Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, oh my!

[shootingstar]

I don't subscribe to Facebook and occasionally I wish I did...just to comment on major Canadian newspaper articles. I find it really limiting that some newspaper websites only allow FAcebook comments. That's it. 'Cause there have been interesting/hot local articles on cycling, sustainable urban planning, etc.

But my good close friends nor are my family members aren't into Facebook. Nor do I twitter. So not missing much in terms of personal relationships.

I only used Twitter via my partner's account when I was helping him organize a cycling conference and promoting it, plus his business. I actually don't see the point of Instagram. I don't expect my friends and family hanging onto every photo I take.

I unsubscribed from LinkedIn. I was getting invites, etc. from people who were completely unrelated to my profession, my personal interests. Forget it. Though I have a strong resume, worked for some very interesting employers, I am stunned that people shlep out their resume/work history in whole world of strangers. I only do it for jobs that I specifically apply online at an employer's website.

Other than email, I do consider my blog(s)', social media. My personal blog has been a way to share photos and short posts about things I've seen, in a more permanent way for people who know me well since I live over 1,000 km. away. They are probably gettin' to know a part of me, that they knew about vaguely my whole life so far, but now, via my blog, more about some of interests/passions. (Yea, I am the sister who cycles..but now the blog, shows what I think about cycling. So it's a great way for me to chat up on a topic and if the person is not interested, fine.)

I don't "follow" other bloggers...I bookmark them. Rationale: I don't want a pile of incoming email alerts. I just will visit blogs that I like. They tend to cover: cycling, fitness, food, travel and other stuff I've been interested long time. I like sharing chatter with other regular blogger-readers.

True, that employers/employees can check up on me. Oh well. I have to say, that I try to keep my personal blog quite clean in language and not overly controversial (however cycling as a lifestyle can be controversial for some folks). I don't rant much on my personal blog because it just takes a lot of energy for me to rant in coherent paragraphs online and in the end, for me, it doesn't do much for me. Better I talk it out with friends. I am vaguely conscious that my personal blog..will be part of a legacy of me-- a digital footprint. I do see my blog a partial distillation of the best of me and a snapshot essence of "me" reflected how I take photos, photos of my artwork, how I think on certain topics, etc.