Radio Free Montone: John Dislikes Social Media

By John Montone, 1010 WINS

I tweet and I post, but I often wonder why.

There was a time when my only professional obligation was to tell stories on the radio.  Now however I am required to share these same stories with my followers and friends on Twitter and Facebook.

And so Monday morning while searching the deserted streets of Springfield, New Jersey hoping to run into a pre-dawn dog walker or jogger to interview about the weekend's "black bear scare," I remembered that I must also satisfy my social media audience.  Which I did.  Tweeting out #Springfield, NJ #1010WINS makes folks aware of black #bear scare…yada, yada yada.

And on Facebook I informed my "friends" Move over coyotes, black bears are making their move…blah, blah blah.

Given my advancing the age the last thing I want is for the younger news managers and reporters to think of me as a Luddite. I embrace technology, especially when it allows me to listen to music without sifting through a closet full of Cds  or watch a movie without cursing because the DVD is missing from the jacket.

But could I live without the information I found Monday morning on social media?  I believe I could.

Scrolling down on tweets I learned that an LIRR train arrived late in Jamaica.  My God!  That Kim Kardashian supports Bruce Jenner 100%.  What a heroic woman.  That Newark is the worst U.S. city in which to start a business.  I guess they're not including selling illegal guns and finally a tweet from the Yankee Stadium Bleacher Creature known as, Bald Headed Vinny.  "Yankee fans this morning be like…"  Those words which as written were indecipherable were followed by an Instagram link which showed a snapshot of Henry from "Good Fellas."   Which means?

Status updates on Facebook were understandable, if nothing else.  A fellow reporter posted a photo with the newest members of her clan, two goldfish. Some fellow who I attended high school with but barely knew posted a photo of himself locked in an embrace with a woman I assume is his wife.  They were celebrating an anniversary.  Good for them.  I mean it.

But did I need to waste even a nano second on their wedded bliss. Before Facebook they would never have forced their way into my memory-clogged brain.  Another "friend" who I have never met got a puppy.  And right below that someone posted a video of a dog riding a skateboard.  I confess.  I watched it.  And my "black bear" post?  Well it got two likes and two comments.

One from my wife who warned me to be careful and another from a "friend" I wouldn't know from Adam who wrote, "It's a jungle out there."

This blog will be posted on Facebook .  So if you  "like" my blog.  I will "like" your puppy.

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