I (will) tweet, therefore I am?

I (will) tweet, therefore I am?

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(Flickr/Manuel Iglesias)

Listen to Tony Sarabia learn to tweet with Cesar Torres on Eight Forty-Eight

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I have a confession to make: I don’t tweet. What’s worse, I don’t even know how to tweet. I know, I know. I’m a 21st century journalist; tweeting should be part of my arsenal of communication. Apparently, at 48, I’m the right demo, but go figure. It’s just not something I embraced.

I don’t consider myself a Luddite (some may beg to differ). I have nothing against Twitter users, so please don’t hold my lack of interest against me.

Yes, revolutions have unfolded thanks to Twitter and I’m sure scores of relationships have been taken to the next level, due to tweeted marriage proposals. (I hope I’m wrong on that last point but I can’t be sure.)

Ever since the birth of Twitter in 2006, I have done my best to avoid communicating using 140 characters or less. For the past 20 years here at WBEZ, time, not space, has been my chief concern.

In everyday life, I’d rather not worry about the limitations of time and space.  More importantly, why would I want to share my every thought, and who would want to read it?  

Okay, but here’s the thing: I host a live talk show that depends on your feedback.  

I can’t ask for tweets about a particular segment or idea if I don’t know how to retrieve or respond to them. In the spirit of transparency (and fun), on Friday’s show, Cesar Torres, the social editor of Ars Technica, will teach me how to tweet, manage my Twitter account and share any show-related tidbits. Worldview host and recent Twitter convert Jerome McDonnell will stop by for moral support.

Who knows? Maybe I’ll even get a smart phone. Baby steps.

Tony takes his first Twitter baby steps at @wbezsarabia. You can follow him, and his progress, now!