"It's useless." "It's self-centered." "It's so egotistical." "It's a waste of time."
Well now, I actually enjoy twitter! I'd say I've done a complete 180 degree flip!
"It's so useful!" "I can connect to so many likeminded professionals." "Networks!"
Why did my attitudes toward twitter change though? It is still a little bit self-centered. You put something out there and expect that people who may not even know you personally will CARE. What changed for me was that I got a job. When I first got my twitter account as a student, I didn't feel I had much to say and I was a little scared to ask questions of the wider professional twitterverse. I feel like I probably shouldn't say that since I want students in our profession to feel empowered. But the truth was that the great unknown was terrifying, and in school and in my work I had a pretty solid network and support group of professionals. There was a diversity of peers and colleagues to review my work, hear my ideas, bounce back their own, and call me out on naivety or jaded attitude. Now, though, I have a new job, and I haven't known my colleagues for the past 5+ years. And I'm doing a unique project. So now I feel the need to connect with other archivists and related professionals on twitter. I want their support, ideas, feedback, encouragement, and answers. I still keep in touch with previous network, but they aren't right down the hall from my anymore! I can now follow conferences and get ideas from them even when I'm not there! I can advocate archives in some small measure from my computer. And I can share where I am in my project and get feedback.
So I was particularly excited to participate in #AskAnArchivist day yesterday! I was so happy to see so many different professionals and repositories soliciting and answering a whole range of questions. I got to answer questions from students and prospective students! (Props to them for being braver than me!) I even had a question of my own answered.
Thank you, then, to everyone who participated yesterday. You're proving to me that a professional existence on twitter is not only useful but also enjoyable!