Yes, this is a crazy idea.
But after the amazing response on this post about whether or not we’re taking the 140 character limit to the extreme and such varied points of view, I had another idea.
Can we get a good message across with such parameters when it matters most?
I’m talking about the ultimate long-tail piece of prose. Words that will live longer than we ever will. Yep, I’m talking about your tombstone.
This may be morbid on the surface but I bet we can make it fun.
Here’s the task: You have to write a message for your tombstone as if you died this morning, and it must begin with “Here lies (your name…) so you’re really down to even fewer than 140 characters.
And just to be fair, I only took a few minutes to write mine because I know that’s all you’ll have. Here I am, six feet under. 139 characters.
Here lies Angela. Mother of two amazing daughters, eternal optimist, dependable wife and friend. Loved, worked played hard. Missed by many.
Okay, it wasn’t as tough as I thought. It’s not the best, but it’s not all bad either.
Leave yours in the comments section. I’ll pick the top 5 later in the week and post them in a new entry.
Spread the word. This could get interesting!
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6 comments
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January 4, 2009 at 7:12 pm
afhill
Interesting idea, Angela – are you a Stephen Covey fan, by any chance? In the 7 Habits, he offers up an activity to write your own epitaph. This is an interesting twist, forcing it only to be 140 characters.
(Although I’d argue that having to write the brief bio on your twitter profile is already encroaching on this idea)
January 4, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Angela Connor
@afhill I haven’t even read that book! How insane is that? Perhaps I was channeling Covey in some way! I wonder though if the twitter profile is how one would like to be remembered. After all, you are no longer seeking followers at that point. Let’s hope.
January 4, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Andrea Hill
LOL at your comment about followers. I guess I was thinking about “how to describe yourself succinctly”.
January 5, 2009 at 1:22 am
Interesting blogs posts from the first week of January, 209 | Digital Likeness
[...] of the latest posts over at the Online Community Strategist blog by Angela Connor. Her posts Your Tombstone in 140 Characters or Less and Are we taking the 140 character limit to the extreme have caused me to really think about the [...]
January 5, 2009 at 1:50 am
Your tombstone in 140 characters or less « Online Community Strategist | thecommunitysecrets
[...] Read the original post: Your tombstone in 140 characters or less « Online Community Strategist [...]
May 22, 2009 at 10:21 pm
dj
Here lies DJ. He always thought any time was an appropriate time to get awesome.