Twitter

[Father Demon]

So, I just signed up for Twitter to see what all the fuss is about.  Everything I read in the biz rags says it's revolutionizing business, relationships, networking, etc. etc. etc.

Out of my address book, it found like 5 people that are currently using it.

Anyone here use it?  For just friends, or job stuff too?  What's the value?  Is it a time wasting tool? How many questions are enough? Do you regularly update it? Do you follow a lot of people or just a few?

[Diomedes]

Don't use it.  Am I right that the idea is you post small comments about what you're doing or where you are, etc?  And that's basically the whole idea?

[Susquehanna Birder]

That's pretty much it. Kind of a micro blog. While I do get personal things like that, I also get info from different blogs and news sources, similar to an RSS feed kind of thing.

[Father Demon]

Yeah, that's pretty much what it is, Dio.  Little micro posts ranging from "Standing in line at LAX ready to go to Atlanta" to people posting that they are in the mood for vanilla ice cream. 

I think I can see what it's good for if your co-workers, bosses, network peeps, etc are connected - letting others know about projects, needs, travels, etc.  But I know one person who sees herself as a "super networker" that posts on this thiing over 100 times a day.  Do people really think others give a shtein that you are wondering "What have you done nice for someone today?"

[Seabiscuit36]

so its basically Facebook or Myspace updates for adults

[ice grillin you]

i was just about to say do yous realize youre grown men on the internet playing around on something called twitter

[Father Demon]

Didn't you not know how to use Google like just a year ago?

[Seabiscuit36]

he only understood http://www.gizoogle.com/

[ice grillin you]

Didn't you not know how to quote posts like just a year ago?

yes

[Cerevant]

Actually, LinkedIn is the real professional networking site.  Twitter is what you make of it..mostly a waste of time.

[Father Demon]

I use LinkedIn, and love it.  But where LinkedIn is mostly static, I think the draw to Twitter is it's fluidity.

Regardless, I'm going to give it a couple weeks, and if I still can't figure out the draw, it'll be over.

[Diomedes]

From what I can tell the service appeals to people for whom constantly checking emails in their blackberry just isnt' enough connection with everyone else.  They gotta have more and faster communication regardless how trivial, because it makes them feel like they are a part of something.  Or some such shtein.

[Father Demon]

I think you're spot on.

[Susquehanna Birder]

LinkedIn is probably great for people who need to create business networks, but I can't justify forking over $20 a month for the honor. And the free level of the program is nothing more than a come-on to get you to pay for their service.

One of the people I follow on Twitter is a columnist who writes on the local bar and restaurant scene. She posts alerts about upcoming events and such, in addition to her personal updates, so there is some value to following her. And there are a few other bloggers that I like to keep up on. I definitely don't need immediacy, and I don't have Twitter updating me via text messages or anything. But it is nice to sit down at my computer, pull up one page, and find out what some of my on-line contacts are up to.

[phattymatty]

matt just took a wonderful dump.