Here’s the Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of an eddy:
‘The water that by some interruption in its course, runs contrary to the direction of the tide or current’ (Adm. Smyth); a circular motion in water, a small whirlpool.
When we professionals (physicians, lawyers, executives, and the like) decide to get into the Twitter River, we need to be particularly wary of getting trapped in Twitter eddies—the nonproductive Twitter thread interactions with random tweeters which can go on and on without resolution or benefit.
Although in theory, these random interactions can have some utility, in practice they are not benign. They are often laced with politics and other current hot-button social issues, and if one isn’t careful—particularly when engaging with strangers who have an unknown agenda, one misstep or one wrong word can result in a social media “outrage” nightmare.
So my advice for professionals (which I do my best to follow) is two-fold: First, have a written list of topics with which you feel comfortable about engaging on Twitter, and second, be selective on the types of people you will engage with on Twitter. (For example, even if I agree with a political activist’s opinion, I won’t engage with them on Twitter because I don’t feel it’s the appropriate space, at least for me, to voice, debate, or modify my political views.)
So, give careful thought before diving into a Twitter eddy. Make sure it’s safe, and make sure it’s one you want to be swimming in.