At the risk of sounding like an old fogey, I don’t get Twitter. I’ve tried, but I just don’t see the necessity for what amounts to sms updates to the world at large - I mean, why bother? There’s IM that tells if you’re available or not. Email is instantaneous and ubiquitous these days. People, ahem, blog frequently letting others know what they’re up to. Why Twit? What’s the big attraction? Has it ever proven useful? Enquiring minds want to know…..
While I don’t get Twitter, I do have to admit, for some unknown reason, Twittervision can be mesmerizing although it’s a complete waste of time. All these people twitting here and there projected on a global map. But look at the content for a moment and it’s easy to realize this is not a high value communications medium.
So intrepid readers, if you twitter, tell me, what am I missing? Have I crossed the threshold to old?
I must confess I feel much the same way. It seems to be the next phase of online evolution, the merging of blogs and social networking sites. I’ve heard this stream of updates referred to as a Lifestream, a good example of which is http://www.yongfook.com .
The problem with it is I’m not a stalker (really) so don’t care what articles you dugg or flickr photos you liked. Chances are if I read your blog I share some interests with you and we look at the same websites already anyway.
However today is my birthday so the maybe I too am an old fogey so don’t understand the kids of today… *sigh*
**updated with hopefully corrected HTML. p.s. a preview function would be nice…**
Happy Birthday Lloyd. Since you’re much younger than I am, perhaps this isn’t an age issue after all. It’s nice to hear I’m not the only one…meanwhile, preview, yeah, when I get a little maintenance time, that would be a good add.
I don’t know if age related, but all the cool kids are doing it!
Twitter is “old” news to me - I felt old the moment I heard my 17-year-old daughter and friends talk about the uselessness of email. Email? My lifeblood? Useless? How on earth can it be seen as useless? But they they are, IM-ing and phoning at breakneck speeds, feeling that’s everything they need to keep in touch with their tribe. But here’s a bit of good news: they don’t get Twitter either. So then you have to wonder who the heck is using it and why?
Tom, that’s an interesting observation. But I’ve met Connie’s daughter and she has all the hallmarks of a “cool kid” - so I’m interested to see that she and her friends don’t get it either.
And Connie, I’m so with you on email…I hate it often, but find I can’t live without it.
Who does use Twitter, anyone?
At first I felt like you. I tried it but stopped. But then I figured out that I was following the wrong people. They didn’t care about me and I sure didn’t care about them.
That’s the key: following the right people. A good combination of interesting individuals and news outlets works for me. Turn twitter in a virtual water cooler and and avoid the people you don’t know. Pam Kong said it best in that you can pick your office mates.
Other good reading:
1. Skrocki: 1 2 3
2. Grisanzio: 1
I know two software architects that use it. I’m pretty sure they don’t fall under the category ‘cool kids’.
Kevin, very useful. I’ll go read that and see how/if it changes my experience.