{"id":347,"date":"2016-12-07T10:09:28","date_gmt":"2016-12-07T10:09:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/?p=347"},"modified":"2016-12-08T06:14:44","modified_gmt":"2016-12-08T06:14:44","slug":"chris-husbands-why-i-both-love-and-hate-twitter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/2016\/12\/07\/chris-husbands-why-i-both-love-and-hate-twitter\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Husbands: Why I both love and hate Twitter"},"content":{"rendered":"

It began \u2013 as some good, and many bad ideas do \u2013 over dinner with a couple of friends in 2011, one a national policy-maker (@johndunford<\/a>), one a leadership development consultant (@LshipMatters<\/a>). They persuaded me to sign up to Twitter, and, five years on, I have accumulated over 10,000 followers.<\/p>\n

Twitter is equally seductive and maddening. There is always another tweet to check, and I\u2019ve reached the conclusion that some people seem to spend all day locked to their smartphones twittering.<\/p>\n

\"giphy\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It is always frustrating: if you are an academic, communicating anything in 140 characters is a real challenge, and the danger is that you say things you don\u2019t quite mean \u2013 even if you manage to avoid the elephant trap of typing errors, spotting, yes, just a split second too late that you have missed out a crucial letter. Some words are best avoided altogether, given the potential for a single letter slip to lead you into embarrassment.<\/p>\n

And yet: I stay there. Partly, my Twitter presence is an aspect of institutional marketing and communications: I will always tweet, retweet or celebrate institutional achievements, and I take every opportunity to project the University. My handle is @Hallam_VC<\/a> after all.<\/p>\n

Secondly, I do find things out on Twitter \u2013 I pick up links to reports and papers I would not otherwise come across. My routine is to quickly save things to an Evernote<\/a> archive, which I have lightly indexed around a series of tags to help me find things later, and I will read them on trains or early in the morning.<\/p>\n

This is perhaps the most useful aspect of Twitter \u2013 access to things I would not typically or routinely come across.<\/p>\n

And I do engage in debate \u2013 although less so than I used to. I don\u2019t like to see ideas which are ill-informed or misdirected go unchallenged.\u00a0But this is, really, a mug\u2019s game: I\u2019ve learnt from Twitter that any\u00a0idea, no matter how sensible and evidentially grounded, will\u00a0attract the snorting derision of someone \u2013 and you can be pretty rude in 140 characters (you can be very rude in about eight characters, actually).<\/p>\n

\"Don't<\/a>

Don’t feed the trolls.<\/p><\/div>\n

I\u2019ve learnt that no-one really believes that your opinions are your own \u2013 they are always traceable back to your role or your job, and I take ever more care about what I say. No Twitter argument is ever really settled, though some tweeters seem determined to simply grind their opponents into submission. I utterly despise the overt bullying, aggression and unpleasantness which it has legitimated amongst too many individuals and groups.<\/p>\n

Twitter has its uses, but it is a dreadful time waster and an excuse for lazy or slovenly thinking; and I write that, and then I\u2019ll find a link to a report which forces me to think hard about something I thought I knew well, and I will be engaged\u00a0again.<\/p>\n

My advice? Like any tool, make it work for you, and don\u2019t let it use you<\/a>. And don\u2019t get hooked.<\/p>\n

Professor Chris Husbands, Vice-Chancellor
\n@Hallam_VC<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It began \u2013 as some good, and many bad ideas do \u2013 over dinner with a couple of friends in 2011, one a national policy-maker (@johndunford), one a leadership development consultant (@LshipMatters). They persuaded me to sign up to Twitter, and, five years on, I have accumulated over 10,000 followers. Twitter is equally seductive and maddening. There is always another<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6945,"featured_media":359,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[10,11],"tags":[51,54,55,33],"class_list":["post-347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-strategy","category-twitter","tag-social-media-plan","tag-social-media-strategy","tag-thought-leadership","tag-twitter"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/12\/download.jpg?fit=604%2C432&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7mXc8-5B","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":423,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/2017\/06\/27\/public-engagement-and-social-media-part-one-getting-started\/","url_meta":{"origin":347,"position":0},"title":"Public engagement and social media, part one: getting started","author":"Joseph Field","date":"June 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I've had lots of meetings with academic colleagues recently, discussing social media for public engagement and profile-raising. There's been a focus on thought leadership \u2013 using social media to offer expert comment on current events, and a unique insight into complex and interesting issues that have a wider impact. This\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "LinkedIn"","block_context":{"text":"LinkedIn","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/category\/linkedin\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2017\/06\/Queensland_State_Archives_2716_Meeting_in_the_Public_Curators_Office_Brisbane_December_1946.png?fit=720%2C481&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2017\/06\/Queensland_State_Archives_2716_Meeting_in_the_Public_Curators_Office_Brisbane_December_1946.png?fit=720%2C481&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2017\/06\/Queensland_State_Archives_2716_Meeting_in_the_Public_Curators_Office_Brisbane_December_1946.png?fit=720%2C481&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2017\/06\/Queensland_State_Archives_2716_Meeting_in_the_Public_Curators_Office_Brisbane_December_1946.png?fit=720%2C481&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":286,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/2016\/09\/20\/thought-leadership\/","url_meta":{"origin":347,"position":1},"title":"Thought leadership from the top","author":"Ally Mogg","date":"September 20, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Today Sheffield Hallam's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chris Husbands, has published a blog on the BERA website about how social media has transformed professional communities. In his\u00a0BERA blog, he says that: \"Social media has brought together teachers, policy wonks and academics in virtual coalitions. Some say that there has been nothing like\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case studies"","block_context":{"text":"Case studies","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/category\/case-studies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Chris_Husbands412","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/09\/Chris_Husbands412-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/09\/Chris_Husbands412-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/09\/Chris_Husbands412-1024x683.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":322,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/2016\/11\/03\/social-strategy-four-steps\/","url_meta":{"origin":347,"position":2},"title":"Social strategy in four (easy?) steps","author":"Joseph Field","date":"November 3, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"LONG POST ALERT! TL;DR:\u00a0Writing strategies for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Long process, loads to do, need help. Watch this space. I'm currently leading on a very exciting piece of work:\u00a0a set of platform-specific social media strategies for the University's corporate social channels. Until now, I've argued that we don't need\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Facebook"","block_context":{"text":"Facebook","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/category\/facebook\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/11\/IMG_7350.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/11\/IMG_7350.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/11\/IMG_7350.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/11\/IMG_7350.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/11\/IMG_7350.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/2016\/03\/18\/graduation-2015\/","url_meta":{"origin":347,"position":3},"title":"Graduation 2015: a strategic approach to social","author":"Joseph Field","date":"March 18, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"People sometimes ask me about our 'social media strategy'. The truth is that we don't have one \u2013 nor do we need one. We do have a communications strategy which covers\u00a0the strategic use of social media to raise profile and manage reputation. And that's the right approach. We don't have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case studies"","block_context":{"text":"Case studies","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/category\/case-studies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/03\/SHUgrad-SquareShare-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C629&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/03\/SHUgrad-SquareShare-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C629&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/03\/SHUgrad-SquareShare-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C629&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/03\/SHUgrad-SquareShare-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C629&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2016\/03\/SHUgrad-SquareShare-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C629&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":443,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/2017\/06\/30\/public-engagement-and-social-media-part-two-twitter-threads-chats-and-linkedin-articles\/","url_meta":{"origin":347,"position":4},"title":"Public engagement and social media, part two: Twitter threads, chats and LinkedIn articles","author":"Joseph Field","date":"June 30, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"In the previous post, I looked at setting objectives for your use of social media in a professional context, developing your online presence, and how you can collaborate with marketing-communications colleagues to promote your research. In this post, I'm going to look in-depth at thought leadership on Twitter and LinkedIn,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "LinkedIn"","block_context":{"text":"LinkedIn","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/category\/linkedin\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2017\/06\/6010005.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2017\/06\/6010005.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2017\/06\/6010005.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2017\/06\/6010005.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2017\/06\/6010005.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":376,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/2017\/03\/07\/goodbye-golden-hour-hello-golden-dragon\/","url_meta":{"origin":347,"position":5},"title":"Goodbye golden hour, hello Golden Dragon","author":"Ally Mogg","date":"March 7, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"When I first starting working in communications in 2005, crisis communications plans looked very different to how they look today. For a start, there was a big focus on media relations, and how they could help you get your messages across - through interviews, regular statements, etc. And, of course,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case studies"","block_context":{"text":"Case studies","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/category\/case-studies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2017\/03\/Twitter-crisis3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2017\/03\/Twitter-crisis3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/files\/2017\/03\/Twitter-crisis3.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=347"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":361,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347\/revisions\/361"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=347"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=347"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.ac.uk\/socialmedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=347"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}