Comments on: Twitter Hype?

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:31:38 +0000

that sounds like about as cool an endorsement of how twitter works as I’ve read. Good work, Sam

By: Wulf

Wulf — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:13:32 +0000

Yes – that would be a very interesting comparative indicator. I suspect that you are spot on and the value of twitter to those who’ve earned the title “blogger” is higher than to the group who have never blogged or made a few posts and then given up.

I think twitter has definitely reached the point at which, along with other services like Facebook and MySpace, it is a well known brand. I wonder if it is established enough that people think about tweeting on other microblogging platforms like identi.ca?

By: Sam H

Sam H — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:50:31 +0000

Because of twitter I got to hang out with an awesome group of guys in NYC, learned lots about pro musicians, saw a killer show, got some free music, and had a great time!

ergo, I like it

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 06:55:12 +0000

The article left me thinking that their “users who don’t use Twitter” are coming to it expecting it to be something that it’s not. Maybe they expect it to be like YouTube where content is provided and aren’t used to the idea of microblogging.

I’d be interested to see a study that only includes people who have blogged prior to joining Twitter. I think that would show an entirely different picture of how prevalent/useful/successful the site is. I have a hunch that folks who have some blogging experience “get it” more easily.

For me, the best thing about Twitter is seeing folks in the immediacy and everydayness of their lives, without a lot of pre-meditated effort to their posts. Right now, the biggest frustration is the loss of the @replies functionality that was stripped away a few weeks ago.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:46:07 +0000

I think your first sentence is the key to so much of the twitter-bashing that goes on – it’s kind of weird until you try it, and find some interesting people to follow/chat with.

By: Wulf

Wulf — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:50:14 +0000

I found it much easier to understand once I started using it. Sticking with it has also been easy, since I’ve discovered several ways to use Twitter as a tool to do things other than self-indulgently tweeting for the sake of it (keeping my Facebook status up to date was the first one; I also now use it to update my blog when I’m short of time).

Throw in the chance to keep in touch with some people I know, to get to know some interesting people I didn’t know and to get a few streams of news and information thrown in as well, and I’m convinced of its value.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:09:31 +0000

I tink we might have different definitions of ‘self-absorbed’ – introverted =/= self-absorbed, IMO… In fact, it’s often the opposite – the self-absorption of the egotistical narcissists is the most prevalent… quiet people get to be quiet on twitter. Some of my favourite twitterers to follow are people for whom it seems to be a way of organising their thoughts about the day…

Definitely not a suggestion that anyone who’s not shouty and loud and throwing a virtual party isn’t ‘doing it right’ – more that throwing a party in honour of yourself where no-one gets to speak but you seems to miss the point somewhat

By: MKS21471

MKS21471 — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:02:17 +0000

Steve: “…some people are engaging and interesting and others are self-absorbed and dull.”

WTF?? To paraphrase… “Yeah, some people are extrovert and never shut up. The others are introsepctive, navel gazing, dull bastards.”

You and me are in Camp 1, therefore we’re OK. Your beloved is in the second camp. Better be careful while you sleep tonight…

By: Lee Pellington

Lee Pellington — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:00:21 +0000

I’m hooked on Twitter, I’ve had some great conversations. I follow/unfollow fairly regularly, partially as I struggle to keep up with the peeps I’m following. I’m following 91 or so at the moment and do some times feel it’s abit much, trying to keep it under a hundred.

The real issue for me is that there are so many interesting people that I end up feeling like I’m missing out on what they’ve got to say.

By: Bryan Chalmers

Bryan Chalmers — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:28:07 +0000

Does this reply have to be 140 characters or less?

I am a complete ignoramus when it comes to social media/networking. I had dismissed the whole lot of it as something that my kids did until a couple of months ago when I signed up to Twitter, initially to contact Steve. I found it interesting but perhaps not the most convenient communication media ever.

The thing that got me hooked on Twitter was when I started using it to keep my mother updated, initially when I went on a hill walk and then when we went on holiday. Worked a treat and a lot better than a postcard. Now, if only I can persuade her to sign up and start tweeting.