Kaity Tong
9:01PM | May 11, 2009 | comments: 2778

To Tweet Or Not To Tweet....Is THAT The Question?

So now they want us to tweet.. First it was the blog. I thought I got away with just hijacking Jim’s that first time, and that would be the end of it, but no such luck. Then Facebook. Again, resistance on my part. But I crumbled . Didn’t even take long. And now, twitter.

I barely understand Facebook! By the way, I don’t maintain my page well, at all. Everybody tells me that. Our assistant news director took it upon himself to take me aside and whisper in my ear, “For Pete’s sake, Kaity, put a photo of yourself on your profile page! "

"What’s wrong with not having a picture? You mean that grey faceless shadow with the sort of geeky pointed-head hair thing going on, isn’t good enough?"

"No. You look like a LOSER." And he makes the appropriate L sign, with his hand, in front of his forehead.

Boy. I am old school. I am. I like having a day book to write appointments in. I get mine at Barnes and Noble, a handsome thing of lovely faux leather, the Manhattan Diary, a new one every year. I don’t just put appointments in it, either. Oh no. I put EVERYTHING in it. Lists, reminders, things I need to do, things I need to NOT do, calls I have to make, ….all of it, every bit, goes into this 4X9 little book that I carry with me everywhere. This year I bought the dark blue one.

People are astonished that I can decipher anything from those pages, every bit of space crammed with something or other. In all different shades of ink, mostly black. Though, as the year progresses, even I start to think it’s looking pretty funky.

Pages and pages of writing so dense, so tightly packed, it would stump a crack team of Army Intelligence code-breakers and hieroglyphics professors from Columbia University. Yet I can read every scribble and squiggle and blob. I like the feel of the thing, the pages, writing stuff down.

Just like with books. I LOVE books! I want to HOLD a book in my hand, TURN actual tactile pages with my hand. Reading a book on a computer or even on that new thing they’ve come out with, it just doesn’t give me any pleasure.

I know I’m a dying breed. Friends, family, strangers on the street….everyone makes fun of me. They see me pull out that little blue day book and complete strangers start pointing and laughing so hard they’re dropping their blackberries.

I do NOT own a blackberry. I don’t have an i-phone. I do, however, own a computer and I have a cellphone. But my cell is very basic. No bells and whistles. Again, people I’ve never met before in my life feel free to laugh at me in public and say…”I don’t know how you can stand to text on that phone, using just your right thumb. It would drive me nuts!”

Excuse me, do I KNOW you? Do I tell YOU what to do with YOUR right thumb?

Is there ANYONE else out there like me? I’m not talking about your 88 year old grandparents….although they are probably tweeting and blogging merrily away.

I’m talking about the average person, like me. You know, a baby boomer, only younger.

Anyway, if you’re out there, let me know. I feel so alone.

So back to the reason behind this blog - until I veered ridiculously off- topic... To tweet, or not to tweet: THAT is the question? What do you think?

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Comments: 2778

Posted by chuck at May 11, 2009 10:10 PM

Ms. Tong, you are not alone!

I too have no iPhone, blackberry or even a cell phone, nor am I in any hurry to get any of these,(even if I COULD afford them). (I am surprised to find that you don't have "Gimme Back My Filet O' Fish" McDonald's jingle as your cell ringtone).

I do have a computer & use Facebook , but, refuse to twit or tweet or whatever it's called being on Twitter. Just seems too damn inane.

As an cartoon artist, you know I love the feel of actual paper & books as such. I'm attempting to educate myself about computer coloring & other creative applications, (by reading "PAPER BOUND BOOKS" by the way).

I almost always carry a sketchbook with me at all times & it sometimes doubles for meeting notes,concept ideas & shopping lists.

So dear lady, you are not alone.

However, I too would suggest that you do place a photograph of yourself on your Facebook page.

You're much too attractive not to do so!

Posted by goaliemom at May 11, 2009 10:43 PM

Love my computers, text, use my cell phone and gps.

Have no intention of tweeting and will NOT use a kindle, I prefer the feel and smell of a Real book.

Guess you aren't alone, Kaity.

Posted by goaliemom at May 11, 2009 10:43 PM

Love my computers, text, use my cell phone and gps.

Have no intention of tweeting and will NOT use a kindle, I prefer the feel and smell of a Real book.

Guess you aren't alone, Kaity.

Posted by diedonce at May 11, 2009 10:46 PM

Dear Kaity,
Sweetheart.... you are no alone! There are many of us who simply adore your methods of communicating. I apologize, I did not forget your name, Ms. Tong, You are the best news achor in New York. All this twits and tweets are for a younger generation,

Posted by Brian at May 11, 2009 10:47 PM

I joined twitter a couple of day ago and I don't know what is all the fuss.

Do you have to twit to be in the "IN" crowd?

Not a week goes by without someone on TV mentioning it.

Posted by Mel at May 11, 2009 10:47 PM

Twitter, like most things online is fun and annoying addictive (if you get sucked in). For me, I find twitter a good way to just vent. Like when you have a thought and no one to tell it to, you can just tweet it out. Maybe someone would read it, maybe no one might read it, but to me it's quite cathartic. Also when/if you have something to share, but your friends can't bother going on those sites/online whatever, they can get it via sms on their cells.

Like many of those sites, it's how you go about it and make of it.

BTW, I enjoy your tweets, however rare they may be. I would've went with the steak though. :)

Posted by Phylicia at May 11, 2009 10:57 PM

I personally believe that "tweeting" is a waste of time. It is a minute by minute update of your life and it seems like you are just disconnecting yourself from the world more than you already are. I would prefer to pick up the phone and update you as to what I am doing.
Twitter is also only for those that have the high-tech phones so that they can update on the go. I am sorry Kaity but I don't think you should get too caught up in the twittering phase. It will not last long.
♥ Phy

Posted by Phylicia at May 11, 2009 10:57 PM

I personally believe that "tweeting" is a waste of time. It is a minute by minute update of your life and it seems like you are just disconnecting yourself from the world more than you already are. I would prefer to pick up the phone and update you as to what I am doing.
Twitter is also only for those that have the high-tech phones so that they can update on the go. I am sorry Kaity but I don't think you should get too caught up in the twittering phase. It will not last long.
♥ Phy

Posted by Phylicia at May 11, 2009 10:57 PM

I personally believe that "tweeting" is a waste of time. It is a minute by minute update of your life and it seems like you are just disconnecting yourself from the world more than you already are. I would prefer to pick up the phone and update you as to what I am doing.
Twitter is also only for those that have the high-tech phones so that they can update on the go. I am sorry Kaity but I don't think you should get too caught up in the twittering phase. It will not last long.
♥ Phy

Posted by Phylicia at May 11, 2009 10:58 PM

I personally believe that "tweeting" is a waste of time. It is a minute by minute update of your life and it seems like you are just disconnecting yourself from the world more than you already are. I would prefer to pick up the phone and update you as to what I am doing.
Twitter is also only for those that have the high-tech phones so that they can update on the go. I am sorry Kaity but I don't think you should get too caught up in the twittering phase. It will not last long.
Phy

Posted by kman at May 11, 2009 11:12 PM

Problem is, Kaity, if you're never going to stop looking like you're thirty-something, hi-tech stuff is going to be expected of you!

God bless ya.

Posted by ICA at May 12, 2009 12:54 AM

Hi Kaity!

I hope u get my comment. It was just a bit lengthy...
To summerize...tweeting/reading tweets for a lit'l while is not that bad.

:-)
ICA

Posted by Nash at May 12, 2009 1:50 AM

2. Hi Kaity,
The verdict is NOT to TWEET. Bringing people up to date with minute by minute posts of your daily activites is quite ridiculous and time consuming. Research shows that online social utilities reduce performance and we certainly don't want you to do a poor job with the news. But let's imagine your twitter posts if you do decide to tweet:

9:00pm - i am writing my blog now, i hope to finish before Jim does

9:59pm - preparing to go on air and read the PIX news

10:10pm- (while off-screen) listening to Arthur Ch'ien report on the MTA fare hike. zzzz i remember my reporting days....

10:33pm- Hoping Mr G has good news about tomorrow's "tweather"

10:53pm- (during ad break)Is making sure i will say read my blog first before Jim says to read his

11:00pm- I am going home now. I will get Jim next time....He always beats me to the punch when its time to say read my blog

I like to feel the pages of books too but i love to smell the fresh pages of a brand new book.

Posted by kaitytong at May 12, 2009 3:02 PM

Thanks for all the comments, guys!
And Nash, very funny! Shared it with Jim, and he agrees.
Me too, I love the smell of a brand new book.

And kman, thanks for making my day.

Posted by kaitytong at May 12, 2009 3:02 PM

Thanks for all the comments, guys!
And Nash, very funny! Shared it with Jim, and he agrees.
Me too, I love the smell of a brand new book.

And kman, thanks for making my day.

Posted by goodauthority at May 12, 2009 5:32 PM

Kaity!

I'm pretty sure that tweeting is for twits.

Resist, eventually when everyone else in the world GIVES UP ON Twitter, you will be seen to have been in the vanguard.

You go girl.


Posted by ICA at May 12, 2009 7:08 PM

Hi Kaity,

I don't see my comment. Why?? It didn't have anything bad. It had a funny link; not bad; funny.

I always tell u guys what a good job you all do. What happened to my comment??
Sheesh!

Posted by kman at May 13, 2009 11:25 PM

Right back at ya, Kaity.

kman

Posted by ICA at May 16, 2009 5:29 PM

Hi Kaity,

Take a look at this...
104-year-old woman tweeting in Britain.

http://twitpic.com/5b1w9


Take care.
ICA

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