Yes, I've done it. I've resisted it for a long time, but finally had to do it. I've joined "Twitter."
Why? Simple. For me, social media is mainly a tool that helps me contact people. So when Dan Schmidt, editor of Deer and Deer Hunting magazine, asked me to follow something up for an article, the only way I could contact the person was to join Twitter. So I did.
The article is complete. It's about a homeowner who was run over by a buck while he was doing lawn work. I submitted it this morning, although I don't yet know when it will be published. I had a great telephone conversation with "Joe, son of James" and when it was all over he posted the following (in six consecutive Tweets) on his Twitter page. His words:
12:09 AM · Oct 16, 2020·Twitter Web App Follow up to yesterday's antics with the flying buck. A reporter asked to interview me for an article. I was hesitant because I have been interviewed 3 different times over the past 20 years. Each and every time the reporters twisted my words to fit their narrative....
2 of those times those reporters harmed lives with their narrative crafting. So you'll understand my hesitation to interact with the media yet again. It didn't help that the reporter just created his twitter account yesterday. So I put on my detective hat and started to detect...
Found out who he wrote for and managed to contact the publisher. Yes he was a real outdoors writer for Deer & Deer Hunting Magazine. He's semi retired and mainly sticks to Facebook. He created this account specifically so he could reach out to me. So I decided to go for it.
This was, hands down, the most informal, relaxed, easy going interview I have ever done. He even promised to send me a pre-print so I could check it for editorial content. That blew me away. But you know what the chef's kiss was?
He actually did it. A journalist that actually followed through on his words. Can 2020 get any more strange? Man what a breath of fresh air. I had zero complaints. He won't tweet much, if at all....
but @SteveSo75925275 is a breath of fresh air. He has his own website, everydayhunter.com. His journalism has won him multiple awards from both the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and the NRA! So he's worth a follow. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Sorensen.
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Now it's me speaking: While I'm not looking to get a Twitter following, I take Joe's words as high praise. and I thought it would be good to pass along. Joe's a good guy, so don't give up hope on finding some good people in the crazy 2020 world.