Twitter sucks. It starts as a really amazing social network but slowly and surely becomes an amazingly awful social network. When I signed up for Twitter I was super excited. I wanted to type super funny things. I wanted to hear feedback from fans…okay, screw that…I wanted more followers than other comics. If you are a comic, that is truly the perverse joy of twitter. I could tweet the noblest or funniest 124 character bon mots in the world but they wouldn’t rent space in my brain at night as much as, “How do the Sklar Brothers have over a hundred thousand followers?” (I think they are hysterical by the way)
The greatest part and the worst part about twitter are one and the same. You have direct access to me. This is an amazing thing for a comic that wants to expand his fan base and help sell tickets. It is a terrible idea when one realizes that unlike a live show, you don’t have to buy tickets. There is no invite. EVERYONE is invited. Even the people that hate you. In internet parlance these people are simply called “trolls”. IN everyday parlance they should be called assholes. They lurk in the shadows, waiting for you to write something, anything and they pounce. They type things as simple as, “You suck.” and type things as elaborate as to the how and why you suck. You battle back and forth for a little while with these people and then one day you realize you are arguing with a 19 year old guy in long island who lives with his mom and his web name is “Corvetteguy420″.
Everyone is anonymous on the internet. Everyone except celebrities. I love when people come to my shows. I love when people see me on the street and tell me hello. I don’t think it is a particularly good idea to have a social media sight where ANYONE can tell me I suck. Many of the trolls tell me that I should have thicker skin. No. No I shouldn’t. When I am coming home from the beach and smiling and happy, I should be able to check my twitter account without reading that a movie of mine is on Showtime4 and it sucks a bag of donkey balls. There is no reason anyone should have that type of accessibility to anyone else.
90% of the responses I received on Twitter were overwhelmingly positive. For those I thank you.
Since I quit Twitter, I have grown very, very thick skin. I couldn’t stand the heat so I got out of the kitchen. Now I look back at the kitchen and wonder why did I think it was so important anyway?
jj
“Now I look back at the kitchen and wonder why did I think it was so important anyway?” That roughly sums up my thoughts on trolls, too. At the end of the day, the best feeling in regards to the social aspect of the internet is that you can close your browser/IM/email and walk away from the hate. The people that spread the hate feed off it, so they don’t have the joy of getting away from it like the rest of the population does.
Glad that you took a little power away from that crowd. Your fans will miss the interaction, but that’s what the shows/cons/this site are for, anyways.
Jay, I’m a big fan who signed up on twitter just to find out when you host the Jime Rome Show. You were one of 3 I followed, (yes, Charlie Sheen is another). Please keep that information somewhere on your website. It is a good day when you host the show.
Loved your Irvine show. Be careful channeling the warlock.
I’ve never really understood when people get some huge burr on their ass over someone they’ve never even met. It just doesn’t make sense, and frankly it strikes me as a bit psychotic. If someone doesn’t like your schtick, why not just ignore it? Why bother with it? It’s an easy answer: they are losers in life, with nothing better to do. Vis a vis Vic in NoCal. Here’s another loser who has a problem with you for no discernible reason. He calls the Jim Rome show to call his shot for the “smack-off”, and his parting shot is directed at you. I guess Jay, maybe you need to view it as a sign of respect. Why does he and others like him bother? He’s trying to live up to something more than he is…HE has a problem, and it has nothing to do with you. There are more like him, and unfortunately for the rest of us, their moms all bought them dsl and an ACER so they could smear their desperate, unfunny, psychotic celebrity envy feces all over cyber-space for all to see.
I don’t blame you for bailing on Twitter. But really, you’re obviously better than those f’n dorks, dude. I’ve seen you live, have your books, and was a faithful GU viewer, and I like what your Twitter decision says about you- you’re just a guy, who’s been a little lucky, and a lot funny. Keep it up Jay, most of us will be here listening.
Back to the old school days, where real JJ followers would come to this website, get the latest info. on tour dates, book signings, etc.
Maybe if you changed your name to Jay Kardashian, twitter would have been cool, then your balls would need to be put on a playground, due to all the “followers” swinging on them.
Good luck on the future projects. Is Walken in SK 2, if so, BE SURE to take your nice little dog to the set! FIGHT ON! neo
Very much agree with you regarding Twitter. There is no time for negativity when we all should be enjoying life. Happy to spend more time reading your blog. You’re the Best!
Jay,
You’re awesome and Twitter does suck!! I just bought action on DVD; I loved that show when it was on TV and I laughed my ass off again watching the DVD!!! My wife thinks I have a man crush on you, I told her why would I have a crush on such a dreamy talented hunk like Jay Mohr!! Hmmm, I suppose that I should have thought out my reply to her a little better…anywho, you are one of my favorite actors and comedians!!
Woody
Summerville, South Carolina
Ugh! Writer boards are the same way. Just nasty, nasty, nasty places – full of people who seem to have nothing better to do than sit behind keyboards willfully misinterpreting things in order to pick fights.
I hate to have my words twisted around, but I’ve had to learn to just let it go. I have only so much energy, and I don’t want to spend it that way. So I check out the work wanted boards and the publisher/editor warnings and rarely even bother logging on anymore.