A to Z Theme 2016

For my 2016 A to Z theme I used a meme that I ran across on the blog of Bridget Straub who first saw it on the blog of Paula Acton. This meme is a natural for me to use on my memoir blog. It's an A to Z concept and it's about me. No research and nothing complicated. I'm given twenty six questions or topics to discuss that are about me.

In April I kept my posts short and uncomplicated. In the midst of it all you might learn a few things about me that you didn't previously know.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Why Twitter Is Like a Road Trip

Sign for Wall DrugImage via Wikipedia
         When I was a kid my family frequently was on the road as we traveled to one place or another.  After I learned how to read, one of my favorite backseat activities on those trips was watching for the Burma Shave signs.  


          Burma Shave was an old-fashioned men's shaving cream product that resorted to an old school style of advertising--the roadside sign.  The product sign itself would be preceded by a series of small signs that would present a catchy poem or saying that sometimes was about the product, but also about topics like highway safety.


         Here is an example of a series of Burma Shave signs:

Ben
Met Anna
Made a hit
Neglected beard
Ben-Anna split
Burma-Shave




           Serial advertising signs are still in use although usually coming in billboard form along the interstates where signage is permitted.   Some examples are the signs between Houston and San Antonio advertising travel stop Buc-ee's, the billboards along I-90 for South Dakota attraction Wall Drug, and the roadside campaign hype teasing The Thing? in Arizona.  

            Long stretches of highway are sprinkled with the signs that begin to create an anticipation to see what's going to come next.  Eventually there is the payoff of the attraction, but were the signs enough to draw the traveler off the highway?  Did the signs keep the viewers entertained as they went on their journeys?

            When I go to the Twitter site I can't help be reminded of those serial signs.  Small doses in a few words try to grab hold of the surfer of the Twitterscape, but is the tweet powerful enough to make me look--cause me to be curious or remember what I've seen?   

           Traveling the web is like taking a journey without a vehicle, without leaving your home.  Taking in the blogs and websites is more like sitting back with a magazine or visiting the library.   Twitter is like a road trip where the road goes on forever and it's filled with Burma Shave signs.   But if the content doesn't grab me I may stop paying attention.  If I stop paying attention, I might miss that exit for Buc-ees.  If the lure of the words isn't strong enough, I might decide that The Thing? is just a rip-off and not worth my time.   

          The Burma Shave signs came in small doses and were memorable and clever.  They didn't get old because they left us wanting more.  We looked for them.  Twitter may be overkill.

           The Burma Shave bards might have put it this way:

 Tired eyes from        
 Too many tweets     
 Might cause this guy
   To fall asleep         

  Burma Shave




         
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12 comments:

  1. That's a great post on Americana, past and present! Well done.

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  2. We do get to visit our planet more through the internet. Although I'm glad for this, I do realize that being somewhere in person is a better experience. Until then, I'll sit behind the screen and visit.

    Teresa

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  3. Great metaphor!! I usually caught those signs about 2 in and they never made sense... again, much like Twitter!

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  4. Great post Lee have got reactivated on twitter hopefully it will be fine this time round.

    Yvonne.

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  5. Road trips were given some entertainment with the Burma Shave signs. No electronics, just basic words. Then we'd go back to using our imaginations about the scenery.

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  6. Hi there, just stopped by to tell you I nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award over on my blog. Have fun!

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  7. Vigorously nodding my head in agreement!

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  8. This is such a great analogy. I have a hard time with Twitter at times. Actually, a lot of the time. I don't know if it's because I'm older or what, but I prefer blogging and FaceBook. Still, Twitter has its place and can be pretty darn helpful at times. I'll click on your follow me on Twitter button. I still haven't figure out how to put it on my blog!

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  9. Cute post! New follower here. I'm trying to get a head start on visiting my fellow "A to Z"ers ;-)

    Sylvia
    http://www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/

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  10. I get lost in the twitter information. Nothing sticks in my head. LOL!
    Stopping over from the A to Z Challenge. I can't wait to start!!
    P.S. Of course I'm your newest follower
    Giggle, Laugh, Cry

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  11. Great analogy. I'm going to be looking at Twitter with new eyes!

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