Mon, 28 May 2012
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Jeremy Holland attempts to explain why Twitter fails to take Spain by storm.
At least it seems everywhere but Spain.
When I talk to my Spanish friends or students and ask them about the Twitter revolution, most offer a blank stare and shrug their shoulders. They haven't got a clue on what it is. When I explain that it's a site where people inform the world what they're doing in 140 words or less, their expressions change to a bemused curiosity.
"People sit in front of a computer all day and tell strangers what they're doing? Why not go to a bar and chat with someone who cares?" they'll say, which is tough logic to argue with.
In many ways, the whole concept of social networking and e-commerce is as foreign to a Spaniard as automatic cars. They know it exists and might know a few people who use it, but in general, it's not something that's common.
Now, before I get a deluge of comments saying I'm depicting Spain as a backwards country from the twentieth century, that's not the point I'm trying to make.
Written by an American expat, From Barcelona, is a blog dedicated to the city, the life and the people of the capital of Catalunya (Catalonia). Jeremy’s blogs are usually published on Expatica on alternate Fridays, with the above being an exception. If you are a twitter fan, follow Jeremy on frombarcelona1 or Expatica Spain on ExpaticaES.
Maybe the fact Twitter is not available in Spanish is a large factor at play here. Besides in the UK it´s adoption and hype frenzy is in part due to the Wossy/Fry factor who massively boosted the takeup of the service in the second half of last year. Now that Facebook Lite is emulating many features of Twitter, and that is in Spanish with a large following, it remains to be seen how successful Twitter will become to the mainstream in Spain.
Barcelona IS NOT Spain.
Spain IS NOT Europe.
We're Catalan, not spanish.
Makes perfect sence, Spanish (or Catalan) are outdoors enjoying the sunny weather chatting with other people. iam visiting Valencia next week, with a friend who is starting work there . Any similiar blog for the area ?
Maybe you can try the blog: http://www.holavalencia.net/
Thank you : )
I agree, we ARE slowly... or maybe quickly losing our sense of community as technology takes over our lives. I think that is a BIG reason why I, along with possibly 45,000 people, make an exodus to Burning Man every year. There you (quite happily) unplug and interact with real live people 24 hours a day for the entire week. The effect which is immediately realized once you return to your more isolated life from whence you came and the withdrawals begin. This year someone \\\'gifted\\\' the community with very limited cell service which caused a huge uproar... the \\\'burner\\\' community seems to be very protective of their dusty bubble of existence... The argument for the \\\'gift\\\' was that as a community, a city, even Black Rock City, where Burning Man exists for one week a year, evolution thus technology is inevitable... But thinking about it... IS the diminishing of social interaction evolution?
I'm with you Jeremy and like my Murcian face to face encounters. If I have something important to convey then that is what email is for. I have to say despite a lot of pressure from many sources I am not doing Facebook or Twitter but I like my Expatica reads.
I think you will find Jeremy that Twitter is very much alive and kicking in Spain in the expat community and also in the social media area. Spain is one of the biggest countries in the World in terms of use of social media and Twitter is getting the foothold here now. Check out my blog post about Twitter in Spain here http://bit.ly/fWpbG and you will see why you might well need it here.
To catalan:
I know this is not the time and place for nationalist ranting, but I´d like to ask the previous poster that goes by the name of "Catalan" to refrain from using "WE" in his posts.
Mr. Catalan, since when are you entitled do speak on my (or other people´s) behalf?
I am born and bred catalan and I am also spanish. You may not feel spanish, which suits me just fine, but please do not include ME (and the many millions catalans that are OK with Spain) in your silly little claims.
As for Spain not being Europe...well, that goes against any definition of Europe I have ever heard, would you care to enlighten us?
Angrily yours, Xabi.
Maybe the fact Twitter is not available in Spanish is a large factor at play here. Besides in the UK it´s adoption and hype frenzy is in part due to the Wossy/Fry factor who massively boosted the takeup of the service in the second half of last year. Now that Facebook Lite is emulating many features of Twitter, and that is in Spanish with a large following, it remains to be seen how successful Twitter will become to the mainstream in Spain.
Barcelona IS NOT Spain.
Spain IS NOT Europe.
We're Catalan, not spanish.
Makes perfect sence, Spanish (or Catalan) are outdoors enjoying the sunny weather chatting with other people. iam visiting Valencia next week, with a friend who is starting work there . Any similiar blog for the area ?
Maybe you can try the blog: http://www.holavalencia.net/
Thank you : )
I agree, we ARE slowly... or maybe quickly losing our sense of community as technology takes over our lives. I think that is a BIG reason why I, along with possibly 45,000 people, make an exodus to Burning Man every year. There you (quite happily) unplug and interact with real live people 24 hours a day for the entire week. The effect which is immediately realized once you return to your more isolated life from whence you came and the withdrawals begin. This year someone \\\'gifted\\\' the community with very limited cell service which caused a huge uproar... the \\\'burner\\\' community seems to be very protective of their dusty bubble of existence... The argument for the \\\'gift\\\' was that as a community, a city, even Black Rock City, where Burning Man exists for one week a year, evolution thus technology is inevitable... But thinking about it... IS the diminishing of social interaction evolution?
I'm with you Jeremy and like my Murcian face to face encounters. If I have something important to convey then that is what email is for. I have to say despite a lot of pressure from many sources I am not doing Facebook or Twitter but I like my Expatica reads.
I think you will find Jeremy that Twitter is very much alive and kicking in Spain in the expat community and also in the social media area. Spain is one of the biggest countries in the World in terms of use of social media and Twitter is getting the foothold here now. Check out my blog post about Twitter in Spain here http://bit.ly/fWpbG and you will see why you might well need it here.
To catalan:
I know this is not the time and place for nationalist ranting, but I´d like to ask the previous poster that goes by the name of "Catalan" to refrain from using "WE" in his posts.
Mr. Catalan, since when are you entitled do speak on my (or other people´s) behalf?
I am born and bred catalan and I am also spanish. You may not feel spanish, which suits me just fine, but please do not include ME (and the many millions catalans that are OK with Spain) in your silly little claims.
As for Spain not being Europe...well, that goes against any definition of Europe I have ever heard, would you care to enlighten us?
Angrily yours, Xabi.
Expatica's Getting Started section will provide practical information on how you can open a bank account, exchange your driving licence, improve your Spanish, and more.
Here's a guide to an extensive list of groups and clubs in Madrid for expats, from sports groups to social and family gatherings.
A brief introduction to our Tax section for Spain, from help with inheritance tax to accounting advice.
Here's a short introduction to our Banking section for those living in Spain, from what to ask the experts to opening a Spanish bank account.
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