I read on Twitter about a poll related to what Americans think about President Obama’s jobs plan. I follow current events closely, but I couldn’t properly weigh all the pros and cons of the plan. I understand (I think) the big ideas behind the plan, but how do you decipher the plan’s details when they float in a fog of partisan spin and interpretations that wildly differ?
So I wondered how accurate this poll could be. Many people can’t name their own members of Congress. How could they accurately answer a pollster’s questions about the jobs plan unless they simply rooted for their favorite political team or flew with the latest spin they heard on talk radio?
I decided to spark a Twitter conversation. I Tweeted “Do you think most of the public understands the President’s jobs plan well enough to answer questions about it for a poll?” I got zero replies. My next Tweet was “Do you think the media loves polls too much?” I again got zero replies.
I then got hungry and pulled into the drive-thru of the closest McDonald’s. Personally, my stomach feels blah after cheeseburgers, but McDonald’s is on to something by being quick and easy. I parked under a shady tree to enjoy lunch and wondered how often people pick McDonald’s when in a hurry. I Tweeted “How often do you eat at McDonald’s?” This time I got two replies.
While on cheeseburger number two, my mind wandered further and I began to think about an upcoming birthday. I tweeted “What is a romantic, inexpensive birthday gift for a woman?” After some back and forth, this led to 10 replies. My Tweets about the President’s jobs plan and the media got no one to join the conversation. But questions about McDonald’s and birthdays got people typing.
This doesn’t surprise me. When I worked at Fox10, posting links to my stories rarely generated much discussion. But the opposite was true when I whined about a co-worker. I notice when I’m on Twitter, the journalists I follow are often discussing the big event of the evening. But the public often doesn’t re-Tweet this information or, for example, reveal their personal opinions on Social Security or whether the latest election is a reflection on Obama. Most people are discussing what’s on TV or where they ate dinner.
A friend of mine declares this means social media is not a platform for having big discussions about big ideas. I think that’s an over generalization, but I understand how people such as my mother would consider this proof of a society which further detests life’s intellectual things … such as reading. On the other hand, I personally have two examples of when my frivolous questions later sparked outside conversations about conducting possible business. This is similar to two men BSing on the golf course and later collaborating on a project never discussed during 18 holes.
The hope is if you’re not always talking work and are willing to discuss life’s everyday events, you make that personal connection which one day may bring you business. Yes, your social media streams should include at least some relevant content on your industry to at least build the foundation of leadership in your field. But with Twitter often feeling like a flea market of overwhelming content thrown at you from every direction, serving up some questions about McDonald’s is a welcomed relief to those of us who wish to escape or take a mental break. And just like fast food, those apparently non-sensical Tweets may lead to some quick and easy business.
What subjects do you get the most feedback on when using social media?
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