Just Sayin – Unplugged
You might never notice the impact social media can have on you as an individual if you don’t step away from it every once in a while. Recently, by circumstance rather than choice, I haven’t been able to engage online as much as I have in previous months. Zero Facebook, infrequent Twitter time and even less texting on my cell phone.
For the past year or so, I haven’t read a book without my progress and the book itself becoming a topic of conversation on Twitter, in Chatzy, Gtalk or email. I like discussion. I enjoy a good debate. I like hearing other readers’ views and seeing how things come across differently to them. There are times when angles have been pointed out to me that I never thought of and that type of stimulation really gets my mind ticking. However, the days before the advent of Twitter and Facebook, this type of conversation wasn’t really happening on the scale it can now. In some ways I long for the days of old.
Why, you ask?
For starters, the forums of social media have made it possible for the establishment of the “team” mentality. Team Edward. Team Jacob. Team Gale. Team Peeta. Team V’lane. Team Jericho. Personally, I don’t let that get in the way of forming friendships but I have been a spectator to all out wars over something that really just comes down to individual preference. I have seen hate towards characters ignite and fury because the teams now travel in mobs, their torches blazing. Is it really worth it to let it get all that out of control? Don’t get me wrong, everyone is entitled to their opinion, let’s just not lynch the outsider for expressing their own.
Maybe even more affecting are the spoilers and speculation. This might happen more with television or movies than books, but since I have been on Twitter, I have been exposed to information prior to the release of books that I REALLY would rather not have been privy to. If you are as present in a social media stream as I have been, it’s almost impossible to avoid this. Some people (who I love dearly) like to read the last page of a book to settle the suspense of what’s to come. Me? I like to take the ride; I’ve always been a fan of roller coasters. Imagine taking that first free fall without the anticipation. Not as exciting, at least not to me. I have no control over what information is shared, but what I do have control over is my own actions. I am not even mentioning the current series I am about to dive into because I want the opportunity to read it fresh, without the outside influence of others. In my opinion, a book should draw you in because it intrigues you, not because someone told you it will. I’ll never turn down a good recommendation, but original perspective is what I am seeking this time around.
I would love to know how social media has influenced how you read, what you read, the resulting feelings when your opinion doesn’t fall into the majority. Does it even have an impact?
Just asking…
I have to say, social media has greatly influenced my reading choices, if only because I’m exposed to a wider array of possibilities. I love the GoodReads site…I have found probably the last 5 of my books through that site. And they are things I probably wouldn’t have picked up earlier.
That being said, social media can certainly ruin the reading experience. I think the anonymity of the internet makes it easier for people to spoil our reading pleasure. I do get irritated with tweets about about “OMG I can’t believe you don’t like it!” and the like, but in the back of my head I know it’s because that person just loves a book so much that they want their friends to like it too.
I’m with Heather-I take a twitter-cation when a long anticipated book comes out because there is always that one jerk on the twitter feed who will spoil the ending. *lol*
Social media has not influenced how and what I read. A book can be rec’d by every single person in my TL, but unless I am truly in the mood to read it, I wont pick it up. The current series that is one of my favorites is the Fallen Series by Lauren Kate and it was rec’d by my coworker. I didn’t pick it up at first, but I got curious because she lent it to our other coworker and she liked it. I had a friend recently pick it up and it fell short for her. The most I can do is tell her it gets better, but it’s ultimately up to her if she wants to continue with the series or not.
BDB for example is another series it took a long time to get into. Megan (The Book Bitch) sent them to me in an an email in 2009 and it took and 8 hour car ride with nothing to do, in March this year, to finally get into them.
I guess it’s just my inner rebel telling me to stay away social media rec’s and get my rear to a bookstore and search for books on my own.
Great blog, Jules! Social media has influenced my reading to an extent. There are books I have read or put on my to read list that I might not have if not hearing a recommendation on Twitter. And, I have definitely taken Twitter breaks around book releases so as not to be spoiled. Like you, I want to read the book from start to finished without knowing how the plot is going to play out. I don’t mind discussing a book after I’ve had a chance to read and digest it, but please don’t spoil me before I’ve finished that last page!