“He wrapped himself in quotations – as a beggar would enfold himself in the purple of emperors.”
Rudyard Kipling
There is a Twitter virus that is malignant and damaging. You probably know people who are infected and maybe you are yourself.
Like all powerful viruses it spreads rapidly through reproduction and it does not enhance, build or strengthen anything.
I think it has it’s origin in good intentions but my mother always said that the road to hell was paved with those and I think she was right. I have certainly, mistakenly, followed several people who were heavily infected. I have since dropped them and I am on my guard against future infections.
So what is this twitter virus of which I speak – let me give you a clue:
“Some for renown on scraps of learning dote,
And think they grow immortal as they quote.”
Edward Young
Yes that’s right. I am talking about the human twitter virus of constantly tweeting quotations or links to other sites.
*(‘tweeting’ means to publish a message on Twitter if you are unfamiliar with Twitter lingo)
I accept that it can it be useful or educational to post the occasional link. There are some things out there that deserve to be shared but the continual practice of tweeting other people’s work doesn’t make you look well read and clever. It makes you look like you have no original thoughts.
And if you are compelled to share the occasional a link or quote then how about saying why you are sharing it? Give some explanation of what that link or quote meant to you. Or maybe, and hold on if this seems too radical, or like too much work, write your own article discussing the website or quote you want to share.
This would give you something original to post and would actually add to the knowledge wealth of mankind rather than simply acting as another signpost on the information highway. Which when you simply post a link is all you are really doing.
So please, consider if you are a victim or a carrier of this virus and take steps to stamp it out. There are wonderful things out there to share and you have a chance to make them even more meaningful.
People will be a lot more impressed by your actions when they are your own rather than simply the fruits of other people’s efforts – and this holds true online and in business – originality is powerful.
Until next time; be original!
Stephen Hart
Trainer, Coach, Public Speaker
