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Tweeters have been those doing
it anonymously. The account
@shitmydadsays was set up by Justin
Halpern as a repository for some of his
father’s saltier comments. His father
was barely aware of what Twitter was,
let alone that his son would have 1.5m
followers within the year. The Tweets
have since been turned into a New
York Times number one bestseller and
a sitcom starring William Shatner.
Similarly, it is those Tweeters who
adopt a fake comedic voice that gain
the most affection in the UK. From
@cherylkerl (who Tweets a stream of
homespun wisdom in broad Geordie
tones not dissimilar to Cheryl Cole)
and @MrsStephenFry (who the real
Stephen Fry occasionally interacts
with) to @DrSamuelJohnson, Tweeting
direct from the 18th century with his
thoughts on everything from the iPad
to M-cat. ‘Dr Johnson’ is perhaps the
most successful, having negotiated a
publishing deal with Random House.
His first book will be out this Christmas
– the author’s identity remains a secret.
Is it successes like these that lure
the narcissists online, or is it discussing
yourself online that is fuelling this
almost compulsive self-disclosure?
Perkes maintains that, “Someone with
diagnosable narcissism will always find
an audience. It’s just that our access to
them and theirs to us is made faster
online. They would be doing it
elsewhere if not for the internet.”
NEW�BOUNDARIES
The real risk is what effect all of this
online updating is having on our ability
to communicate in a more general
sense. Without a flicker of boredom or
a smirk on a friend’s face while we brag
about our holidays or promotions, we
carry on unchecked. The main benefit
of the internet for the narcissist is the
lack of feedback via body language.
The screen won’t betray a jaded
expression, so we say things online
that we probably wouldn’t dream
of in person.
It is indisputable that social
networking has removed boundaries
for many in a positive sense. It
provided a voice for millions who
otherwise would feel lonely or
dispossessed, but other important
boundaries have been removed too.
As Perkes explains, “In many ways, the
internet is lessening our ability to cope
with general communication as it is
numbing our ability to read body
language. If you would prefer to have
a dialogue with someone via the
internet, rather than looking at them
face to face, you have the beginning
of a problem.”
Herein lies the irony. What’s the
point in telling several hundred
people your good news if you
can’t see anyone smile at it?
TOOMUCHINFORMATION.COM
For these cyberspace sharers it’s time to move away from the laptop
“XXXX HAD A WALK THROUGH THE PARK, A LOVELY DINNER AND THEN
GREAT SEX LAST NIGHT”
300 ‘friends’ lose their lunch
“XXX THINKS FRIENDS WHO CAN’T KEEP THEIR MOUTHS SHUT WHEN TOLD
SECRETS SHOULD BE MORE CAREFUL IN FUTURE”
Passive aggressive warning at its best
“MILKY MILKY”
FB update from a new mum who thinks 200 other adults might be interested
“XXXX IS HAVING A COCKTAIL ON SUNSET BLVD, WAITING FOR HER HUSBAND
TO FINISH ANOTHER SHOWBIZ MEETING”
A wife bragging to her friends about her fabulous lifestyle
“THAT’S RIGHT I’M BLEEDING” @KATYPERRY
Katy Perry Tweets that she’s not pregnant. Delightful
“I’M IN A BOARD MEETING. HAVING A MISCARRIAGE. THANK GOODNESS”
Blogger @penelopetrunk caused controversy with this nugget in the US last year
“HE’S DONE IT AGAIN”
Attention seeking about an errant boyfriend. No further details given.
400 friends told
“I JUST GAVE THE GO AHEAD TO THE CORRECTIONS DIRECTOR TO
PROCEED WITH GARDNER’S EXECUTION. MAY GOD GRANT HIM
THE MERCY HE DENIED HIS VICTIMS” @markshurtleff
Attorney General of Utah Tweets an execution last month
“YOU CAN FOLLOW MY BEES’ PROGRESS ON TWITTER”
BBC Radio 4’s Martha Kearney. Bees? Really?
“I SEE THE HEAD! IT’S COVERED IN HAIR!”
@jayelectronica live Tweeting his partner Erykah Badu’s childbirth
“XXXX HAS HAD A BAD DAY WITH BABY SO IS BEING NAUGHTY
AND TREATING HERSELF TO A SQUARE OF CHOCOLATE”
XXXX needs to get out more
“MY YOGI TEA QUOTE THIS MORNING, AND PERHAPS NEW LIFE
MOTTO: “PROVOKE, CONFRONT, ELEVATE”
@soulkat on what was written on a box of tea. Yes, a box of tea
“SSSH DON’T TELL WIFEY”
Ashton Kutcher posts a photo of wife Demi Moore bending over. Romantic
“I’D LOVE TO SMACK MY MANAGER IN HIS MCMUFFIN-EATING FACE!”
Let’s hope said manager is not a Facebook friend…
OVERSHA RING?
KATY PERRY: LIKES TO KEEP
YOU UPDATED ON HER
MENSTRUAL CYCLE
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