Do you have #Hashtagitis?

Out of all the social media platforms, Twitter is my most favorite (#TheLittleBlueBirdRules). Aside from meeting new people (#MixingAndMingling #OnlineCocktailParty), forming great relationships (#LifelongFriendsAndContacts #NoIDoNotMeanBootyCalls), and learning lots of good info (#InterestingArticlesMixedWithTimeWastingYouTubeVideos), the unexpected perk of tweeting is, wait for it (#BarneyStinsonRocksMyWorld), fun with hashtags!

When I train clients on how to use Twitter (#WayTooMuchProBonoWork), I tell them how to use hashtags for events, trending topics, chats, and more. The lesser known benefit of hashtags is just downright silliness (#KnockKnockWhoIsThereSamAndJanetSamAndJanetWhoSamAndJanetEvening #SomeExchantedEvening #GetIt?).

Fortunately for me, I've discovered some other tweeters (yes, @staceysoleil, #SpandexQueen, is one of them) who share my love of all that's flip and sarcastic (#SmartAleck). Expressing yourself in 140 characters can sometimes be a challenge (#Impossible), but incorporating hashtags into your tweets can be quite effective (#WorthlessButFun). As a matter of fact, they can be quite liberating (#YouCanUseIdiotAsAHashtag).

A clever hashtag can be just as revealing and insightful as the content of the actual tweet itself (#SaidInMyMostTrustworthyProfessorVoice). They are also a way to show more of your personality (#DrJekyllOrMrHyde). The problem is that I now dream in hashtags (#MrSandmanSendMeATweet). I think in hashtags (#PleaseInsertACartoonBubbleAboveMyHead). I have to refrain from inserting hashtags into business emails (#MeetTheDeadlineOrDie). It's become a real problem (#PleaseSendMeMoneyForHashtagitisMeds).

Am I suffering in this alone (#CanWeFormASupportGroup)? Do you know my pain (#DoNotBeAfraidToStepForwardAndAdmitYouAreAfflictedToo)? Do YOU have #hashtagitis (#CanIGetAnAmen)?

Admitting your addiction is the first step on a long road of treatment (#FellowHashtagAddictsUnite). We can fight this together (#PowerInNumbers #HashtagRoyality). Sometimes I suspect I might be a lost cause (#GiveMeHashtagsOrGiveMeDeath), but I really think I can beat it (#NotAChanceInHEDoubleHockeySticks).

Can you relate? Let's talk about it (#DrAmberIsInTheHouse). Hello. My name is Amber and I have #hashtagitis (#InsertWordsOfSupportInTheCommentsBelow).

39 comments:

  1. OMG! I just about spit Diet Pepsi out my nose when I read this post, LOL! It's true, it's true...I AM a total #UnapologeticHashtagHag ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOL~!!! This is #TooFunny ~!!! I was in on a fun hashtag last night with @BuzzEdition after #OMG @HarveyLevinTMZ followed her, Susan let loose with a long tag: #DontJudgeMeIReallyLoveTMZ ~!!!

    And, as you can see, Susan's last tweet ends with #LoveYaEvenWhenYouAreOutOfYourMind ;-)

    I think Susan needs to come to your meetings~!! lol
    x0x
    Anita @ModelSupplies

    ReplyDelete
  3. You'll often see hashtags as the punchline for a joke tweet. #ObviousObservation. When I'm in a silly mood I'll throw them out everywhere. Otherwise I'll use a hashtag whenever I'm referencing an ongoing narrative in my stream. It's not perfect, but it helps tie things together.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Funny!! I still don't completely "get" #hashtags!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I did not have #hashtagitis before but I feel the symptoms coming on! #TooFunny

    ReplyDelete
  6. Stacey: Thanks! You are anything but a hag, though, my dear. :-> #StaceySoleilIsACoverGirl

    Anita: Thanks for your comment! I have reached out to Susan so she knows she's not alone. Admitting you have a problem is not easy. #HashtagAbuseIsNotACrime

    Jay: You sound as though you have a firm grip on hashtags. No abuse in your family? Some of us are predisposed to the condition. #YouCannotFightHashtagitisInYourDNA

    Wkkredfox: Thanks! Hashtags are just a way to group information. In the case of this post, they are just flat out silliness ;-> Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! #CommentsAreBetterThanChocolate

    Kathy: Uh oh! Yes, I'm afraid to say that hashtagitis CAN be transmitted by mere suggestion. If you think you have symptoms, it may be too late for you. Give into it. #DoNotFightHashtagitis.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Amber, I am not fluent with twitter, let alone the fun that can be had with #hashtags. In need of some of your probono work. Kidding aside, this is one of the funniest things I have read in a while. I just can't imagine the time you put into this but you are sure bring a lot smiles and fun into a lot of lives. Thank You.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The best is when you talk in hashtags..like when I find myself saying "Hashtag DUH!" in real life conversations -- even better when the people around you totally get it and laugh... #hangingwithyourtwitterfriendsIR #talkinglikeyouraretweeting

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jerry: Thanks so much for leaving a comment! #YouRule! Actually, although it won't do much for my billable hours rates, this didn't take me long at all. Writing has always come very naturally for me. Your comment is very kind, though, and I really appreciate your nice words! #ItIsSoAwesomeWhenPeopleGoOutOfTheirWayToSaySomethingNice #ThankYou

    Zane: I feel your pain, sista! That's one of the things I love about meeting Twitter friends in person. It's like we all already get each other right off the bat! Thanks so much for RTing my post and for taking the time to comment (Especially since I'm not sure how you even found my post since we're not connected on Twitter! Although I AM following you now ;->)
    #LookingForwardToCrossingYourPathInTheTwittersphere #HashtagsRule

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love hashtags!! Hi, my name's Tom and I have an addition. #lol

    #YouRock

    ReplyDelete
  11. #funny! #ifthisiswrongidon'twanttoberight

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jennifer, looks like you're ready to join the #hashtagitis support group. #SupportGroupGirlsAreHot ;->

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hello. My name is Sandra and I have #hashtagitis :D

    ReplyDelete
  14. Admitting you have a problem is the first step in recovery! Welcome Sandra! You'll find lots of people here who share your affliction :-)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I just found this earlier today thanks to a LinkedIn group. There are a number of people to whom I must introduce this blog entry.

    Right now!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Welcome Sandra! All #hashtagitis sufferers are welcome here. This is a safe place ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Excellent, Ed! Glad to hear it. Always happy to meet more people who have the #HashtagMonkey on their backs!

    ReplyDelete
  18. My name is Shevonne, and I am a #hash addict

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Rachel, thanks for contributing to the discussion! If you have a specific message that you want to tweet (e.g. saving a dog from death row), those 140 characters are important and I completely understand not wasting them on a silly hashtag.

    As you'll soon discover, animals are very special to me, so thank you for your efforts to help find them homes! ^..^ I followed you on Twitter and should you choose to follow me back, hopefully my hashtag usage won't "hurt" your eyes too much ;-)

    Thanks for the nice words of support, Rachel. I truly appreciate it. Glad you found my blog, too, and happy we connected! #MakingNewFriendsRocks #AnimalLoversUnite

    ReplyDelete
  20. #OMG....I don't think I have it..but #OMG..I can't stand to look at tweets that are ladened with them. My eyes need #help whenever I come across theses things. I have a standard set of hashtags that I use when I am announcing adoptable pets in NY because I have a feed on my blog that reads this set of hashtags...other than that....I don't use them too often because they "hurt" my eyes.

    Also, when it comes to announcing the adoptables....retweeting is really important...hashtags take up so much valuable space ....

    I found your blog just today..and boy am I sorry that I didn't find you sooner....

    ReplyDelete
  21. Whitney McKendree MooreMarch 26, 2011 at 6:31 AM

    I do one and only one hashtag called #petTheories in which house pets have a voice, and they are proving to be quite insightful, thought-provoking citizens thanks to the 140 character length limit. Lately, however, my dog's "woofs" to that hashtag have been evaporating entirely -- except they do appear on my Home and Profiles pages. Alas. Any advice? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I am a massive hashtag abuser. Unlikely to stop anytime soon, plus am totally crossing it over to other social media like Facebook. #addicted

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi Whitney!

    If I understand correctly, you're saying that not all your tweets with the #pettheories hashtag are showing up when you search that hashtag, correct? If so, all I can say is...that happens. There are glitches sometimes and we all experience them at one point or another.

    Here's what Twitter support has to say about missing hashtags: http://support.twitter.com/groups/32-something-s-not-working/topics/119-tweet-dm-problems/articles/370610-my-hashtags-or-replies-aren-t-working

    ReplyDelete
  24. You're my kind of gal! I have to stop myself from inserting hashtags into all my business emails. #SoAnnoying

    Why can't everyone embrace the wonder of hashtags like we have? #TrendSetters

    Nice to meet a fellow #HashtagLover! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  25. There lies some beauty in a plain pure text tweet put wisely. Looks less pretentious and much more personnal and authentic. One sometimes really gets messed up with #Hashtagitis, and some are - in context - just show offs I fear.

    On the other hand I consider #hashtags as means to signal the whatabout of an issue in an ultrashort way, this esp. when using acronyms. Used this way they help enhance your adhering to a group you want to drop a message (or belong to). And to my experience it brings on followers.

    I guess one should use #hashtags wisely. IMHO I consider them in part as a sort of typografic-intellectual form of art, you might have to be a little skilled for effective use though.

    Great funny posting and comments, gave me insights, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  26. There lies some beauty in a plain pure text tweet put wisely. Looks less pretentious and much more personnal and authentic.

    On the other hand I like #hashtags as means to signal the whatabout of an issue in an ultrashort way, this esp. when using acronyms. Used this way they help enhance your adhering to a group you want to drop a message (or belong to). And to my experience it can bring on followers you want adress.

    I guess one should use #hashtags wisely. IMHO I consider them in part as a sort of typografic-intellectual form of art, you might have to be a little skilled for effective use though.

    Great funny posting and comments, gave me insights, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I am sorry, twice was not intended! Please feel free to delete one.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I too cross it over almost everywhere, Facebook, (super casual) emails, or even texts :D #totallyhelpless #heyitisfun #tryit!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thanks for adding your thoughts to the discussion, Jeannette!

    Yeah, if you're at an event or conference, using the hashtag for the activity can certainly help you connect to new people and gain new followers. It's a wonderful way to connect!

    Oooooohhhhh. I like thinking of hashtags as art! I'm without artistic abilities, so if I can get artsy credit via my hashtagitis, that is sweet! #HashtagsAreMyFormOfArtisticExpression

    ReplyDelete
  30. Yay, Nita! Welcome to our little support group!

    Do you ever catch yourself wanting to talk in hashtags? Oh, it's a wonderful little affliction, isn't it? ;-) #HashtagsAreTheNewBlack

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love #&eggs but usually not 4 breakfast ;)

    ReplyDelete
  32. I use them in my e-mails, and my blog. On cards, even tried to explain them to my mum. #SisyphusJob
    (and yes, they are also handy for events and searches..)

    ReplyDelete
  33. And that's why we have the @hashtagmafia. For chronic overusers of hashtags #jointheclub

    ReplyDelete
  34. I'm not only a member. I'm the president! #IHopeYouGetMyObscureHairClubForMenReference ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  35. That's pretty funny. I don't believe I'm #guilty of #hhastagitis. :)

    BTW - Diane Bjorling pointed me here after I wrote a post on Twitter.

    ReplyDelete
  36.  Welcome, Sherryl! Also great to meet another #HashtagAddict.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Well, it's gald to read your post, but I wouldn't understand your meaning well. Thanks all the same.
    http://www.mkmsinfotech.com

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...