This feels like a Dear John letter. Bollocks. Here goes…
For the past twelve months or thereabouts, I have spent a great deal of my day on Twitter. I don’t regret any of the time I spent meeting people, talking, arguing and joking. But I’m only now realising that I haven’t worked as much or as well as I should have done this year. I’m not blaming Twitter for that (it’s not you, it’s me) but I get too involved with social networking and, hard though it sometimes is to admit, I do so at the expense of real life.
A more self-disciplined person might just resolve to spend less time online, to see Twitter as a little treat once work is done. I am not that person; I check Twitter in between sentences and, when I go outside for a cigarette, I break my chain of thought by checking Twitter on my phone. I don’t enjoy writing enough to avoid distraction, yet it is writing that pays the rent at the moment, not Twitter.
I have to go cold turkey. I have to delete my account. Maybe I’ll be back in the future, who knows?
To be clear: I’m not saying goodbye to the people, just the network. I’ll still keep in touch with the friends I’ve made on here, I just won’t be doing it through the timeline.
I’ve loved Twitter and I’ve met some amazing, brilliant, funny, talented people on there. But it’s time to move on. I hope I’ll blog more (watch this space) and spend more time socialising via phone and email. Those of you who have become friends will, perversely, get more attention than you do now!
We’ll see how it goes. At least I’m getting out before lists take over!
If any of you feel like your world has become a less sweary place for my absence, I suggest you follow @luceKD…
Julian
Well I shall miss you terribly Julian. You were perhaps the second or third person I followed on twitter, recommended by my friend @jacrats and I have enjoyed every minute of the banter. Funny how you feel like you know the people you swap tweets with, but I’m not a “real” friend, so I guess we won’t be in contact any more. Good luck and continued success, and if you ever come back on twitter, please remember @serialfrenchies and add me back.
All the best! Cath x
I’ll be sad to see you go. Always enjoyed your tweets and always respected you, not only has a writer but as a person. Hope to see you around here someday.
Taco
It’s been a genuine pleasure reading your tweets and throwing the odd word in.
I’ll see you on the big and small screens. Looking forward to it.
You will be missed Julian and it’s been great fun interacting with you.
You have my contact details in case you have any more IT issues.
Hopefully see you at an event sometime.
- Neil.
Am very upset that I won’t be able to read your tweets on Twitter any more and hope that your absence will be a temporary one. Can fully understand how addictive and time-consuming it is – spend far too much time on the network myself. It will be a poorer place without you.
But am so glad that you’ve pointed us in the direction of your blog which I will follow from now on and, of course, am looking forward to the new series of Spooks.
It’s been fun! Be well, Julian.
Regards, Karen
I know you and Sarah are searching your names on Twitter. Reading the fallout and laughing hysterically.
Fallout? What fallout?
Goodnight Julian.
Will miss your tweets. Keep in touch and good luck with the writing.
Thanks. You were one of the first people I met on Twitter. I won’t miss you because I have no intention of losing touch!
You were one of the first people I followed and I was so glad I did as you made me laugh….a lot. A couple of people close to me died recently and laughing was something I found hard to do. So thank you, Julian. Twitter will be odd without you and much less fun but I understand your reasons. Very best wishes. Cunt!
It’s a double whammy, losing Dastardly & Slutley, but I guess your public will survive, albeit in an impoverished state. I’ll miss the tongue-in-cheek profanity though. But then again, there’s always Luce…
Fucking hell, Dad. Turn the laptop off and phone your fucking son! Cunt.
Don’t be fucking ridiculous. Get back here. Now. Cunt.
Ah, others have beaten me to calling you a cunt.
I can totally understand your reasons for leaving. I will miss seeing your updates in my feed, but know that we’ll stay in touch. I like the immediacy of Twitter, but I have always been more of a drop in, look around and leave kind of person.
Anyway, will miss you (and others) in the Twitterverse, but not in the real World.
Thank you for introducing me to the world and works of Sarah Pinborough.
I will always remember you for that. *ducks*
Looking forward to reading you more on your blog. Hope you keep good on your promise to write here more often (your blog was the reason I started following you on Twitter)
(and we’ll always have It’s a Wonderful Life)
It’s been a pleasure, chief.
Aye, aye aye. Well now. Selfishly, I wish you hadn’t gone and gone, but I understand why you are clearing the space. Dammit.
Well done for doing what you needed to.
Sarah (The Norfolk pie woman.)
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Bugger it matey – how will you be able to fit in Twitter, CoD Modern warfare 2, DJ Hero and Unchartered? You did the right thing… Fire in the hole!
Well I can honestly say Im going to miss the word CUNT! It was becoming kind of a drinking game, you say cunt and we all cheer.
I didnt really know you, but am in same industry and was recommended to follow you from friends we shared over Palmer’s music/art and a mutual love of swearing. Have to say you kind of inspired my writing, if only for the politically incorrect character with tourettes Ive been trying to create haha, Twitters worse off now. Shame. But you are totally right, twitter is a writers curse. ADHD? Yep. Im sure there will be a “Bring Julian Simpson back to twitter” bit like comic relief.
I will miss you very much. I met you when I had no idea how to play on twitter…and BTW I loved your swearing…I suppose I always want to but feel I cant. Would love to one day have a drink with you and Sarah at one of the nights Ebeth organizes.. all my love Kara
So the Prince of Vitriol has buggered off. Sound reasons, but still a sad day for the Twitterverse. You will be sorely missed. xxx
Shocked and saddened to hear of your passing, old boy, do hope it won’t be permanent. In the meantime, we can all have your lovely wife to ourselves *does best Hooded Claw imersonation*. Hey, look, I can write more than 140 characters here, Wheeeeeeeeeeee… Uh-oh, agoraphobia!
I do still miss your tweets, but respect & understand the why of it.
I never really thought one could use the word ‘cunt’ as frequently as you did, however you proved to me that cunt isn’t just for special occasions.
Right. Thanks for it all & now blog more often, damn it!