This post was originally published on 12 Most on July 14, 2011. The original post can be found here.
Twitter, a place to share, a place to learn, a place to grow…Idealism or Reality?
For some of us, this is genuinely what is going on, but Twitter is also a place of “Social Norms,” somewhere that even the most awkward individual can find friends, and a locale for the cool kids to strut if only just a little bit.
As you involve yourself on Twitter, day by day, sometimes you may not observe much of what is going on around you. After all, there are millions of users and you of course are only paying attention to a few.
This draws a parallel. Back to a place where all of us (most at least) have been before. A place that some of us flourished in the limelight while others of us suffered from its wrath. The parallel I’m exploring is one we all know as “High School”
So how in the world can Twitter draw comparison to High School? The similarities are more prominent than one may think, so buckle up and take a stroll down memory lane as I share with you the 12 Most Striking Similarities Between Twitter and High School.
1. The Popular Clique
On Twitter, the “Social Media Elite” and other groups form their “Cliques” where they only tweet and retweet each other and love the fact that they are “Pseudo” rock stars. Even if that stardom is hardly lucrative in the long run (or short run for that matter). How many of you knew the cool girl in high school that now has 8 kids by 3 dads and weighs in at a slim 250 pounds?
2. Bullies
It is unbelievable how many bullies there are on Twitter. Always willing to belittle peoples ideas or antagonize anyone that doesn’t think like them. It wasn’t cool in High School and it isn’t cool here. If this is you, I recommend you deal with your issues in another way.
3. Nerds are Everywhere
QR Code, Spiritual Leadership, Music Theory, Statistics…If it is a highly intellectual subject you can find plenty of folks on Twitter talking about it. In high school being smart brought out the bullies, (see above) on Twitter being a nerd is actually somewhat cool.
4. Jocks
Sports, Sports, and more Sports. Fitness tips and tricks, diet plans, folks discussing their training regiments, and sharing how far they biked/ran today. Plus, Twitter is filled by a plethora of sports analysts, current and former players, and fans constantly discussing their teams. Let’s face it, high school was heaven for a jock and so is Twitter.
5. Talking behind your back (Backstabbers)
friendly conversation in the stream only to be followed by a DM or Skype message saying how so and so is a jerk, an idiot, or “insert” other insult/profanity. This happens all the time on Twitter just like it did in High School
6. Teachers abound
Twitter is swarming with Teachers…so was High School. Agreed? Okay moving on…
7. A Lot of Counseling
You have a need for advice, feedback, direction? Find it here…In high school you had your deans and guidance counselors, on Twitter you have all the self proclaimed and actual experts.
8. College and Military Recruiting
If you are uncertain about your future, all of Twitter there are schools recruiting you for higher learning and the military is now here recruiting for soldiers. New medium perhaps, but exactly the same as high school.
9. Gratuitous Self Promotion
You may see Tweet Tweet Tweet about peoples experience, knowledge, and accolades. But many of us read Brag, Brag, Brag. There is so much unnecessary self promo on Twitter that it sounds like the cool kids table at lunch time.
10. Endless Flirting
Mostly harmless, but everywhere nonetheless. Guys, Gals, can’t help themselves and it is very apparent if you watch the stream. Those of you guilty of this…trust me when I say…IT IS VERY APPARENT! Those of you in a relationship, consider yourselves warned.
11. Slackers be Slacking
Not everyone on Twitter is paid to be there. Nor is everyone on Twitter unemployed. So, that means quite a few folks on Twitter are paid to do something else but Tweet, but are doing it anyway. Kind of like, not paying attention in class or forgetting to study for a test. Either way, it isn’t what you are supposed to be doing, but that isn’t stopping you…
12. It is something many say they hate but do it over and over given the opportunity
C’mon who wouldn’t do high school again if they had the chance…okay perhaps a few of you, but for the rest of you, it is just like Twitter. It is something you REALLY enjoy doing, but are a bit ashamed/embarrassed/bothered by that fact that you do.
While there are probably a thousand other similarities between Twitter and High School, these 12 stuck out to me like a 7 foot man wearing a pink dress. (Not a pretty sight btw)
So take a moment to think, why are you here? Certainly not to matriculate at “Twitter High!” But it sure is fun to wish isn’t it?
