Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Tweetless

I have not been successful at twitter. I guess it sounds absurd that someone with over 800 followers says she isn’t successful, but for someone who’s been blogging for a while, that’s actually a really low number.
 
I know some people gain followers just by following back anyone and everyone who follows them, but I don’t. When I first joined I was so impressed with my initial popularity until I realized that all of my followers were porn stars. What exactly does it mean when you join social media and a gaggle of porn peddlers rush to follow you? I still don’t know but I do know this; if I had followed them all back instead of banning them I’d have thousands of followers by now. My bad.
 
Tweetless | graphic designed by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphicsT


 
I think my biggest problem is that you have to tweet in 140 characters or less. And I have distweetability, I can’t do 140 characters or less without 10 minutes of editing. It’s a handicap. I call it the “Baking In A Tornado wordy distweetablilty”. I’m sending an article about it to the New England Journal of Medicine, but I’m fairly certain they’ll find that the name’s too long.
 
I’m really on twitter to interact with others so if new people follow me and say a quick “hello”, I’ll follow them back. If people just follow me and don’t say anything, I’ll try to check out their bio and tweets and see if we might have something in common.
 
Sometimes I’ll check someone out and be disappointed to find that I just can’t follow back. Like if:
 
*I check out their tweets and, although they’re in English, I don’t understand a single word of them.
*Their tweets are actually in a language I don’t speak.
*They are following 7852 people, but only 2 people are following back. I may be bad at twitter but I’m good at math and something isn’t adding up here.
*Their twitter name is offensive. I don’t follow racial slurs or religious insults. Still trying to figure out who does.
*All of their tweets are about body functions, body parts or body fluids.
*They retweet a lot of company promotions. If I wanted to follow them I would. No letting Oscar Meyer in the back door, so to speak.
 
Mixed Berry Cake Bars | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert


Mixed Berry Cake Bars
 
Or sometimes I’ll follow back but will immediately unfollow. That’ll happen if:
*I follow and their first interaction is to tell me what else I can do for them. You know what I mean: “thanks for the follow, now go check out my blog, follow me on facebook, bloglovin, G+, instagram . . .” Jeez, can we date for a bit before we get married?
*They don’t interact. At all. Ever. If I wanted someone to talk at me instead of to me I’d venture into one of my kids’ rooms.
*Their tweets stop mid-sentence. I know 140 characters isn’t a lot, but if you can’t finish your thought, consider that twitter might not be the place for it.
*They say anything against the Red Sox. Just kidding. No I’m not.
 
So now that you have a pretty clear understanding of why I do so poorly on twitter, it’s time for the shameless plug. If you want to follow me, I’m here: Baking In A Tornado – twitter.
And if you say something, I might even follow you back. This could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
 
Too fast? OK, we can date for a bit . . .
 
Baking In A Tornado signature | Graphic designed by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics
 
Mixed Berry Cake Bars
                                            
©www.BakingInATornado.com                        
 
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1 (16.25 oz) box white cake mix
1 ½ sticks butter, softened
1 egg
2/3 cup sweetened coconut flakes
1 ½ cups dark chocolate chips
1 cup mixed berries (preferably fresh but frozen will work)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
 
Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 X 13 pan or glass dish.
*Mix the cake mix, butter and egg until it forms a wet sticky dough.
*Press evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
*Sprinkle with the coconut flakes
*Next sprinkle with the dark chocolate chips, then evenly distribute the berries over the top.
*Pour sweetened condensed milk over the berries and make sure to cover them all.
*Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Don’t let the bottom get too brown. It’ll look juicy when it comes out of the oven but will set as it cools.
*Cool completely before cutting (once it starts to cool I let it finish cooling in the refrigerator). Store in the refrigerator.

48 comments:

  1. When I had Twitter for the blog, I had so many people that I was following and that was following me. But I couldn't keep up with the people I actually WANTED to keep up with. So I made a new one and I'm selective of who I follow. I like to keep the number low. But sometimes, having all these social media outlets, I neglect a few...lol

    ReplyDelete
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    1. It is difficult, and they all have their own rules. Every day it seems there's some new social media popping up too. I can't keep track of all the different things I get invited to join. It gets overwhelming. I'm definitely concentrating more on FB than anywhere else.

      Delete
  2. LOL I totally get it. I have to edit my tweets several times to get within the 140 or just tweet my blog link for the day. My numbers are low but whatever.
    Love these fruit bars too!
    Dawn
    Spatulas On Parade

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Sometimes I have to edit so much I don't even feel like I'm saying what I had set out to say. And it just takes so much effort (for me) to even say anything. That's why I'm so bad at it.

      Delete
  3. Ha... Absolutely love the bottom "portion." How true are those??? LOL

    Have a great day, Slu

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    1. I know, I thought I was getting on to twitter to talk "with" not "at".

      Delete
  4. I'm a terrible twitterer...I forget I'm on there, so the only things I ever tweet is the stuff on my blog's fb page which gets tweeted automatically. Plus the 140 limit sucks because I'm too wordy.

    800 followers is awesome! I have a grand total of 62 lol

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    1. I don't connect FB and twitter because I'm so wordy. I always know tweets come from FB when they stop in mid-sentence and you don't know what the person was trying to say. So it's edit, edit, edit for me!

      Delete
  5. yes, twitter can be overwhelming babe. I make different lists, which is helpful. I also use hootsuite and have my twitter and facebook there. It's pretty awesome. I can out a tweet post on facebook all at the same time.

    I normally only read the celebs list, local news, and US and global news. I also have a friends list and a bloggers list. It makes reading tweets mamageable.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. You've totally organized yourself on twitter. I may need to take lessons from you. I've heard about hootsuite, yet another thing I need to check out.

      Delete
  6. Oh Twitter, you overwhelm me is well. The 140 characters after much editing I seem to have mastered. Sadly, it's life At Twitter Speed that kills me. I just tweeted something 19 seconds ago. How is it possible my tweet has been pushed soooo far down the feed because 176 other people tweeted in those 19 seconds?! I just can't keep up. The editing alone hinders me but the speed sends me over the edge. Although I might be in to one thing. If my kids are moving too slowly, instead if yelling "Hurry up!" I will yell, "Move at twitter speed!" They'll move so fast I will not be able to find them the moment the words leave my mouth- much like my tweets;)
    Vicky
    www.thepursuitofnormal.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I love that you tell you kids to move a twitter speed, so funny. What confuses me is if I'm in more than one conversation at once. Or if a bunch of people are conversing and by the time I try to respond to a comment, 3 other people have moved the conversation elsewhere and I look like I'm in a time warp.

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  7. It's love at first sight... MARRY ME!

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  8. I'm new to twitter I don't really get it, but ill date you ;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm terrible at twitter to. Recently I've begun to get the hang of it, but because I still don't have a smart phone (I know), I'm basically chained to my laptop. Not cool. I will say that twitter is still better at brining traffic to my blog than facebook. Facebook is terrible. So I guess I'll continue to try to squeeze what I have to say into 140 characters...

    ReplyDelete
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    1. It's so funny what works for one person isn't the same as what works for another. A huge amount of my traffic comes from FB. Although most people seem to prefer twitter, I'm just too wordy I think.

      Delete
  10. I use Twitter to promote my blog posts and the blog posts of those that I follow. Sometimes I send out personal messages and to communicate with certain folks, or to rant & rave about something. Or to tell people how much I want one of those mixed berry cake bars you evil woman you!

    Hey, you have me as a follower!

    Phil
    www.blog.theregularguynyc.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And you know I follow you too.

      But as for those cake bars, if you want any baked goods in this house, you have to fight hordes of teens for them. And I'd suggest you wear a helmet.

      Delete
  11. "No letting Oscar Meyer in the back door"; I think I just snorted wine up my nose.
    You're awesome, in 14, 140, or 1400 characters. xo

    ReplyDelete
  12. I use Twitter for my blog and that is it. I guess I not a big social media person outside my blog. It looks like like I am already following on Twitter.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. That's pretty much what I use twitter for also. But I'd be more interactive there if I could. . .

      Delete
  13. I'm still figuring out Twitter as well. I currently only have about 400 followers. I recently discovered Tweetdeck which is helpful. I need to tweet more - right now I pretty much just tweet blog posts or retweet others. I am following you, though! I'm pretty sure I'm following all the rules so you can follow me back and we'll start Twitter dating! :-)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I know there are a ton of support sites, haven't checked out tweetdeck, I'll have to put it on my list.

      I already follow you, think we're ready for our second date.

      Delete
  14. I think I have your disease as well! I ramble way too much for twitter! I get mad at it when it tells me I've gone over...and then I sit there staring trying to figure out which words I don't technically have to use! OH my gosh! Really?!? I can write a paragraph on facebook if I want! lol

    That cake looks super yummy!!!! My mouth is watering!!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. That's definitely why I do so much better on FB. I can say what I want to say without having to cut out half the words.

      Delete
  15. I love Twitter ... but you are right. I would prefer to interact with the people that I follow and that's why I started creating lists. I have my comedy list, bloggers I talk to regularly, etc. it's kind of nice being able to who I interact with in it's own Twitter stream. And I constantly check my @connect to see who is talking to me too :)

    ¤´¨)
    ¸.•*´
    (¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
    Raising-Reagan.com

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I haven't tried doing lists yet, I may need to try that. But the truth is that comments fly down the stream so fast, it's sheer luck if I even happen to see one I might respond to. I always go directly to my @connect though so I can respond to anyone who's said something to me.

      Delete
  16. I am the same. If I recognize the person, I follow them back.

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    1. I'd love to get to know new people, but I just find it too hard to do on Twitter. It's much easier for me on FB. And I totally don't get G+ either. . .

      Delete
  17. I don't think I'd be able to tweet, it's just too hard to fit all that my big mouth has to say in so few characters. It would take me years to master tweeting. I must say, thumbs up to anyone who can get a conversation going with so few words mate. And I know what you mean, if people use to much slang, it just makes it look french or something.

    I guess, some people are really good at all this social media stuff :) Have a lovely week Karen.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Exactly how I feel, conversations fly by as it is on twitter, but to add the challenge of trying to keep my answer so short. . . not doing well at all.

      Delete
  18. You know I've never understood the Twitter thing. I try and try, but I like to converse. Sometimes it feels like it's all advertisements to check out something else. Those mid sentence tweets are probably from me- I still don't know how FB and Twitter are connected. I must have fallen out of the nest too early. Dang technology ;)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. LOL, if you fell out of the nest too early, so did I. But apparently I like banging my head up against a brick wall because I keep trying. You'd think I'd learn, but no . . .

      Delete
  19. I totally get it! I spend way too much time editing tweets for the account I write for (@Margarita_Moms). Luckily, our main goal there is to find great content from bloggers and news outlets and pass it on, so I often am just saying a blurb and posting a link. But occasionally I will write a whole unique post and that's such a challenge! I can write a 1,000 word blog post in no time flat, but 140 characters?? Forget about it! By the way, are there any spots left for the second July blog swap that you do??

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I guess you're another one, like me, who can write a post but can't speak in blurbs. I get it.

      July prompts have already gone out. The next Swap that's open is the 2nd August. If you get your email address to me, I'll send you all the info.

      Delete
  20. I think even the name of your disability is more than 140 characters long so you can't even complain about it on twitter.

    If I had a nickel for every time I've heard someone complain of what goes wrong when they let Oscar Meyer in the back door...

    I can totally relate with people making demands of you as soon as you follow them on twitter. I had one guy give me a huge list of all his other social media pages that I had to go and follow as well, and then the bastard unfriended me. I deleted and forgot all about him. I'm not about to stroke a fame whore's ego.

    And I'm pretty sure I already follow you on twitter, but I'm about to go and check now so be on the look out for a message from me soon...

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    1. Sometimes I actually am surprised at the people I think I'm following there but am not. Going to check too . . .

      Delete
  21. I freaked when I started getting the porn bots following me. I blocked all of them and then eventually they stopped. I follow people who seem like people, I have a soft spot for people just starting out with like 12 followers. Am I wrong but are you the one who went on a tweet pun run a while ago? That was awesome and very twitter-awesome.
    Also, just in case you were wondering, everyone in our house is required to own at least one Red Sox article of clothing and my son's first baseball game was Red Sox spring training in Florida.

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    1. I DID do that tweet pun run. Oh, the ways we find to amuse ourselves.

      Love that you're a Red Sox household too!

      Delete
  22. hahah!! You're so right! That's mainly why I still, after so many months, have still not been able to figure out Twitter and I doubt I ever will!

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    1. I know I tried too. I think twitter and I may have to just agree to disagree.

      Delete
  23. I would love for you to share and link up at my weekly TGIF Link Party if you haven't already this week. Your favorite posts, most popular, recent or new! The party is open every Thursday night and closes Wednesday's at midnight. Followed by (Not SO) Wordless Wednesday! http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/.

    I would be honored if you join us and follow to stay connected Have a wonderful week!

    Hugs, Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  24. Like you, I feel like I'm bad at Twitter... but I use the same guidelines to determine who I want to follow. And isn't it bonkers how many spammers there are out there? I mean... it's wild.

    These Mixed Berry Cake Bars sound wonderful -- just perfectly sweet and fresh with the fruit! I can see these being a huge hit in my home.

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    1. Yes sometimes I think that there's no live people on twitter, that most of it is spammers and automated tweets. Then today I met you there, LOL! Glad to know I'm not alone.

      Delete

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