http://myplaceoryours.org.uk/chris-meade-overleaf/firstfooting/ My Place or Yours is a new kind of writer residency across five regions of England, in real and virtual spaces, exploring the theme of place. Take a moment to wander round and make it your place. We’d love to hear from you. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 06:23:50 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://myplaceoryours.org.uk/chris-meade-overleaf/firstfooting/comment-page-1/#comment-2867 Clare Kirwan Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:35:07 +0000 http://myplaceoryours.org.uk/?p=1981#comment-2867 Having embraced many of the social networking channels, I still haven't the grasped the implications of this revolution in communications. As a person, the two most interesting aspects to me are: (a) the attraction and danger of being sucked from 'real' life into the massive melting pot of the internet, engaging in mostly transitory discussions and relationships etc across the globe - ones we can unfollowing if they get difficult or boring; (b) how social networks like Twitter can replace the lost cameraderie of the office if you work at home (or no longer work). I get info, wit, banter, even comfort from 'friends' I only ever exchange 140 characters with - there's an exercise in being concise! As a poet, the answer should be straightforward - shouldn't we be seeking the 'real', the concrete, the specific? The internet is extarordinarily useful for writers - with tutorials, free publicity, blogs, support networks and research tools. How we use them still comes down to translating human experience to words on paper (or a screen), and at the moment the internet is more of a distraction than anything else. Having embraced many of the social networking channels, I still haven’t the grasped the implications of this revolution in communications.
As a person, the two most interesting aspects to me are:
(a) the attraction and danger of being sucked from ‘real’ life into the massive melting pot of the internet, engaging in mostly transitory discussions and relationships etc across the globe – ones we can unfollowing if they get difficult or boring;
(b) how social networks like Twitter can replace the lost cameraderie of the office if you work at home (or no longer work). I get info, wit, banter, even comfort from ‘friends’ I only ever exchange 140 characters with – there’s an exercise in being concise!
As a poet, the answer should be straightforward – shouldn’t we be seeking the ‘real’, the concrete, the specific? The internet is extarordinarily useful for writers – with tutorials, free publicity, blogs, support networks and research tools. How we use them still comes down to translating human experience to words on paper (or a screen), and at the moment the internet is more of a distraction than anything else.

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