On returning to Social Media after years away...

Some good, some bad, some crazy... just like old times. But how am I doing it differently this time?

Six months into my return to the minefield that is Social Media, I’ve experienced things I never thought I’d ever see.

I had a dumb little post that got 36,000 likes and 2.4 million impressions, I jumped in with both feet on the Mavericks “ban” on fans protesting and booing at games (and we all got together and helped back them down - no small thing), I’ve argued silly things with people I should have left alone, I’ve pontificated and promoted. I’ve observed and have been observed. I’ve reconnected with so many Stars fans and have made new Twitter friends from all walks. That’s cool as hell. And whatever interaction we’ve had - I do enjoy it. I try and get back to as many as I can.

You never know what’s gonna go semi-viral… but this did. And - no contact from the LA Kings… they probably saw it was me and said - oh he doesn’t need a real t-shirt…

And I had to do it - I had to get back in. Why?

About a year ago, my daughter introduced me to SubStack. I didn’t know anything about it, but I didn’t know much about any of it a year ago. I hadn’t heard about Twitter becoming X, had no clue what reels were, didn’t know if the Facebook was still operational, hadn’t heard of Patreon (and honestly still have no concept of what that is), and didn’t care.

For the last three years, roughly, I’ve been in a self-directed “head in the sand” period. I didn’t watch the news, didn’t look at social media, wasn’t interested in riding along with the shit show. Some of this was due to the last corporate consult I was involved with - which was much like most of the corporate experiences I’ve had - except - way worse. Watching that group now, from the outside - they don’t get much right so I’m more sure than ever of what the deal actually was in there.

And so I was done. I was out. And my daughter watched it. She knew that on the one hand, it was probably ok for me to take an extended break from “the real world” - whatever the hell that means anymore. But on the other - I was isolating. And she could see I was getting antsy again. I kept busy - but I wasn’t engaged.

I read, I stay up on important events I’m interested in and those things don’t get much play on local or national news. It’s an occupational hazard - I’m extremely discerning on where I get my information. I vet and source carefully. I don’t suffer fools well anymore, if I ever did at all. I endeavor to know the difference between, as Hunter S. Thompson laid out - “facts” and “truth”. It’s important to get things right. I worked hard to do that in the booth, thereafter as a regular Op-Ed contributor to the Dallas Morning News, and in everything I post and write. I don’t need a pundit to explain the data or the language in the bill, or to tell me how I should “feel” about a story, an action, or a reaction. I go to the data and the bill, and do my own thinking. I use, as always, the AP Stylebook when self-editing. I don’t have an editor these days so I really work to be extra careful.

When I saw SubStack and started poking around - I was very intrigued. There are real people there. Exceptional reporters, gifted writers, interesting and varied genres.

I called my friends Bob Sturm, Jamey Newberg, David Castillo, Sean Shapiro, Taylor Baird, Meghan Chayka, and others to get more insight on the platform and the direction all this is heading.

At first I thought I’d get an administrator to keep me out of the daily Twitter bullshit. Very quickly I decided - if I’m going back in - I’m going back in. All in. As me. As this new version of me.

And away I went… and here I am.

I’ve made mistakes already. Ouch. But I’m learning way faster and correcting quickly and I now have a fluid operating manual for myself to stay out of the shit as much as I can - while still engaging and directing people toward my writing - which is sorta the whole point.

So here it is - Ralph e boy’s new rules for Social Media… maybe it gives you some ideas too.