1/ Manners as an edge--
One of Twitter's greatest strengths--inviting anyone with WiFi and a smartphone into the conversation--is also one that creates the most misunderstanding.
This app is essentially a confederacy of domains--FinTwit; FilmTwit; Architecture Twitter, etc.
One of Twitter's greatest strengths--inviting anyone with WiFi and a smartphone into the conversation--is also one that creates the most misunderstanding.
This app is essentially a confederacy of domains--FinTwit; FilmTwit; Architecture Twitter, etc.
2/ It allows people with specific interests access to everyone else in the world who shares that interest and, as IRL, friendships and shorthand communication develop that deepen the bonds between mutuals, often starting with their shared interest but then developing well beyond
3/ that particular interest.
The problems can start when someone from outside that group barges into conversations that they don't realize they weren't invited to--if I, as a non-member of Architecture Twitter--suddenly see something that triggers me in that domain and barge
The problems can start when someone from outside that group barges into conversations that they don't realize they weren't invited to--if I, as a non-member of Architecture Twitter--suddenly see something that triggers me in that domain and barge
4/ in to an ongoing discussion of how to make architecture more pleasing to we humans and assert my uninformed opinion that "all modern architecture MUST do X to be good" I've derailed a potentially useful conversation that depends on a shared passion for architecture.
5/ In short, I've become a "reply guy."
There's a reason for the popularity of the phrase "all it takes is one rotten apple to spoil the whole barrel."
It's true.
It only takes one bad person, thing, element, etc., to ruin the entire group, situation, project, etc.
There's a reason for the popularity of the phrase "all it takes is one rotten apple to spoil the whole barrel."
It's true.
It only takes one bad person, thing, element, etc., to ruin the entire group, situation, project, etc.
6/ And since we don't live in a Willy Wonka universe, there's no simple way to remove me and my uniformed architecture views from the conversation.
Yes, the members of that group can block me or mute me, but my original intrusion certainly fucks up the vibe and injects
Yes, the members of that group can block me or mute me, but my original intrusion certainly fucks up the vibe and injects
7/ unwanted noise and dissonance into the conversation.
As usual, @rickygervais nails it with this bit about one of the obvious problems with this incredible global platform--anyone, literally ANYONE, can participate,
youtube.com
As usual, @rickygervais nails it with this bit about one of the obvious problems with this incredible global platform--anyone, literally ANYONE, can participate,
youtube.com
8/ even if they lack ANY understanding of the subject.
And it's a feature, not a bug, of HumanOS to take things personally while simultaneously often conflating our opinions and beliefs as facts that are axiomatically true--that ignites our feeling that we MUST correct
And it's a feature, not a bug, of HumanOS to take things personally while simultaneously often conflating our opinions and beliefs as facts that are axiomatically true--that ignites our feeling that we MUST correct
9/ these OBVIOUSLY wrong people to restore order to our particular reality tunnel without even grasping the fact that, in many of these specific conversations, it is WE who are ill-informed and wrong.
We are ignorant of our ignorance and thus continue to disrupt an otherwise
We are ignorant of our ignorance and thus continue to disrupt an otherwise
10/ potentially useful conversation.
And since reprogramming HumanOS is a daunting task, we go on, to paraphrase Kipling, remaining islands of different beliefs shouting at each other over seas of misunderstanding.
Is there a solution? Maybe. If we could restore even basic
And since reprogramming HumanOS is a daunting task, we go on, to paraphrase Kipling, remaining islands of different beliefs shouting at each other over seas of misunderstanding.
Is there a solution? Maybe. If we could restore even basic
11/ good manners to the ecosystem, it might dramatically ameliorate Twitter's "reply guy" problem.
As the Axe on good manners Emily Post asserts:
As the Axe on good manners Emily Post asserts:
12/ "Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use."
Now, many will say there's no way to REQUIRE good manners on a universally available platform like Twitter,
Now, many will say there's no way to REQUIRE good manners on a universally available platform like Twitter,
13/ And they would be right in that assertion.
As one who abhors being told what I MUST do and bristles whenever instructed by a tongue clucking busybody about following "ze rules" (which are often simply the busybody's idea of how others should behave more like them)
As one who abhors being told what I MUST do and bristles whenever instructed by a tongue clucking busybody about following "ze rules" (which are often simply the busybody's idea of how others should behave more like them)
14/ let me offer an alternate suggestion that underlies why free markets work so well and appeal to your naked self-interest:
In an era of rude and brutish behavior, having good manners provides you with an asymmetric advantage over those who don't.
In an era of rude and brutish behavior, having good manners provides you with an asymmetric advantage over those who don't.
15/ Clarence Thomas asserted that "good manners will open doors that the best education cannot."
I think that's right, and, as my mother said, while beating good manners into me as a kid, "You catch a lot more flies with honey than with vinegar."
I think that's right, and, as my mother said, while beating good manners into me as a kid, "You catch a lot more flies with honey than with vinegar."
16/ If you modify your behavior to include just basic good manners--respect for the views of others; practicing basic kindness and the ability to refrain from caustically trying to trying to set other people "straight"--you'll find that your path in life becomes much easier
17/ and potentially more fruitful.
As a very lazy person, I've discovered this is often an effortless way to open others to you and your ideas and may be the difference between being included in that discussion which leads ultimately to a successful new venture or discovery
As a very lazy person, I've discovered this is often an effortless way to open others to you and your ideas and may be the difference between being included in that discussion which leads ultimately to a successful new venture or discovery
18/ from which you would have been excluded if you loutishly banged around and kept asserting that everyone else is wrong while you--only you--are right.
It also helps you in your own life and opportunities therein to expand to open doors that would otherwise be closed to you.
It also helps you in your own life and opportunities therein to expand to open doors that would otherwise be closed to you.
19/ Lillian Gish got it right when she said "You can get through life with bad manners, but it's easier with good manners."
Sometimes simple and small changes in behavior can have a HUGE impact on the opportunities available to you--what's more, good manners will make your own
Sometimes simple and small changes in behavior can have a HUGE impact on the opportunities available to you--what's more, good manners will make your own
20/ life much more enjoyable and potentially vastly more successful.
I'd like to thank @p_millerd for the tweet that got me thinking more about this--I owe you one!
I'd like to thank @p_millerd for the tweet that got me thinking more about this--I owe you one!
21/ Meanwhile, I shall attempt to follow my own advice and refrain from responding to all of the people who come to tell me why I'm wrong (which, to be fair, I often am)
I'll probably fail...
I'll probably fail...
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