How About This presents Katy Jean (@katynotie)
In which we welcome our first interviewee!
Welcome to a new feature of How About This: interviews! Our first interview is a Nova Scotia based writer who is well known in local Twitter circles for her spark and humour. Katy Jean (@katynotie on Twitter) is a local newspaper columnist and freelance writer known for her passionate (if occasionally irreverent) takes on the world around her, not the least of which are her detailed and witty live Tweets of COVID-19 government press conference briefings. We’ve given Katy 10 questions by E-mail and she graciously responded with some thoughtful replies and at least one surprising anecdote about meeting a politician in person.
Here’s Katy!
During year two of the COVID-19 pandemic you Live Tweeted the Nova Scotia Government COVID-19 press briefings and a few other things (even a NB press briefing as I recall). What compelled you to start doing this?
I really started live tweeting the briefings out of personal interest. There was so much going on and I didn't know how long it would last so I wanted to really experience it. Remember it. It also became a handy way to figure out what day it was during those strange days of closures!
Eventually, whether it was because more people were online due to COVID or because people actually liked my reactions or opinions on the briefings, I noticed people were paying attention. People were also sharing their feelings and opinions with me and I felt a bit like a hub or safe space for people to talk about what was happening. So I kept it up.
I did have to rename Trudeau as Handsome One and Premier McNeil as Tall Man to keep it focused on the situation and keep people searching keywords with political opinions out of the conversation.
I did cover some other Atlantic province briefings. Newfoundland seemed to shut down ahead of us so seeing their opinion set a precedent usually for Nova Scotia. PEI's hospital capacity depends a lot of New Brunswick’s and Nova Scotia's so their mandates and shut downs spoke for all three. I live tweeted New Brunswick's because their response was delayed and to speak frankly insufficient. Their live tweets were more to project where Nova Scotia could be heading.
It was all kind of strange to me because I was going to live tweet briefings regardless of popularity. It was surprising to see how many people followed along. When I named Rankin Two Eyes the name stood outside of Twitter. I loved it all and feel so honoured to be positively associated with that time.
Do you see yourself continuing to live Tweet press conferences as our governments seem to be hell bent on minimizing COVID-19 going forward?
I've livetweeted over 300 collective hours of COVID briefings. I will be there until COVID itself stops me or until the government sends me a cease and desist.
I see that you have taken on some writing gigs with a local newspaper but also some other websites and organizations. Has a career in writing always been something that you've wanted to do?
I have always loved to write but one thing I've always wanted to be is a storyteller. It's probably because of my dad. He always had these great stories of growing up in Halifax and Dartmouth and he could tell them with such a rhythm that I'm still trying to attain.
I truly love meeting people. I love hearing about people's lives. I'm the kind of person that at a party when someone starts telling a story a few drinks in I'll be the last one standing to hear it all.
I'm also an archivist by training. I think everyone's story is worthy of being written down. I am thrilled to find an opportunity to be one to record history.
Would you recommend Halifax/Dartmouth and Nova Scotia as good places to live and why/why not?
Yes. That's a complicated yes, but one regardless.
One thing I like to say is Nova Scotia can be expensive, the jobs are low, the rent is high, but the view is free. And it's the best view in the world.
Nova Scotia with Halifax and Dartmouth and all its shores are historically and still ports. Welcoming guests is part of our culture. A lot of us are happy to buy you a drink and show you around and if you stay we will bring you into our culture.
I appreciate some people moving here, some called Come From Aways, never feel like they’re truly Nova Scotian due to some gatekeepers in the province but I promise. If you're willing to even try a donair. If you'll handle one Olands. If you can survive a hurricane season and winter, you'll be one of us and you'll stay.
You've been using Twitter for a number of years. In your opinion, is the service getting better, getting worse or no significant difference?
Ha, Twitter is a dumpster fire. That fire can burn you, you can burn your time, or you can utilize it to set fire to the topics you want.
I'd say Twitter’s usability has become more comfortable. I remember when sharing an image or article would eat up your 140 character limit. Now it's double that with gifs, images, and everything else. Is Twitter better? Maybe a tiny bit. Maybe. Maybe.
Whenever we see you post short videos on Twitter you seem upbeat and enthusiastic, even if it's a video of you taking a COVID-19 rapid test. Is that your normal personality and approach to life or do you have to dial it up a bit?
It's me! Somedays I do have to dial it up a bit but it doesn't take much. I am always genuinely excited to speak to my followers in any aspect.
Part of the reason I've done testing Wednesday and other videos is to make myself be that person everyone has seen because it is really naturally me and some days aren't good days but making those videos gets me back to me.
Does what you see and read in social media actively change your mind about how you think about things or would you say that your opinions are pretty firmly established? Clearly there are people and organizations that want to shape how we think, what we feel and how we act.
Social media does change my mind about things and opinions I've established.
My son is Autistic and when I was first identifying that I had very minimal and what I can now identify as ableist I suppose "knowledge" about Autistics. I'd say Twitter and Instagram has been one of the best things to ever happen to me in that aspect. I've followed Autistic accounts, I've listened to firsthand experiences to therapies given to Autistic children. If I didn't have that access there's a lot of things that could have really hurt my child's life.
Social media and the Autistic community really made mine and my kid’s life better by sharing their experiences.
What would you like to see more of in social media?
It's hard to say what I'd like to see more of in social media. I think everyone I like is mostly there.
I'd obviously like some more moderation in regards to abuse and bullying. In the same breath the Left has nothing to defend without the Right. I'd like to see opinions stated in non harmful ways and discussions to happen in safe spaces... but I know that isn't possible with so much passion on either side. But live moderation and immediate response would be great.
Do you think Pierre Poilievre has a good chance of becoming Prime Minister some day? [ED: Poilievre is a Canadian politician campaigning to become Prime Minister but he does have to win his own party’s leadership first.]
I have a very funny story about that that I've been trying to get out for about two weeks but I will tell you.
So in late May I went to a Pierre Poilievre rally in Halifax. I think he is bullshit but the people there were absolutely committed.
Later in that evening I attended a PPC event with Maxime Bernier. His current politics aside he has also ran for Conservative Leadership like Poilievre and lost by 1%. I discussed the rally with him and said "he can't win." He said "he will win." I responded "no. He cannot win." He, again responded "he will." I held his arms and said "No, Maxime, I can't have him win because he could be Prime Minister one day!"
I found myself in Maxime Bernier’s arms comforting me about Pierre Poilievre’s projected win and very real chance at being Prime Minister. A very odd place to find a leftist!
So yes. He absolutely could be Prime Minister one day because if he's proven one thing he will not let go. Unless his party kicks him out he will be against Trudeau or any other Liberal leader until he either wins or retires... and he is young.
Do you think that Elon Musk might be turning into Scott Adams (Dilbert creator)?
I do not think Elon Musk is Scott Adams. Scott Adams has a talent to appreciate.
Pretend that you wake up one morning and you learn that the Internet is suddenly no more. What is the first thing you do?
First thing? I think it'd be a fairly quick process of a few reactions. Panic firstly, then realize nobody else has it either, then touch grass, finally let that intrusive thought of throwing my phone into my harbour realize itself, and probably stop grinding my teeth.
Thanks so much to Katy Jean (@katynotie) for being our first interviewee! More to come!