What is it with Twitter?

[mizwizzy]

Im not sure if im posting this in the correct section - im not lookin for help, advice or tips on this topic but would like to find out why people use twitter!

I opened an a/c with Twitter not so long ago - i read up on all the great things twitter does and decided I'd give it a go myself. As quick as I opened my a/c I had it closed off!

I know this is a version of microblogging if u will and i know its extremely successful and used in the correct instances it can work wonders for people so I hear...

When I set up my a/c I wondered, now what am I going to talk about on here - I started off with web design stuff and gradually sort of went off topic posting things like "going out for the day" - or "watching the matrix" I know, these are ridiculous postings and thats what made me stop - I developed a following on this twitter thing and had made "friends" with people I did not know, infact it sort of made me uncomfortable watching these people hit on my page and follow me - for curiousity reasons I added people to see how it would go but in the end it just was a bit unsettling especially when u had people checking up ALOT

Anyway, regardless of that aspect I also became very irritated by some posts I saw around the place like "eating a kebab" or "yawning" or some silly things like that - it just did my head in and I decided enough was enough and that was it a/c closed...

I never really took to social network sites I guess because Ive been on the net for a while and its not really something i'm into - I talked about this twitter issue with a few people and they laughed saying they knew what i was talkin about and thats why they dont use it either - so then i was thinking, why do people use it? can it be good for business? even if u do use it on a personal level - how do u put up with the mindless drivel that gets posted off and on and how do u relax knowing u have these strangers following and checking up on ur status 24-7!

[php_daemon]

Besides the social thing, which personally I too don't really buy into (then again I'm not a very social person), there's something unique about Twitter that made it stick. It's really easy to use. It's been around since 2006 but only become so widespread recently, when all those celebrities and mainstream media picked it up. And the ball started to roll. They didn't pick up Facebook or MySpace like they did Twitter, because they aren't so trivial and take time to use.

There are some good uses of Twitter other than socializing and networking, you don't even have to post or have followers to use it. For instance, the news appear on Twitter faster than in any other media.

Other uses come because it is so widespread. Businesses, for example, can reach all those people that already use Twitter and so on.

[John_DP]

I don't understand people updating on every little thing they do that no one cares about. I do however see the use when it comes to news and events that people do care about.

[SiberianHuskey]

I don't Twitter, Facebook or MySpace. If you want to reach me you can do it by email or we can meet in person. All those are Fads if you ask me.

Although when Paris Hilton Twitters oh lord everyone must twitter, I would never take a relationship with that chick seriously she just wants boy toys for a few weeks then she gets bored, so you sorta have to take it for what you can if she is that into you.

[amwyyytg]

I am still do not have my own twitter
am I too out...

[mizwizzy]

see, thats what ive been thinkin too - the social side of things - i can be a social person but I still enjoy my privacy alot - i also think it has become very popular quickly because of x y and z celebrities using it, i agree with that saul

a few of you mentioned myspace, facebook - ive never seen the attraction to these, they would be synonymous with teenagers IMO, is that just a dated opinion? I've never had any of those social network a/cs it just seems too intrusive and anyone can latch onto you.....

back to twitter though...i do see the positive gains from using it as you say with media and news affairs even charities but id say that they are very much in the minority and theres just mindless pointless drivel that has and is gradually taking over like a disease!

On the friends issue - like even with blogs i find ppl requesting adds - which i dont mind BUT they are always asking u to follow them and they'll follow you sure this seems fair IF you knew them but complete strangers its just very odd but soo many people do it, is it viable to do so? can this really benefit you with traffic in the long run? I see so many twitter/blog pages with hundreds of followers, surely you cannot return favours by following and keeping up with them all?

[vgarcia]

You choose who you follow on twitter. If the updates you see are boring and inane it's all your fault for choosing to follow those people. Drop them and find more interesting people.

And if someone you don't follow is nagging you to follow them and you're getting annoyed, BLOCK THEM. That's what it's there for.

Basically if I can find 400+ people that keep me laughing all day long you can find 50 or so interesting people that you want to pay attention to and converse with. If you don't want to put that minimal effort in then that's your issue, but don't blame twitter for it. That's like blaming the TV for the lousy show you're watching while the remote is in your hand.

[molona]

Vinnie, I am following you and been doing it for a long time Furthermore because you're not part of the staff anymore and I used to love your posts. Many of them were cracking

That's on Vinnie's side but I am with Mizwizzy. Although I have to say that I found people I met and that I haven't been in touch for ages... and at least now, from time to time, I do check on how they're doing and that's nice.

I guess that we're not that social people, or that we're like to go to the pub to talk to friends

[Dark Tranquility]

You choose who you follow on twitter. If the updates you see are boring and inane it's all your fault for choosing to follow those people. Drop them and find more interesting people.

And if someone you don't follow is nagging you to follow them and you're getting annoyed, BLOCK THEM. That's what it's there for.

Basically if I can find 400+ people that keep me laughing all day long you can find 50 or so interesting people that you want to pay attention to and converse with. If you don't want to put that minimal effort in then that's your issue, but don't blame twitter for it. That's like blaming the TV for the lousy show you're watching while the remote is in your hand.

Nice to see you posting Vinnie!
I totally agree with what you said!

[mizwizzy]

You choose who you follow on twitter. If the updates you see are boring and inane it's all your fault for choosing to follow those people. Drop them and find more interesting people.

And if someone you don't follow is nagging you to follow them and you're getting annoyed, BLOCK THEM. That's what it's there for.

Basically if I can find 400+ people that keep me laughing all day long you can find 50 or so interesting people that you want to pay attention to and converse with. If you don't want to put that minimal effort in then that's your issue, but don't blame twitter for it. That's like blaming the TV for the lousy show you're watching while the remote is in your hand.

Yeah I know the block/ignoring thing, but sometimes they just come back under another name - but anyway thats neither here nor there as ive closed my a/c now but what do u do when u have someone that bugs u alot and u just want to get away from them but u cant unless u disappear urself?

im not blaming twitter for anything where did you get that idea from? its some of those nuisance people on that "did" bug me thats what my issue was really, not twitter itself as ive said before it can be great when used properly

.....

That's on Vinnie's side but I am with Mizwizzy. Although I have to say that I found people I met and that I haven't been in touch for ages... and at least now, from time to time, I do check on how they're doing and that's nice.

I guess that we're not that social people, or that we're like to go to the pub to talk to friends

yeah molona, i prefer the human contact form of socialising but i do enjoy the chit chat banter online too - you mentioned people you havent been in touch with for ages, is that a good thing or bad thing?

[molona]

Well, I follow Vinnie but DT is my hero. I wish I could do half of the stuff he does... I follow him in Twitter and facebook. He's always full of interesting links

[PrinceValiant]

I like it, I keep track of Music Videos via twitter. Even though too many updates can get annoying, I still prefer something we new content then something like email for instance where it's not that direct. I reckon constantly checking you email will soon become obsolete - replace by doing the same to your twitter page

[SiberianHuskey]

Problem is too many teenagers. I'm on a forum where on the weekends the teens are home, and if they don't understand something they try to make you look back because they don't understand the question and are concerned with being a "tough gangsta"

Yeah I'm not a teen but I'm on to you teens

[andylin]

It is most unfortunate, twitter can not be used in China

[SiberianHuskey]

Your not missing anything.

[mizwizzy]

lol @ huskey

hmm, i dont know there are just some people who just should not post on there because to be honest i thought my life wasnt much to tweet about but seeing others - mine is like 101 things happening 100mph! Like who wants to know if ur having a sandwich or just did the shopping? lol its odd!

[SiberianHuskey]

I really like to know when you're going to finish your drink, so you better twitter it (sarcastic)

[mizwizzy]

- exciting

[jpw]

Twitter is interesting with regards to reading famous people's posts - reading that they think or doing is interesting.

[jackisback]

i use twitter to give update to my friends i like twitter its the best i have ever seen i love to twit on it means daily posting on it

[molona]

hmm, i dont know there are just some people who just should not post on there because to be honest i thought my life wasnt much to tweet about but seeing others - mine is like 101 things happening 100mph! Like who wants to know if ur having a sandwich or just did the shopping? lol its odd!

Are you telling me that you don't want to know when I am finished eating my sandwich or when I did my shopping?

I am sooooo disappointed... That's the only interesting thing I can talk about

[rahul2435]

twitter is fun, ... meeting new people everyday,... just gossip.
the other day i met a school friend after years,... just recognised him from his pic!

go Twitter!

[mizwizzy]

good for u rahul

molona im sorry, please tell me what was on the sandwich too pretty please!

[raena]

I mostly like Twitter for swapping links and such though I confess to tweeting the occasional 'HOORAY i have an EGG SANDWICH' style of post. Ayy, let me twitter dat.

[Shaun(OfTheDead)]

I don't get it either. Though I do have a Twitter account myself.

I use it to store links to whatever music I'm listening to at the time.