off a (little) from social media. For me social media has stifled my creativity and my ability to learn. A few years ago it became more important to tweet at a conference than to listen and learn. When I want to make a decision I go to Google first. If I want to design a new room in my house or create a piece of glass I go to the internet. ….. I miss myself!
I love this comment.
Enjoy the face to face.