Let's All Sing Like the Birdies Sing

I am not a Ludite (someone who fears changing technology). I use cell phones and computers like it was second nature. I had no trouble replacing all my vinyl records with CDs because of the superior sound quality. I use e-mail and have a Facebook page. Look, I even know how to blog.

But I just don't get the Twitter phenomenon. Updates by my "favorite" people on their activities by the day or hour or minute? I don't really need to know and I doubt that anyone wants to know this stuff about me.

I figure that writing a blog is egotistical enough. But at least here, I am expressing thoughts that maybe we can discuss. But to know that I am going to the gym now...what's the purpose?

I am really trying to not be a crank here. I just don't get it. Perhaps I'm just not social enough. Or maybe this is a fad that will soon die. Whatever, I can't see myself tweeting anytime soon.

Editors needed

As a would-be writer who has had a few things published, I am not always appreciative of editors. I like that they correct grammar or spelling mistakes that i don't catch. However, they also feel qualified to delete entire sentences that they think are superfluous or don't fit the tome of the publication. Delete my breathless prose will you? They're cultural Philistines.

However, I can think of one place that an editor would help: Facebook photo pages. People, just because you took 40 pictures of you and your friends at a party or the beach or a baseball game does not mean that you have to post each and every one of them. Especially when 20 of them are of the same people in the same basic pose. A few samples will satisfy even the most narcissistic subject in the photos.

The satirical on-line publication, The Onion, ran this story today: Police Slog Through 40,000 Insipid Party Pics To Find Cause Of Dorm Fire. The "story" led with: "The fire was ruled an accident after a tedious review of thousands of digital photos documenting every second of the five hour party."

That's how I feel after viewing some photo pages. Let's make a deal. I'll promise to look at your photo pages when you post them if you promise to self-edit and not publish every single picture you took. Deal?