Cleverness

I am reasonably intelligent. I am reasonably quick. And I used to think I was clever. Not in the bad way (you know what I mean), but in the funny way.

Then I started blogging. Still okay.
MySpace/Facebook? Not TOO bad. Not great, but so/so.

Then came Twitter.

Folks, I hate to say it, but I'm DULL. Seriously boring. Somehow or another I can't seem to fit clever into 150 characters or less.

ARGH!!

On the other hand---how sad is it that life and social interactions are now being REDUCED to 150 characters or less. I mean, really, how much can you convey. Let's try.

THE BUILDING IS ON FIRE! RUN.
(Okay, that's 31 characters, and it conveys a bunch.)

There was a young girl named Anheuser.
Who said that no man could surprise her.
But Pabst took a chance,
Found a Schlitz in her pants,
And now she *is sadder, Budweiser.
(Nope, can't get in a whole limerik, one of the shorter forms of poetry.)

To be, or not to be, that is the question:Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them
To die—to sleep,
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to: 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd.
(DEFINITELY not Shakespeare.)

But -

I love you darling.
(A definite yes.)

or

Go to hell!
(Also a yes.)

and

FOR SALE 74 CAMARO 350 4brl.
(Works)

So, I suppose it depends on what you're trying to convey. Short, to the point works well for some things. But I write better in somewhat longer formats. Which is why, even though I'm on Twitter, and Facebook (and nobody follows me on Twitter, seriously, I'm that dull), I won't be giving up the blog anytime soon.