6 Comments to 'I don’t get Twitter'
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I don’t get Twitter
Posted By katie allison granju
Okay, so I’ve admitted that I only very recently discovered texting at all, but now I have another admission to make: I don’t “get” the whole Twitter/Utterz mobile blogging thing, even though some of my favorite bloggers now seem to be doing it a lot. Some people (my News Director, on occasion) have accused bloggers of being writers too lazy to churn out an entire op-ed piece. I’ve argued with him on this one, but now I find myself feeling the same way about “twittering.” A lot of these mobile blogging entries seem to be so incredibly abbreviated and trivial that I don’t get anything out of them.
Dec 17th, 2007
For me, Twitter serves two purposes:
First, it’s a micro-blogging tool. I can post a link to something I find interesting with only a few words as preface. Think about how many blog posts do exactly this, in a whole lot more space but with no more analysis than “Go read this”.
Second, it lets me post short thoughts, observations, or sightings from my mobile phone. That’s awesome. If I encounter a traffic jam on Pellissippi or find some cool new restaurant, I can post about it (in 140 characters or less) from my phone.
To me, Twitter isn’t about laziness; it’s about having a publishing tool with you whenever you have your mobile phone handy (which for me is pretty much always) or when you have something you want to share that doesn’t justify a full blog post.
(And KnoxvilleTalks is excellent!)
I have a post talking about social media which may help a little.
I really like how the RedCross is using Twitter to bring families together in disaster.
Twitter is instant communication. When San Francisco had an earthquake recently, it was all over Twitter hours before the media said word one.
To me, Twitter is less about blogging and more about communication. It is sharing information and building relationships.
Utterz is different. Utterz is simple podcasting intended to be brief. For me, when I am in the car, like at the elementary school carpool line, and I want to get a thought out but could not possibly type it with my little flip phone, I jot a few notes on a scrap piece of paper and shoot out an Utterz. Utterz is a little less like blogging and a little more like a CB radio that spans the world.
I see the words “I don’t get Twitter” a lot! I hope to have a post soon that helps people understand Twitter better (but understanding it doesn’t mean its for everyone).
I have labeled “social media” as The Conversation.
In short, Twitter is like being in a classroom where the professor doesn’t want talking. Instead you pass notes except that people can ask to be on your notes list and see every public note you pass.
Utterz is like being on a CB radio. You can listen to conversations or choose to participate in conversations.
Seesmic is in private pre-alpha testing. About 2000 people have access to it right now. It’s like Twitter with video. I like to explain it as being in a big party. You can see and hear conversations all around. You can choose to listen to the ambient buzz or you can pick a few conversations to follow and participate in. If you leave the room, when you return there is no trying to go back and catch up; you simply have to join The Conversation where you entered.
Incase your comments filter urls, here’s the links I embedded above:
http://realityme.net/2007/12/11/are-you-in-the-converation/
http://realityme.net/2007/10/26/put-redcross-in-your-twitter/
As a little post script, I just looked at Reality Me and the past week has been all short posts and Utterz. This is not a stylistic change for me. When I do that, it just means I’m on a heavy deadline and haven’t been able to take the time for longer, more meaningful posts. That may feed your news director’s thoughts of “bloggers are lazy” but I don’t think its lazy; “Time constrained” would be better and since I don’t make money blogging, sometimes the bills have to come first. He should also keep in mind that not all bloggers fancy themselves citizen journalists or writers. Some are simply journaling and preserving the moment.
btw, Nice work on Knoxvilletalks! I love that the header changes with the time of day!
Twitter is good for me to talk to people who are hundreds of miles away in an immediate fashion. I really didn’t understand it in the beginning but have found it to be an effective tool. As Doug said, it is a conversation.
Here’s a couple of examples of its usefulness:
1 . I’ve noticed in Nashville, people have been giving traffic reports to each other when the interstate becomes a parking lot. They will text to twitter saying such and such exit is closed or if there has been a wreck.
2. It’s honestly been good for me as I living in rural America to make a daily connection with my buddies.
3. Bloggers can also link to new things they’ve written or highlight a story that they might not want to do on their blog.
These are just a few examples. Of course, Doug and Russ are on my buddy list and I can chat from Martin to folks in Knoxville/Nashville in an immediate fashion. Yes, sometimes it is trivial, but sometimes conversations aren’t always of substance.
Just thought I’d throw my two cents in.
LOVE THIS NEW BLOG!
If anyone wants a sneak peek of Seesmic, you can watch the SeesMiX show to see a summary of the days conversations.
You have very short one line blog posts on your personal blog, which I love, but some people don’t like to include those on their blog. They reserve their blogs for longer pieces. Twitter is for those one-offs.
Online publishing is not always about making art or doing journalism or anything Proper with a letter P. Sometimes it’s just about communicating.