No, I’m really asking. WTF is Pinterest Good For?
You guys, I really don’t understand why everyone is all excited about Pinterest. Seriously. I want to “get” it, but I just can’t seem to figure out what the big deal is. I avoided it for the longest time, because it was described to me as an online magazine kind of thing. And dude — I don’t read magazines. “Ain’t nobody got time for that!”
In the interest of being fair, I thought I’d actually try it out.
You know, BEFORE being a hater. And yeah, okay, I don’t actually HATE Pinterest. But I don’t exactly LOVE it, either. I still just don’t get it. And maybe I never will. Maybe it’s just not my bag, baby. I asked several people what Pinterest’s appeal is, and received many different answers.
Q: WTF is Pinterest Good For?
A: “I use it to bookmark pages for future reference.”
My sister says she never actually “goes on” Pinterest.
She uses it like she would a magazine, folding down the corners of different pages containing articles or pictures or whatever that she might want to reference again in the future. She also admitted that she seldom looks back at them, though. And I can tell you right now, I would NEVER look back at them, either. Also? I have this thing called “Favorites” at the top of my fucking web browser, and I save shit that I want or need in well-labeled folders so that I can find the pages I visit most often. I don’t need to save them somewhere else, too. So this purpose does me no good.
Q: WTF is Pinterest Good For?
A: “I use it for neat ideas for craft projects and recipes.”
Oh. Well I don’t do craft projects.
I have nothing against them; they just aren’t for me. I’m a writer, not a hot-glue-gun maven. And if I want or need a recipe I can always Google anything that isn’t covered in my basic cook books. After all… have you SEEN how many nifty ideas are floating around on the interwebz? So many that to save one seems kinda silly to me. Just sayin’. So yeah, this purpose does me no good, either.
Q: WTF is Pinterest Good For?
A: “I use it in my writing process.”
Okay, I can kind of wrap my brain around this one.
I mean, find images of that scallywag character you’re trying to describe and “pin” it for inspiration. And how about settings? Research? That sort of thing. I actually do “get” this. I even started a private board to this effect. But… I don’t really know how to search efficiently for images, and moreover, I don’t want to waste time looking. So whereas I can respect this particular useage… this purpose does me no good.
Q: WTF is Pinterest Good For?
A: “I don’t fucking know.”
That last one is me.
That’s my answer. Because I still don’t get it. I have a couple public boards up, and mostly they just have quotes or images that I find… well… interesting, funny, true, or whatever. I don’t know. I just like them, I guess.
Q: WTF is Pinterest Good For?
A: Writer-ish Things
I’m a writer at heart, so this can’t really be shocking.
{Andi Roo’s “Writer-ish Things” Pinterest folder}
Q: WTF is Pinterest Good For?
A: Book-ish Things
I read books. I’ve been reading since I was four years old. And by reading, I mean all the usual adjectives: devouring, escaping into, immersing myself, collecting, coveting, lending, borrowing, wanting, craving, hating, caressing lovingly, throwing across a room. If you’re a reader, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you aren’t a reader, well, fuck off.
{Andi-Roo’s “Book-ish Things” Pinterest folder}
Q: WTF is Pinterest Good For?
A: Happy-ish Things
I’m totally a downer, man. Happy is a Choice. I need constant reminders to stop wallowing in the depths of despair. Because life is pretty goddamn gravy, you guys. So I have lots of smiley, positive, flowery, affirmation-type quotes up in here.
{Andi-Roo’s “Happy-ish Things Pinterest Folder}
Q: WTF is Pinterest Good For?
A: Doctor-ish Things
Cuz OMFG if you aren’t into Doctor Who then I don’t want to know you. I’m pretty sure I’m not even kidding.
Q: WTF is Pinterest Good For?
A: Grunny-ish Things
Okay, so there’s this one actor and I started seeing him in like EVERYTHING. The very first place I saw him was on the show Felicity, and I have adored him ever since. I have a huge stupid crush on this guy. He’s such a cutie! I think, somehow, my hubz reminds me of him. The actor of which I speak is Greg Grunberg. Doesn’t he just look like a super-nice guy IRL?
{Andi-Roo’s “Grunny-ish Things” Pinterest folder}
So there are my boards.
Well, I do have that private one for things relating to the book I’m working on, but you can’t see it. I’m sure it would bore you anyway.
What am I missing?
If you have reasons for the existence of Pinterest other than those mentioned, please clue me in. I’d really like to know. I feel a bit out-of-the-loop, as though there was some memo I missed. Maybe it’s the one with that TPS report that never got filed.
