If you follow me on Twitter then you probably know that I’m taking a break from social networking for a while. There are a few people that have asked why I’m taking this step, and until now I have refrained from discussing it publicly. *DISCLAIMER* – This won’t effect EatMoreHeat.com in any way. Only the social networking that surrounds the site.

In my opinion social networking serves a vital purpose in communicating ideas and information from sites like this. Unfortunately when an individual uses Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, or any other site to share data; you are forced to track the number of individuals that take advantage of the service you offer. This means that you must look at the number of times that your followers, fans, or friends click or view a post. Statistics such as these can be a double edged sword in many instances. On one hand you can gauge the interest of your following on certain subject matters, but on the other hand it sets a precedent for response that can have a biased impact on the type of information that’s conveyed. In other words, online social static can have an adverse influence on very relevant subjects.

What is online social static?

I don’t know if that’s a real term or not, but on this site it just came to life. My version of online social static (or OSS) occurs when an individual creates an information stream on social networking that is so broad there is no legitimate way to read and respond to everything that is posted. Very simply; if you can’t consume, digest, and react to everything that interests you, then you are subjecting yourself to OSS.

The primary purpose of social networking (whether it be for business or personal reasons) is to share and receive things that interest you. However the nature of these tools have been skewed due to the desire of generating the maximum following and/or response possible. In other words, you engage EVERYONE so that they will return the favor. This practice has become all too common. Friend requesting and following everyone possible to improve the potential for statistical improvement. There are even sites like klout.com that measure if you’re doing it right, and compare your social influence to others on Twitter.

TANGENT ALERT! – I think it’s time for a little social experiment. Right this second I have 1,352 followers on Twitter, and I am following 790 people. Starting tomorrow I am going to unfollow everyone that isn’t related to fiery foods or barbecue. That would make sense since those are the industries I want to know about via that Twitter account. How many of the people that I unfollow will return the favor? We’ll see.

Why do people subject themselves to OSS?

The answer is simple. They want their information to reach the maximum number of potential readers/viewers. The online world has become all about visits and views, friends and followers. The more of those you have, then the greater potential for income you have. There are even sites like be-a-magpie.com that will pay you to advertise on your Twitter stream based on how many followers you have. Interacting with people that you couldn’t care less about is just a necessity of this type of networking. However there is one glaring side effect to this practice. You create a following that couldn’t care less about what you post.

If you disagree, then you probably fall into one of a few situations. You either: a.) have a small following that you know well, b.) don’t accurately track the information you’re posting, or c.) don’t care. The information I’ve seen has shown that on average approximately 1% of your followers/friends will click on a link that you post. Think about that for a second. I have 1,300 followers on Twitter. On average 13 of them will click on a link that I share. The number tends to increase for media (pics, videos, music), but only by single digits. If you have such a loyal, devoted group of people networking with you, then why don’t more of them look at what you’re posting? There are a number of reasons; too busy, too many people they’re following, no interest in certain subjects, or maybe it’s just that they’re too absorbed in what they’re posting to see or care about what you have to say.

I believe the vast majority fall into the “all about me and my fishing buddies” category, and that’s why I can’t justify the amount of time and effort I’ve invested into social networking any longer. Oh, and feel free to say that I fall into that category. I dare you, then take a look at what I post. Virtually everything is 3rd party articles and information related to fiery foods and barbecue. Close to 90% of what I post via Twitter and Facebook is related to sites that I have no affiliation or interest. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. If any of this bothers or upsets you….. GOOD! The people that would be bothered by this are probably the biggest self centered self promoters anyway.

Now I will step off my soapbox, and get back to business as usual. Reviews, reviews, and more reviews. Thanks to all the TRUE chileheads, fans, and readers of this site. You rock! This site exists for you. As always, let me know if you want to see anything reviewed or discussed on here, and always remember to EAT MORE HEAT!