Twitter & I
Hey there, welcome to your favourite online cafe. I hope your day is going well. Have you had your favorite drink yet? If not, here’s your reminder to do so. With the way this Nigerian heat is showing us pepper, you definitely need something chilled—maybe a cold Zobo, Chapman, or just ice-cold water. Whatever it is, stay hydrated!
Today, I want to share a little reflection with you.
Today, I want to share a little reflection with you—one of those moments that made me pause and really think about the power of our words and thoughts.
For the longest time, I have firmly said, “I will never get on Twitter.” Not because I had anything personal against the platform, but because, let’s be honest, Twitter Nigeria is the headquarters of “violence“. Not the kind that involves fists and weapons, but the kind that thrives on sharp words, unfiltered opinions, and relentless banter. If you know, you know. The dragging, the sub-tweets, the never-ending discourse over things as small as jollof rice recipes or as big as global politics. It felt like a chaotic marketplace where you had to watch your every word, or risk being the topic of the day. And so, I stayed away.
For years, I avoided the platform completely. I watched from afar. Saw snippets of all the brouhahas from other platforms I was on. I saw no reason to put myself in the middle of all that chaos, and I was perfectly fine without it. But then, a few weeks ago, I found myself in need of a Twitter account. There was a job lead someone had shared with me, and the recruiter had left specific instructions: “Send me a DM on Twitter.”
That was how, after all these years, I finally created an account: reluctantly, I might add. No tweets, no engagements, just a simple account to follow through on the job lead. “I would simply slip in and out”, I had said to myself.
I logged in, searched for the person, sent the required DM, and logged out. Simple, right?
Well, I thought so too. Until a few days later, when I woke up to an email from Twitter informing me that my account had been suspended. Just like that? After just a DM? No warning, no explanation, just a cold, automated message telling me I could appeal if I wanted to.
Since I hadn’t received a response from the recruiter yet, I decided to appeal, hoping it would be resolved quickly. I followed the process, submitted my request, and waited. Days turned into weeks, and as I write this, there is still no response from Twitter/X. My account remains suspended, floating in digital limbo.
As for the job, after careful thought, I realized it wasn’t a fit for me. Someone else will be on it now, and that’s perfectly fine. No regrets there. But in reflecting on the whole experience, I thought about how we often manifest our thoughts and words without even realizing it. The things we repeatedly affirm, whether positive or negative, tend to take root and shape our experiences. I had unknowingly spoken this into existence, and life simply followed the script I had been writing all along.
I broke my own rule for just a few seconds, and in those few seconds, my Twitter journey ended before it even began.
Coincidence? Maybe.
A reminder of the power of words? Absolutely.
Has something similar ever happened to you? It doesn’t have to be in the negative. Maybe you manifested something positive you have always said or thought. Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences.
I might as well write them again, because why not? I already started it. You can give me the side eye, no worries😁 I’ll let you know how it pans out.
Untill then, stay frosty!
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Click to read The Unspoken Burden
