Sue Dunlop Consulting

Social Media and Me

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by

Sue Dunlop

I’m a bit of a nerd. I like Star Trek (yes, even Deep Space Nine), I read The Lord of the Rings once a year or so, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of my all time favourite TV shows.

Social media appeals to me on the same level somehow. It can really cool and full of fantasy and possibility. I don’t want to push the metaphor too much, but I really feel the connection. (See what I did there?)

Then there’s the whole introvert thing. I’m not the first person to write about why social media is attractive to introverts. Mack Collier‘s post “Why Introverts Love Social Media” explains it better than I can.  Andrea Learned of the Huffington Post wrote this great article: “Social Media and the Introverted Leader.” It really captures so much of what I feel. (BTW, I didn’t know President Obama was an introvert. It explains a lot about why some people don’t get him.)

Social media has enriched my life and opened up another world in education. I have met and shared fresh ideas with educators all over.  Even more powerful, I connect with people within my district more than I ever did since I’ve become more active on Twitter and started this blog. I love that part of social media.  Thanks to everyone who engages with me!

Photo Credit: socialautomotive via Compfight cc
Photo Credit: socialautomotive via Compfight cc

Comments

8 Responses to “Social Media and Me”

  1. adunsige Avatar
    adunsige

    I found myself nodding along to so much of what you shared (minus the Star Trek part 🙂 ). Seriously though, I do love the connections that I’ve made through social media, especially those with administrators and educators in the Board (some that I barely knew beforehand). Thanks to Twitter and your blog, by the time I met you in person, I felt like I already knew you. Thanks for connecting so well through social media. I love these kinds of connections!

    Aviva

    Reply
  2. Maureen Devlin Avatar
    Maureen Devlin

    I imagine you loved the movie, Interstellar too, Sue. I understand the connection you make here. I’m also glad you shared the links about introverts and social media. I look forward to reading. Have a good day.

    Reply
  3. Labika Ghani Avatar
    Labika Ghani

    Hi Sue! I loved reading this blog post few days ago but didn’t have the time to comment on it until today because it wouldn’t work on my phone earlier. I totally agree with you that introverts tend to be attracted to social media. Although most people believe that I am an extrovert, I am surprisingly quite the opposite! Regardless of what type of person I am, I simply love social media because it connects me with new people, one tweet at a time.
    Also, I love that you mention that you are a nerd. I feel as if you are still a youth at heart and for this reason you seem to connect with us students a lot more than other educators do. Also, you remind me of a classmate in my Writer’s Craft class named Chelsea. I would love to connect you two because you would be an excellent role model for my friend Chelsea!! 🙂
    P.S I used to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer when I was young with my oldest sister when she still lived at home! I wish I had time to watch TV shows currently but my leisure time is usually spent on twitter or running outside. 6am runs before school are my favourite!!
    -Labika 🙂

    Reply
    1. Sue Dunlop Avatar
      Sue Dunlop

      Ah, so you’re one of those “act like an extrovert but really an introvert” types! Very common in our society where extrovertism is valued. I really appreciate you reading my blog and taking the time to comment.

      Perhaps you just don’t know much about your current teachers? I bet some of them are nerds too! 😉

      Reply
      1. lghani5061 Avatar
        lghani5061

        Yes, I am one of those “types”! I usually felt pressured to act like an extrovert while planning events for school and for youth conferences. Some of my volunteer coordinators assumed that I was an extrovert and they always pressured me the day before our big youth conference or the night before our leadership camp, to be the “social butterfly” that I am and be friends with everyone at the event. When in reality, that was usually the exact opposite of what I wanted to do. I would have rather observed people, listen and speak when I felt like I needed to. I wish I told people the truth about how I felt with being pressured to be outgoing because in reality, it takes me a long time to prepare to be around people emotionally. The pressure to be outgoing led me to be very confused with myself and upset for most of my grade 9/10 years. Luckily now I have found a balance, and if I need to be social, I give myself some “Labika” time and prepare to be around new people. Not going to lie, I do love new opportunities but being the centre of attention or the social butterfly is not my goal in life. I prefer to learn, make mistakes, reflect and grow.

        Hmmm I am not sure! I think I know my teachers A BIT too well. Sometimes I wish they didn’t share everything with me…but I might just have not made the connection that they are secretly a nerd.

        No problem! ahah it’s a great blog!!

        Reply
        1. lghani5061 Avatar
          lghani5061

          Now that I think about it….how do you handle being an introvert in a leadership role, as a superintendent? Curious to know!

          Reply
  4. astanfie Avatar
    astanfie

    People interact with with me face to face would fail to believe this, but I am very much an introvert. I don’t always interact well socially. I hate to use the phone. It’s like pulling teeth sometimes to get me to go out with friends. But allow me to interact through the use of technology, I’m great. Texting, skype and social media have allowed me to interact comfortable with others, and for that I’m most grateful. Thanks for sharing this, Sue. I’m seeing from your other comments that I’m not alone!

    Reply
    1. Sue Dunlop Avatar
      Sue Dunlop

      Introverts unite! 😉

      Reply

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