Alex's Response - A Small Social Media Geneameme

Alex of the Family Tree Frog blog has shared these thoughts in response to The Small Social Media Geneameme.

http://familytreefrog.blogspot.com.au/

1. Tell us about your favourite social media tool and why you like it.
My favourite social media tool is blogger I guess. Though Facebook is coming a close second. Blogger because it puts me in touch with other researchers with the same interests. Facebook provides space for communities to hang out and keep in touch and motivate each other.

2. How do you use social media to further your genealogy career or business?
I use Blogger to record and share my research.

3. What advice would you give the cruiser who said “I must be living
under a rock” and is not sure about coming out from under it? (This came from my Social Media presentation)
Advice ? Come on in - the water's fine :) 

4. What aspect of Social Media makes you grit your teeth
The aspect of social media that makes me grit my teeth is spam comments.

5. How does social media assist with your CGD (continuing genealogical development)?
Social media assists with my CDG by being made aware of webinars and other resources I may not have considered.

6. How do you fit social media time into your busy day?
Yeah - good question. It does take a lot of time - a precious commodity when I work full-time already. But if I commit to something e.g. a meme, I find that helps and you Just Do It - as that old advertising slogan said.

7. Do you have a story of how social media enabled you to connect with a long lost relation or fellow  researcher?
I don't think my blogging has helped me connect with a long lost relation but it certainly made it easier to meet people at conferences/conventions.

8. You have a minute to share a piece of advice about genealogy and social media. Go for it.
Genealogy and social media are a match made in heaven. Don't just witness it, participate! Sometimes the way people talk about social media is like it is something trivial,lesser than...lesser than what ??? It's like the old-fashioned disapproval of television or movies way back when. Books or printed matter is not God just because it came first. There are good books and there's pulp fiction or pap. There's pornography and then there are classic well constructed films that inspire and move people to reflect and or act. Social media is just another way of communicating and sharing a constructed understanding of our stories - of who we are and what makes us. It's not the only way but it is another way. I'm by no means the best at it but you've got to give it a shot. It's a great reflective tool and you need to reflect on what you are doing and open yourself up to other's observations and advice. Right - I'll get off my soapbox now.