December 21, 2011: What guilty pleasure have you embraced this year? What have you just accepted as something you enjoy and stopped denying it? What do you enjoy that would surprise people that know you? #resound11

This took minute because the phrase “guilty pleasure” doesn’t really resonate with me. I think a lot of people claim chocolate or something as a guilty pleasure, right?

Certainly, I have bad habits. I suppose I could list laughing at reality shows on Bravo, watching strippers, or eating a pint of Häagen-Dazs Rum Raisin Ice Cream in one go as guilty pleasures. But I guess I’m not especially ashamed by the things I like. Not enough to feel guilty about them. It’s a part of who I am. Why judge it?

Oh wait. There is that one thing…

Facebook Links

This pet peeve isn’t limited to Facebook, actually. Links to iTunes (the worse – it attempts to launch a program!), LinkedIn, newspapers, or any service requiring a login/membership creates the same problem. But due to its popularity and/or culture, Facebook gets the most abuse on Twitter. Newsflash: I’m not on Facebook. And I shouldn’t have to be to view information that has nothing to do with Facebook (general pictures, local events, etc.)

Yet people freely throw up shortened links (that obscure the destination) without annoucing they lead to Facebook, Imeem or whatever walled service of their choice. Annoying. Give a heads-up; announce the service or make the Facebook event public.

#followfriday

I first noticed the #followfriday Twitter meme two months ago. The idea is to suggest Twitter accounts for others to follow. Great idea. However, most people end up using the #followfriday hashtag and then listing as many Twitter accounts that will fit in the 140 character message. No content or explanation. Let’s stop that please.

Davidé and I are among a growing number of users who have tweeted our frustration over this. And this morning, @Ohdoctah tweeted:

If you really want to suggest a Twitter account to follow, please give me some context. Like so:

Oh, and if the person already has thousands of followers, do you really need to keep suggesting them?

Pressure? What pressure?

“You can’t have a newsroom that is full of elite privilege. And sometimes that includes — I’ll say it — white men. You can’t have just white men running the news business. You’ve gotta have diversity in the newsrooms.”

— Jami Floyd
The Wire: The Last Word