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What I then shared with the group was a comment (see below) I'd found a few days earlier at a post regarding Twitter in the classroom. Of most interest was the term "phatic", meaning "an expression whose only function is to perform a social task, as opposed to conveying information". Additionally, think of phatic expressions as "words used to convey any kind of social relationship e.g polite mood, rather than meaning; for example, "How are you?"
Twitter makes me paranoid. I've always thought of it as a form of phatic monologue/dialogue - most posts are speech acts which contain little informative substance, and simply prolong the act of communication. Instead of having a specific, utility-based purpose, they reaffirm that the "channel" (in this case, the Internet) works as a medium. Naturally, there's a level of addictiveness that arises as the user continually seeks confirmation that his/her Twittering is "heard" ... comment left by Jess
It is a very interesting thought. I can attest that Twitter can be very "phatic" at times and I thought the resulting addictiveness cycle worthy of some thought. Had never heard anyone put it quite this way.
I'd best not send out a Tweet of this new post. ;)
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I keep hearing twitter come up and all I've been told is that it is another social networking site. Is it like facebook, or is it different?
ReplyDeletebrspeer -
ReplyDeleteI'm not hugely into Facebook, but yes, I've been told that the commenting feature in FB is very similar to twitter though not exactly the same. I'm probably not the best to give you a comparison on the two. Sorry.
Several thoughts:
ReplyDeleteWhy paranoia? If Twitter is largely phatic (which it isn't, but later), and that's bothersome, is "paranoia" the appropriate negative response? Perhaps anxiety over overload, or the introvert's fatigue at too much communication, are better.
Not phatic: for one, many tweets are messages to other users, meaningful in those contexts. Out of those contexts, tweets then look meaningless or cryptic; that's not phatic. For another, if we're looking at the set of other Twitter users one follows, then if they see the majority of their content as phatic, they should unfollow 'em and find other Twitterers!
For a third - well, one might expect me to say most of the content I see is actually informative. 'tis true.
Bryan -
ReplyDeleteAre there not times where the tweets are unmistakably "phatic"? Take for instance tweeks like "just back from walking Fido" or "ate pecan-encrusted talapia for dinner". I'm not talking about the legit sharing of real knowledge, finds, and links.
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ReplyDeleteSusan
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