Spreading Myself Thin

Ever since my last stint at Nike’s Consumer Cultures group, I’ve been more and more focused on forms of web 2.0 media other than simple blogging. I have a Lifestream over at Storytlr, I’ve revived my Tumblr persona and I’ve started Twittering (Tweeting, Twooting?) in earnest. What can I say? All of the other kids were doing it so I thought I would, too.

For the most part, I’m sure that you, the average reader of this blog, could really give a shit. And that’s fine. I’m kind of right there with you. Even though I’m trying my hand at these other mediums, it’s usually in a lethargic, hap-hazard way. But that’s kind of the brilliance of things like Twitter and Tumblr; they’re built for people to share bits and pieces of their lives and interests without much effort or thought. Supposedly, this leaves more time for you to be able to have an actual life. Which, of course, you’re encouraged to come back to the web and document. It’s never-ending cycle, to be sure.

That’s where I have a problem with this whole thing. I like to stay on top of each and every persona that I have on the web, and in the past, when I haven’t been able to do so, I’ve just shut them down. One example is my Myspace account. I haven’t been there in almost two years. I think I even shut it down, but I really don’t remember for sure. I don’t even care enough to go and find out.

So, what am I supposed to shut down this time around? Twitter takes only a second or two and it’s ideally suited for little thoughts that I have. Most of the time, they’re inconsequential soundbites that, if they were worth anything, would be whole blog posts. So, I’m neither losing anything or gaining anything from Twitter.

Still, I like it, I like the accessability (most of the time, I post from my phone) and I like the immediacy. I’m going to keep that one. You can find me at twitter.com/natesjol.

Tumblr is essentially a dumping ground for the shit that I find around the web and the things that people send to me. I also have my delicious account, Twitter feed and, yes, even this blog funneled through there, so just about everything that I do on the web can be found there. That’s a valuable service, that Tumblr.

So, you’ll still be able to find me on Tumblr at naternet.tumblr.com.

My Storytlr account is essentially my Tumblr account with the added ability to follow videos on Youtube that I add to my favorites. So, it’s pretty expendable and not something that I necessarily have to work at contributing to. Still, do I really need it? I guess not. You haven’t even heard of Storytlr, have you? Be honest… I thought so.

So, you will not be able to find me at Storytlr any longer. Not that you reallty were in the first place. Luddites.

Of course, I’m not leaving my blog right here at WordPress. I did that a few years back and soon realized that trying to maintain a verbose blog on Tumblr was simply untenable, and it still is. With no hit count and no way to leave comments on posts, it’s just not quite the same thing. Besides, I’ve been blogging for so long in this format, I think that I’d miss it too much if I stopped. I’m old-fashioned that way, I guess.

I’d have to say that there’s not really much accomplished in this post, in the end. But, I probably shouldn’t be writing this while a) eating dinner and b) watching the Nuggets somehow sticking around against the Lakers at home in Game 2. Then again, it’s not like I’m writing a dissertation or a novel or even a column for a newspaper (if they weren’t extinct already) here, this is a blog. You’re not coming here expecting Chaucer or even Dean Koontz. And if you are, well shit, I don’t know what to tell you.

For me, it’s back to watching the Nuggets play with my emotions with their up and down, hot and cold play tonight. One trip down the floor, they’ll move the ball flawlessly and take advantage of the right mismatch, the next, they’ll throw a pass ten feet over the head of a wide-open Kenyon Martin. DERRRRR!!!