As I take my first steps into this twitterverse, I am discernedly dimmer than I have been in the face of the social media of my youth. Like the elderly to cell phones, I can’t help but perceive the phenomenon with a sense of carelessness and angst. On the surface, this strange and unusual forum seems riddled with bizarre codes, eerie symbols and a wealth of absentee-information; a mounding dump of mind litter. But, perchance I dive in; swim around in the muck and attempt assimilation…

Upon resurfacing I’ve come to find that, like any bewildered novice, that I was mistaken. Fear and ignorance have slowly abated and carelessness has subsided. The angst however still looms as I struggle to obtain followers and their subsequent interest in the things that I say. The alleged kings of this social spew-tank seem to all have a preordained air where (in this metaphor) celebrity status serves as god, which begs the question: shall I struggle towards the top or be contented with the measly number of followers I presently have? With following comes followers and with followers comes ranking; Can I compete with national celebrities and politicians? If I can will that bring me celebrity or do I have to be a celebrity first? The confrontation of this chicken/egg scenario pales me.

Baby steps; It’s what’s required. Upon singing up for hootsuite.com (and downloading the the supplemental iPhone app), I have been able to blanket my social networks from a main hub. Alexander the Great and his outnumbered force took down the Persian army by flanking on all sides and if I’m to bolster my social-media status, hootsuite will be my flanking mechanism.

I’ve created my profile, I’ve learned the symbols, I’ve begun to lure followers; the political gears are turning. Look out twitter/facebook, here comes @Ottotropolis.