Come back inner monologue, all is forgiven!

I've been on facebook since 2007, three years since it launched in the U.S.A. and as I'm physically removed from most of my friends, I've relied on it heavily, becoming both an active socialiser and the go-to guy at work for Social endeavours, even taking on the responsibility of the Samsung Developers LinkedIn Group management. Away from the corporate side of things, I'm at the point where I have a though, then copy-edit it and store it for future release via a social channel... Something doesn't quite feel right about the fact that my good, often unformulated ideas, become soundbites, reduced to 140 characters presented to a pool of connections I might not know as well as I should, or value as much as I should....

 

Recently I caught myself trolling on-line. I hadn't expressly set out to, but I'd found myself being mean, harsh and derogatory toward my connections on both facebook and LinkedIn and I realised I should know better. I gave myself a 10 day time out from facebook, (coinciding with a busy period at work) and did some thinking about Social Networking.

I wondered if it's the same for everyone? Ooo, I like that, I'll post it to [insert social channel here]... Is it all impulse, replacing the inner monologue, or is this a more direct way of communicating that offers unprecedented access to humanities inner thoughts? As time marches on will the quality degrade or become more niche as less opportunities present themselves?

I think I need to do the following -

1. I need to rationalise my on-line connections, weeding out the school contacts I've not seen in decades and shifting them somewhere else (LinkedIn?). I also need some separation from work and personal. Either I need to mind my P's and Q's or can say whatever I like. It can't be both and I can't manage privacy settings or multiple lists..
2. I need to use social media less frequently, with higher quality content. I'm reclaiming my inner monologue for my own sanities sake.
3. I need to find other ways to express myself. I might start uploading my sketches and drawings or tunes - they aren't the best in the world, but give me an avenue for constructive creativity.

How do you manage your inner monologue?