I don’t think there’s anyone, anywhere that is as shy as I am. I tell that to people online and they don’t believe me as I have carved out an online life of being the Administrator of a busy message forum for nearly 6 years. That consists of me taking the lead, organising things (and people) so what’s a shy and retiring girl like me doing something that? Ah, I just love the internet for allowing me to be outgoing and nobody would guess until I blurt it out…like now.
A couple of months ago I found a celebrity on Twitter - Robert Llewellyn who played Kryten in British sitcom Red Dwarf. I love Robert Llewellyn. I can’t say I am a big Red Dwarf fan, but I am a big fan of Scrapheap Challenge - a show he presented for many years. I followed him and a couple of times he asked the Twitterverse a question. A question I could answer. But what did I do? I ran away. What if he personally replied to me saying thanks? I couldn’t take that chance so I sat quietly while I watched his other followers/my contacts answer him. I was so angry with myself for bottling it. He’s a normal down-to-earth bloke, no airs and graces so why was I putting him on this pedestal that he would no doubt be very embarrassed about? Because he’s on the telly, silly.
Since then I have actually got over that and have recently replied to a few of his tweets. I didn’t panic, I didn’t break out into a cold sweat and I didn’t prepare to hide under the desk if he replied (which he didn’t, btw). But wow, I have faced something head-on that has plagued me for 35 years and it’s all thanks to Twitter.
Just as I was feeling smug about overcoming that hurdle I found out that another British legend was now on Twitter, the gentleman that is Stephen Fry. I followed him on Friday and yesterday he started to follow me back. What a lovely man who seems to be following just about everyone who’s following him. I have had a bit of a soft spot for Stephen since watching his open and honest documentary about Bipolar Disorder a couple of years ago. As someone who has a Bipolar partner, it was invaluable viewing at a time when I was desperate to understand more about the illness. I thank Stephen for being so candid and open, particularly during those times when the last thing he wanted was to be followed around by a camera crew.
So, whether I will actually personally reply to @stephenfry is quite another matter, I have only just recovered from replying to @bobbyllew afterall!!
So, which celebrities* have you discovered on Twitter?
*Real celebrities from the Acting/TV/Music world, not internet celebrities nonebrities.
16 Oct 08
5:03 pm
You chatter back and forth with me all the time without shyness, and I’m about as famous as they come! :p
Quit laughing.
16 Oct 08
5:20 pm
Great post - I know exactly what you mean!
I guess my only celeb would be Rory Cellan Jones from the BBC and we have even direct messaged!
16 Oct 08
7:14 pm
Ah cool, I had no idea Rory Cellan Jones was on Twitter.
I just found out that British tennis player Andy Murray is also on Twitter, but I have absolutely no desire to follow him, lol! http://twitter.com/andy_murray
16 Oct 08
7:15 pm
Chris, I’d respond to that but just getting my breath back…you know, after all that laughing.
16 Oct 08
7:53 pm
Hey Sam.
I know what you mean about the shyness, I thought I was extremely shy. I always get anxious when talking to new people for the first time.
However, unlike you, this problem has never transferred over to the internet. I could IM or Tweet to people all day without ever feeling a bit nervous. I guess because I’m not actually talking to a real person (you know what I mean,
Andrew
16 Oct 08
8:10 pm
Hey Andrew! I’ve never been shy on Twitter with regular people (even though they’re all special, aww) - it’s just the celebs that have me getting tongue tied. I’m such a fangirl
I spoke to an Executive Producer of an American TV Show that I run a forum about, a year or two ago. I was stupidly nervous beforehand, yet when we were talking that totally disappeared and I felt very confident and at ease. It was just the anticipation I guess. Same with Robert Llewellyn on Twitter - the *thought* of replying to him was actually worse than the task itself.
I don’t use IM much. Part shyness I guess but I mostly find IM more useful for giving/receiving techy help where awkward small talk isn’t required
16 Oct 08
9:37 pm
Yep, another one who’s incredibly shy - but it’s freshers’ week at York at the moment, so I’m having to change just a little
As far as meeting celebs goes - I’m going to take the opportunity to plug my video of two of my friends after they met Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht…
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vxwgrzWOQZo
19 Oct 08
2:56 pm
Hi Sam. I also know what it’s like to be shy in real life. Even talking in a group with people I’ve known for ages scares the life out of me. but when it comes to twitter I have no problem. I can even talk to females, and I normally run a mile from them
As to celebs on twitter, well the only ones I follow are Rory Cellan Jones, Bill Thompson (BBC), Stephen Fry and you of course
19 Oct 08
5:49 pm
So glad I’m not the only shy one online
I’d never have had you down as shy, Alex, but just goes to show how the internet can hide our darkest secrets, haha!
Hey Steaders - yeah, isn’t Twitter great for coming out of your shell? I even had some locals contacting me through Twinkle (location-based iPhone app) last week and didn’t show a hint of shyness….just as long as they don’t ask to meet up in real life
Hahaha, thanks for adding me in your celebs-on twitter list *goes all shy*
24 Oct 08
2:47 pm
Not sure how much of a Heroes fan you are but there’s a couple from that on twitter
http://twitter.com/breagrant - the ’speedster’ from season 3
http://twitter.com/greggrunberg - Parkman, was also in Alias
A number of others are listed at mashable - http://mashable.com/2008/10/20/25-celebrity-twitter-users/
25 Oct 08
10:48 am
The Mashable article misses John Cleese!
25 Oct 08
2:43 pm
Hey Sarah - thanks for the list.
Yeah, Alex, I found out about John Cleese being on Twitter a little while back and forgot to mention it in my post. Not following JC as I’m not a big fan.