Minced Musings – 26 Dec 2013

26 December, 2013
Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria

Just sitting and reflecting this early morning on a year gone by quicker than the rate at which electricity credits run in Sikaman. And also listening to Kafui Dey on Radio XYZ – it must be the first time I am listening to the station, though I remember them most importantly for being the first site from where I got to know about the passing of Egya Atta. I do visit their website from time to time, but never tuned in. This will not be the last time, I like what I am hearing.

The excursions in my mind this morning take me to the street captioned, ‘Ghanamanosyncracies’ and on this street, I started reflecting on some characteristics I found about Sikamanians this year. Actually, confirmed this year but stuff I had observed for a while. Especially on social media and which I have experimented with in my social communication and interaction.

In no order of priority:

1. Links don’t work if you wish to have folks read something. Copy from the website and post as a note or in full in the status update. Similar thing applies to emails in some cases in the corporate world. With the fast pace of life, clicking a link is too much work.

2. If the stuff you wish to have read is lengthy, it is better to share it subsequently in smaller paragraphs. Twitter has taught us that already, abi?

3. Sikamanians will always narrow the subject for discussion into NDC or NPP, even if you are discussing the different walking styles of a termite.

4. Don’t think because you have communicated once, it has sank in. After weeks of sending text messages about my second book in 2010, someone asked me, ‘Ei, are you an author?’ This person had been receiving such text messages since 2008. Same thing happened this yer for the launch of I Speak of Ghana.

5. Most Sikamanians don’t read after the first few characters, especially in a text messages. Keep it short and simple (KISS).

6. Facebook is a great place to learn not to keep your emotions on your sleeves. If you want to comment on social and political matters, you have to learn quickly to do what my friend Innocent Kwame Kpornu advises: Squeeze your anus instead of your face when you get some ‘some-way’ or ‘off-tangent’ responses and get tickled in the wrong places. In this case, since no one sees your face, squeeze the backside effluent pipe instead of your fingers!

7. Many people may not comment but they read and form opinions. Be mindful of what you share.

8. Social media is your voice, and becomes your personality. What you post here is quotable and can find its way onto an official portal. OK, so Justine Sacco has taught us a lot about that anyway. No need to add more.