1) I have an amazing ability to scan through crap and noise pausing to read only those things that interest me.

2) I use lists a lot on Twitter and sometimes remove people from my news feed on Facebook if they are clogging up the page.

I respond to tweets and FB status updates that open up a dialog and a conversation. I don't respond to those that just blare a deal or marketing campaign in my face. I resent someone filling my feeds with junk.

But it doesn't stop there. I find articles, blog posts and other items of interest that take me well beyond the initial conversation opener. I am learning about entrepreneurship, using social media effectively, and how to use technology–all from people I have met on the web from various sites. I find others who are strong in areas that I am weak that help me build my capacities, and I am able to give back vice versa.

And I have built a customer base for my artwork simply by sharing my images and interacting with people in a fun yet genuine way. Although I am constantly marketing in a sense, I rarely do any kind of outright advertising. I like it that way, because I am not one who enjoys doing the hard sell. I like just sharing my work, and those who want to explore it further, contact me via a variety of communication routes.

All of my social media activities ultimately feed back to each other, which is a very enriching process.

There are so many people in the world who don't use Twitter, that it's about time the Kool-Aid drinkers take a break like me. Like you say, it's a tool. There are many tools in the shed.

I try to retweet intriguing or worthwhile info from others. I'm looking at the list function because I have many interests so I don't want a scattershot approach to any info shared. Some of my followers may want only to share writing information while others have different interests. How do you (or anyone here) handle this?

I see alot of small biz spam the hell out of twitter and facebook and it's really obvious that they have NO marketing/promotions plan other than sending out their message to their “followers” 5-6 times a day. I find that to be as effective as a small business owner standing in front of his shop 5-6 times daily and holding a cardboard sign promoting his “amazing deals” or “fantastic giveaways.” #fail.

I always give this analogy: go to a party/gathering and tell someone a story (a short one please). Then, about 10 minutes later, find that same person and tell them the same story. Repeat that process 5-6 more times THEN see if they want to talk to you after that. THEY WON'T.

Social networking is a conversation/sharing with like minded people. My social networking experience is different from yours or the next persons because WE MAKE THE EXPERIENCE WHAT WE WANT IT TO BE. If you go to industry mixers, no one wants to “mix” with the person that simply says the same thing over and over and over and over.