Here's the deal with Twitter (and why I'm taking another break in July). My hope is to simply offer my observations, request prayer, and encourage consideration.

So let's begin.

First, the problem with Twitter is not the time consumption.

It's about how the time is used.

Instagram is equally time-consuming but the two platforms' inherent setup creates subcultures as separate as countries on opposite sides of the world. The language, social constructs, and currency are all different.

The only commonality is its inhabitation by humans, and thus the similarities that are naturally produced from that fact. Similarities like emotions, reactions, gravitation towards others of similar interests and values.

Again, beyond that, the environments, resources, rules, and rulers almost force particular behaviors.

Thus, the problem with Twitter is that by its very nature, it breeds controversy and division. How? First, the character limit, which really isn't even forgiven by threads.

A character limit forces clarity, poignancy, and brevity. Even in threads, your sentences and thoughts must be contained to fit in an almost bullet-like format. You couldn't put essay-like thoughts into a thread. It wouldn't fly. Why? Because partial thoughts cannot be liked.

A good thread is comprised of tweets that hold their own individually. Therefore, they can be liked (and ideally retweeted) equally out of context.

A partial thought is awkward and doesn't compel you to take action.

Therefore, the character limit breeds contempt, thread or not. If you have something to communicate, it must be shortened so that all you have to say in words and communicate in emotions is clear. There must be no room for misinterpretation. This leads to my next point.

Tweets that draw the most attention are either 1) discerning, 2) nonsensical, 3) or abrasive.

1) Discerning tweets draw a line between what is and what isn't. They make a distinction and thus a division. This is why "Pineapple goes on pizza" will never fail to garner attention.

Discerning tweets are why you see both good-hearted pastors and wicked ones thrive. Both make statements of discernment. Discernment doesn't have to be useless, angry, or evil. It just has to be clear.

This is also why debate on Twitter is prevalent and anger thrives.

2) Nonsensical tweets are witty in that they shock you with, well, nonsense. Sparknotes is a fabulous example. So are many political takes attempting to be discerning but instead blowing up for their sheer idiocy.

3) Abrasive tweets feed our love for power and gossip. "The tea," as the kids call it. Abrasive tweets directly attack figures or groups within the twitter-sphere to create controversy. This is the easiest and the most pathetic way to gain traction in a tweet.

The fact that abrasive tweets gain traction at all is, I think, extremely revealing as to how disgusting we are.

I believe as well that this is exactly why Jesus commands us to approach a brother directly first, because any remotely public approach is likely rooted in pride.

Forced brevity forces this subculture's communication style. In addition, the like/retweet system encourages alliances to be made. This is why a ratioed tweet is so shameful - because the tweet was not approved of or restated as much as it was ridiculed.

So when a debate inevitably takes place, you can tell who is winning by the cheers of the "crowd". We chuckle to ourselves when one debater gets no likes and the other wins all.

A triumphant twitter debater need only master brevity and the necessary eloquence brevity demands to win. Even the loser's own supporters will dwindle if he doesn't have this skill in speech.

And so, with all this in mind, we have the Twitter nation: one of sharp tongues, abrasive clarity, and abusive attacks. There's neither room nor time for anything else if you are to have any traction or even a good time.

(On the contrary, for comparison, Instagram begins with the picture that speaks a thousand words, requires beauty to thrive even if the caption is poor, and allows for short essays. This fosters a completely different culture for obvious reasons.)

This is hardly exhaustive of my "anthropological analysis of Twitter", but I'll move on.

Because Twitter by its very nature fertilizes a soil to grow anger (righteous and unrighteous, but largely unnecessary), I have felt convicted to take another month away. Why?

Because I have been personally dealing with a lot in my "real world" life that has fostered its own anger. I feel deep, wretched hatred in my heart, and the temptation in returning to Twitter would be to bolster my own righteousness and justification of that hatred...

... be it through interaction with topics that are directly commented about on Twitter, or making discernment statements vaguely referencing things in my life to gain validation on my hatred for what I'm referencing.

I am so angry at the world, at humanity. It's not good anger.

So pray for me, as the deep, hateful anger is something that I hate.

"For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing." Romans 7:18-19

And may I also challenge you to recognize what Twitter in its very structure attempts to nurture in you. Don't give in. Don't be a fool.

Discern well. Deliver laughter. Attack the real evil and love your enemies.

God bless and Soli Deo Gloria.