So I learn from Bryan Appleyard -- see Thought Experiments : The Blog: Twitter -- that he isn't a fan of Twitter (or Twittr as might have been a trendier name for the mini-blogette). That doesn't surprise me. Bryan points to an interview with Twitter's founder, Evan Williams, at Technology Review, to which I subscribe but had missed this article.
"Launched in March 2006, Twitter lets people broadcast short messages from computers and phones to anyone in the world. The idea has generated a fair amount of buzz, but while some people love the idea of a constant stream of updates, others are appalled. "
I still find it hard to gain access to Twitter and hence have never really got into it. From the little experience I have had, I can see that it is a great resource for one's online circle of friends, if one has such a thing and if they are all the Twitter type. But although in principle I might like knowing what they might be up to at any given nanosecond, I would not be interested in knowing what everyone in the world is doing at the same frequency. Even if my day wasn't full with my job, I don't have the time or patience for the permanent distraction from a longer-term task, maybe something that would take a whole five minutes.
But the flip side is that I bet Twitter is great for people who are isolated and who have time to kill -- it probably prevents a lot of nervous breakdowns. Hence I would not call it a "vision of hell", as does a certain person. I am definitely not an "instant messaging" kind of person, particularly when I do manage to log on and I see a message from the Twittermakers saying "what are you doing to help with our climate crisis? Live Earth has great tips". In 140 words max, I presume.
Hah. We were both responding to Bryan by blog post virtually simultaneously.
Posted by: Debra Hamel | 10 July 2007 at 00:38
I suspect he wouldn't get the message if you 'twittered' your responses!
Posted by: Susan | 10 July 2007 at 01:51
Twitter this!
Posted by: Dave Knadler | 10 July 2007 at 04:27
I'm still trying to come to grips with Twitter. Debra uses it wonderfully well, but I can't really say it has altered my world for the better ...
Posted by: Mark Thwaite | 10 July 2007 at 14:30
I guess it is one of those things you love or hate -- in my case, not hate, but I don't have a use for it. What I don't like is when people "have a go" at some harmless activity (eg blogging or twittering) just because they don't like it or get it. I suppose it makes good copy. But I prefer a "live and let live" policy.
Posted by: Maxine | 11 July 2007 at 19:33