How to Spot a Social Media Geek

I was struggling last night with all the things I either need to, or want to do. Or maybe it was the things I want to do, but also need to do? Anyway…

Instead of doing anything productive I was on twitter. I meet a lot of people who either tool their eyes or stare at me quizzically when I mention the words “social media,” so that inspired me to use my time to share this list of characteristics of social media type people.

10 Characteristics of the social media species (Latin term: amicabiliter interventus sapien)

1. Short attention span.
2. Keeps unusual hours.
3. Likes to talk in 140 characters.
4. Must always have something to type on or will suffer intense withdrawal.
5. Despite an editorial calendar, deadlines and commitments while often procrastinate until the last minute.
6. Says the are working, but really they are reading tweets, blog posts, and Skyping with so-called “friends”.
7. “Friends” are people they’ve never seen in person, and when asked about their friends the social media person will say, “They get it. It’s so nice to be around people who understand.”
8. May slightly misrepresent their appearance in their avatar or profile photo via airbrushing, photoshop or cartoon features. Occasionally will replace avatar with something like a logo.
9. Often starts lists they can’t finish.

How to approach a member of the Social Media species

If you see a social media type in the wild, use the word “tweet,” not “twat”, “twit”, or “twittered,” and be sure to approach the social media species without making eye contact. Also be sure to ask them their handle instead of their name, and what their blog is-this is key to your survival.

If at all possible bring along an iPhone 4 or other smartphone and make like you are typing on it.

Offers of caffeine IVs, and cupcakes are another way to blend in, but be sure to deliver.

If the social media person still doesn’t trust you mention Old Spice man and his viral videos on YouTube in glowing terms.

You can also pepper the conversation with names like Chris Brogan, Darren Rowse, dooce, and Ree Drummond.

Remember, not all social media people bite, but they all tweet, so be careful what you say.

Have you spotted a social media person in the wild?

Kelly

Disclosure: This is what social media people say when they are paid money.

About Kelly

Kelly Whalen is the founder and editor of the Centsible Life. She started the blog in 2008 as her family faced a mountain of debt and the fixer upper they purchased became a FIXER UPPER. The website was born out of her desire to share what was working (and what was not) on her family's journey to financial security. Kelly lives in Minneapolis with her family.

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