I received a reader message this morning imploring that I should get back on twitter, that my 5000 or so fans on there want to interact with me and by bailing I signal to the other side that they win.
It’s an interesting dilemma. I have a few problems with Twitter beyond the immediate insanity of EVS’s harassment squad — it’s enemy territory. I’ve been suspended several times for pointless reasons that aren’t actual violations, and now they’re cracking down hard on people who have different opinions than the establishment alt-left on different matters. It’s a bad environment to begin with. Another author put it to me: “Twitter is enemy territory.” It’s like running into Afghanistan or something and putting an American flag down in the middle of the square and saying “What’s up guys?” And my fellow author is right about that.
Second, it’s a time suck. Every minute I spend tweeting is a minute I’m not spending blogging, tending to my mailing list, working on my ads, writing books, producing comics, or all the other things I should be doing. Is the ability to shitpost to give people a few laughs really worth that? I’ve taken Facebook off my phone and only use it when I want to, making it more cumbersome and a thing I have to consciously do rather than do unconsciously. I think the further distance from social media and the more it’s used as a marketing tool platform at this stage of my life, the better.
For now, the best ways to interact with me is to get on my mailing list. I use this to let people know when new releases are out and it’s the best way to ensure you’ll never miss one. In 2019 I intend on using this more to deliver some content, give people some benefits for getting emails from me (and it sends out from my email so you can just write back).
Second, Patreon. I have a private discord server for Patreon supporters along with all the cool content that gets released there FIRST before anywhere else. It’s small but it’s a good spot to interact without all the noise and public grandstanding from people who just want to attack me for attention.
Third, The Grand Rislandian Army facebook group. It’s just about my books and works, and It’s more fun because of that.
If I were to return to Twitter, I would probably have it managed similarly to the way I do Facebook now, which is not so much engaging on posts off of my own. I might even not go on the site itself and just program posts from somewhere else just so I don’t have to interact there. I don’t think there’s a lot of good that comes from it, though I do wish I had that spot to send out my links when a new book or blog gets posted or whatnot.
What do you guys think?
BTW… Make Science Fiction Fun Again is hanging strong at #3 here, but I’ve still got these #Resist alt-leftists to pass. America still needs your help! Buy Make Science Fiction Fun Again now!
“Second, it’s a time suck. Every minute I spend tweeting is a minute I’m not spending blogging, tending to my mailing list, working on my ads, writing books, producing comics, or all the other things I should be doing. Is the ability to shitpost to give people a few laughs really worth that?”
You sound like me. I do not think you’ve made a bad decision ditching Twitter at all, and I like how you’re handling Facebook. I think you have better platforms in your blog and mailing list, anyway. Keep writing, keep blogging, keep selling books, and keep winning, Jack Dorsey and his ilk be damned.
The only way to beat these oligarchs is deny them users.
Walk away. Don’t do business with anyone who hates you for your political or religious beliefs. Twitter is anti-American. It is using Third World tactics. Deny companies like this any financial gain from your use. There are alternative platforms out there that we should support by our use.
Jon, I know you use Patreon and Indigogo for your benefit but they have behaved similarly to Twitter. Although I might contribute to your Patreon account in the future, I find it extremely distasteful to send them any of my money.
I think you should get on Minds.com
It’s free speech centric, has a tonne of creative people. The author of Gun Ghoul is over there promoting his work. I’m there promoting my music. You know me as @person999312 from twitter, on minds I am @moonlit45
Anyway, I hope to see you there. I got zucced on facebook for sharing a damned gif. I’ve talked to people who’ve been banned for raptor memes. Facebook and twitter are both authoritarian crap holes.