Response to BC Iconoclast "The Three Independents"

Bernard von Schulmann raises an important point in his post regarding the two-now-grown-to-three independents in BC's legislature. While he writes specifically of these three politicians - Vicky Huntington (ran as Independent in 2009), Blair Lekstrom (former Liberal MLA) and Bob Simpson (former NDP MLA) -, his key critique could apply to any politician, at any level of government.

The first two independents have done very little to get media attention or made much effort to use social media. Our media is no longer a couple of major papers, radio and TV stations, there is an ever expanding media out there looking for content, but I do not see them making use of it. I can not find a website for Blair Lekstrom and the one for Vicki Huntingdon is boringly irrelevant.

Independents do indeed have a tough time getting noticed by traditional news media, largely because those same media are so enamoured by party politics, a form of politics an increasing number of British Columbians appear to loathe.

Independents are missing the boat if they're not using social media (Twitter, Facebook, their own websites, etc.) to go directly to the people. After all, if you can do nothing to prevent traditional media from ignoring you, then you must reach the people by other means. By using social media, you can not only reach the people directly, you can avoid distortions of your message caused by sensationalist editorial filters.

It continues to amaze me how few politicians take advantage of social media. Is it laziness? Tech-phobia? Fear they'll be exposed as the party clones they are, unable to think for themselves? Fear they'll be found out to have run for office only for the power, salary, cushy pensions and other perks?

If politicians care about representing the people, then they should make every effort to connect with the people, engage with them, listen to their concerns. If that means learning to use Twitter, Facebook, etc. properly (not for vanity advertising please!), then so be it. In fact, politicians including social media as part of their communications strategies should be part of any open government.

As for independents, they should take particular note. Use of social media tools to connect directly with the people could well place them ahead of their noosed party-affiliated compatriots.

ETA: Bob Simpson, who only two days ago was ousted from the NDP caucus by not-a-leader Carole James, has a website and a Twitter account, so in that respect he's headed in the right direction. However, as of now his Twitter account has 63 Followers, 0 Following. Mr. Simpson must get with the program. No engagement is possible with a monologue.

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Adding Retweet Button to Blogger

Been trying to add Tweetmeme's retweet button to my blogs for weeks. Went to various online sources and sometimes I could get it to work. However, it would never be placed where I wanted it (in the body of the post, top-left), or the URL was to the whole blog not to the individual post, or the URL was too long, or the Twitter account for the retweet was 'tweetmeme' not my own account.

The problem was getting it to work in Blogger. Well, finally figured it out.

If you're using Blogger and want to add the retweet option, do the following:

1. Go to your Dashboard -> Layout -> Edit HTML
2. Before going further, click Download Full Template - if you screw up, you can upload the old template
3. Check the box beside 'Expand Widget Templates'
4. Click Control/Command 'F' to find the following line:
   
   <div class='post-header-line-1'/>


5. Immediately below it, paste the following code:
   
   <div style='float:left;width:50px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;'>
   <script type='text/javascript'>
   tweetmeme_url = &#39;<data:post.url/>&#39;;
   tweetmeme_source = &#39;yourTwitterAcctName&#39;;
   tweetmeme_service = &#39;yourPreferredShortURLService&#39;;</script>
   <script src='http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js' type='text/javascript'/>
   </div>

Here's what my code looks like, with the lines already in the template in black:

<div class='post-header-line-1'/>
<div style='float:left;width:50px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;'>
<script type='text/javascript'>
tweetmeme_url = &#39;<data:post.url/>&#39;;
tweetmeme_source = &#39;tidewaters&#39;;
tweetmeme_service = &#39;bit.ly&#39;;</script>
<script src='http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js' type='text/javascript'/></div>
<div class='post-body entry-content'>

EDA: If you're using NoScript on Firefox, enable tweetmeme.com.

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Facebook, We're Through

Started the process to delete my Facebook account on July 16. Ergo, after the Facebook-imposed deactivation (cooling off) period of 14 days, it was deleted on July 29. Yesterday, because people insist on linking to stuff on the damn site, I thought to try it again and created a new account under a new name... and have just begun a new 14-day deactivation period to get rid of that one too.

Why am I so out of sorts with Facebook? Well, it's not for everyone.

I've no patience with sites whose 'interactive' components fail to be interactive. With my second account, as I'd experienced on occasion with the old one, I couldn't get the damn photo tool working properly, even after 24 hours fiddling with it; and I design websites and am knowledgeable about how these things SHOULD work. Then NoScript and Firefox discovered some of FB's scripts to be suspect. One of those scripts caused my MAC (!) to hang - three times. If FB can do that to a Mac, whose operating system is more secure than Windoze, then bye-bye! (I'm as bad as any doting mother when it comes to my mini.)

Never could see the benefit of Facebook, but like a good little lamb I followed the herd. It's really not for people like me, though. I'm interested in learning, so I value exchanges of information about current events, science, tech, etc. Facebook isn't so much about that, not nearly as much as, say, Twitter.

Then I never could get into the hook-up-with-friends aspect of the site, a concept on which Facebook was built - An introvert with 65 'friends'? It challenges credibility - or with playing follow-the-leader and hurrying to sign up to 'participate' in online protests. Blogging about issues of immediate, pressing concern, yes. But just adding your name on the latest issue-of-the-hour Facebook page? The peer pressure implicit in such requests wasn't appreciated.

Maybe it just comes down to Facebook better serving the outgoing social butterfly and Twitter the quiet, loner type. But Facebook, you and I are through. For the sake of your myriad fans, may you Live Long and Prosper!

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Ocean's Twitter Follow Policy

For all you Twits out there, please be guided by my Twitter follow policy before hitting that magic button.

My interest in Twitter is primarily to connect with people who have interests similar to mine, but I also welcome making connections with people who live nearby, regardless of their interests. (I'm on Vancouver Island, so 'nearby' includes all of BC, the Yukon and Washington state.)

Please do NOT follow me if:

1. your life is peachy-keen and you are busting to share the news of your good fortune. (My life is rather miserable and you know what they say about misery loving company.)
2. you are selling something, including home-based business ideas; promoting yourself; or you are pushing religion, 'faith', 'family values' and similar twaddle.
3. you are a company or a bot.
4. you are a do-gooder who wants to 'save' me. (I prefer to save myself.)
5. you tweet for the purpose of promoting social media, Twitter apps, or number of followers.
6. you use an autoresponder to welcome new followers.

ETA: Why do I give a damn who follows me? Because I want to do my bit to discourage the proliferation of spam, bots, inane commenting, religiosity....

I am LIKELY (no promises!) to follow you if:

1. you care about and advocate for human rights.
2. you care about and advocate for animal rights.
3. you are a Canadian political junky of the social libertarian persuasion (see here and here).
4. you are a writer (blogger, journalist, author).
5. you are using Twitter to communicate with others rather than only to spout your own spiel.
6. your profile includes your real name, location, primary interests - or a link to a site where such information can be found.

Of course, exceptions will occasionally apply.

@tidewaters

This page was inspired by the Twitter follow policies of @RayBeckerman and @dianelevin.

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