Twitter has hit the mainstream. The “social media” tool recently celebrated its third birthday (congratulations if you remember last years Macworld event which killed Twitter and introduced the “Fail Whale” to the masses. If you remember that, you’re officially a Twitter grandfather/mother) but it seems as if recently the micro-blogging application has picked up steam and folks you’d never expect are now talking about Twitter like it’s the next best thing. Soon your cool grandmother who knows all about YouTube is going to want in on the action.
So how do you explain the inner workings of Twitter? Why, you show them a video of course! This one is pretty funny and features a hysterical interpretation of the previously mentioned Fail Whale. This is classic people. Classic I tell you!
This is a funny video, though I’m not a huge fan of the “Twitter is stupid” vibe it gives off. It focuses on only one way that Twitter can be used, and only on compulsive Twitterers. Still. Funny.
Comment by Jandy Stone — March 24, 2009
Hilarious video though!
“Don’t you twitterstand?”
“It seems like Twitter is just bragging about your unexceptional life.”
“It’s like I’m hanging out with my friends… all the time!”
ha ha!
Comment by Jonathan B. — March 24, 2009
And it’s not stupid Jonathan. It really really isn’t.
Comment by Marina Antunes — March 24, 2009
Jonathan, the way the people in the video use it can be rather stupid, agreed. But it’s been great for a) keeping in touch with my friends after I moved, b) adding another layer of communication with people I met on other social media sites, c) finding out about new technology and events early, d) networking with people especially in tech, but also in film and music, e) staying both up to date and connected with things when all I have is my phone, etc.
Curious – do you think social media in general is not useful, or just Twitter specifically? I know a number of people who are active social media users and just think Twitter isn’t as good a tool as FriendFeed/Facebook/Pownce/Tumblr/Rejaw/etc. I get that.
Comment by Jandy Stone — March 25, 2009
Comment by ralph — March 25, 2009
Similarly, the third-party clients for Twitter are much better than for most any other site. So if for whatever reason I can’t have FriendFeed/Facebook/whatever open in a browser, it’s much easier for me to keep tabs on Twitter than anything else, via Twitterfox or Twhirl or Tweetdeck. Maybe the very idea of being connected to people online turns you off – but I’d be that way anyway, even if Twitter didn’t exist. It’d just be harder.
And I don’t get why it’s not really communication. I talk about the same stuff on Twitter that I talk about in person, just with a broader range of people and with people who aren’t near me in person. And asynchronously.
Comment by Jandy Stone — March 25, 2009
It’s probably not for everyone but it’s a super handy tool.
Comment by Marina — March 25, 2009
marina, is it good that twitter replaces your blogging? so instead of writing longer, thought-out examinations, your just writing 150 character summarizations. it isn’t healthy. our ENglish writing forefathers are rolling over in their graves!!!!!
Comment by ralph — March 25, 2009
I want to use it to hold onto thought fragments in my head, to capture the fleeting ideas, and sure I could just keep a notepad handy but twitter suffices.
Comment by rot — March 25, 2009
Comment by murph — March 25, 2009
Now with Twitter, I’m finding that my blogging is a little more personal again. I don’t think Twitter has changed the way I write – it’s just another avenue for sharing. If I don’t want to share it, I don’t and if I want to keep something for myself, I do. No one needs to see the notes I keep on my phone, iTouch and notepad I always carry around in my bag but technology has allowed me to share more often than before. If people don’t want to listen, they don’t and vise versa.
Comment by Marina — March 25, 2009
I wrote this blog post about it just a couple of weeks ago actually, which actually inspired some of my friends to take a break from social networking for a couple of weeks.
I have a lot to say and some rebuttals to make in these comments, but no time now. The article will suffice until tomorrow.
Comment by Jonathan B. — March 25, 2009
but it reminds me a schtick some comedian did back in the day (was it Dennis Miller?) where he said everything is changing to save us time, that all the technological advances are there with the assumption that now you have more free time, no long hand letters, instant email, etc… and it is assumed that all this free time is going to be put to some noble use, when in reality we do nothing with it, we fill it with more distractions… nobody takes that free time and learns about Zen Buddhism or whatever, they just keep distracting themselves… and this is my problem with social networking, but I do think it is a double edged sword, with benefits that you overlook.
One does not need to be a luddite to be efficient and happy, one just needs to be responsible with the tools they got.
Comment by rot — March 26, 2009
Comment by rot — March 26, 2009
Ghey.
Die Twitter Die.
I hate knowing what “sexting” is. Just die.
Comment by Goon — March 26, 2009
It’s like a repository for garbage that, if emailed out to everyone you know, would have people blocking your pointless spammy crap. But don’t worry: now you can just share on Twitter!
Look, if some shard of information isn’t worth even a quick email (or Facebook message, or txt…) i don’t want to read about it. Thus the thought of reading someone’s Twitter makes me shudder.
Comment by manicp — March 26, 2009
ha ha ha. I don’t get it either.
Comment by Rusty James — March 26, 2009
I promise I am not posting as multiple people.
Comment by Goon — March 27, 2009
Comment by Rusty James — March 27, 2009
Comment by Jonathan B. — April 11, 2009