I don't understand Twitter

[DeadPoolX]

Everybody is saying "Twitter this" and "Twitter that!" It's become the trend for anyone looking to connect with others on the Internet.

But I have to ask one important question: WHY?

Why do I care what someone else comments on? Even more importantly, why would I want to get notified about irrelevant minute-to-minute updates? I'm sure some people use Twitter for business-related purposes, but the majority of users simply post about really dumb stuff.

Here's an example of what goes on in Twitter:

"Woke up and fell out of bed" (7:30 AM)

"I went for a run this morning and took a shower" (10:30 AM)

"Ate lunch at a really trendy place" (12:30 PM)

"Got food poisoning and vomited everything up" (1:15 PM)

"Feels better after sleeping it off and apparently drooling on my pillow" (3:45 PM)

"Ate dinner" (5:00 PM)

"Went out to a strip club with friends" (9:00 PM)

"Hooked up with one of the strippers" (11:35 PM)

"Woke up naked in a ditch three states away and can't remember the previous night at all" (8:00 AM)

Why would anyone want to read it? Who cares? It's very arrogant to assume everyone wants to know your personal business.

When someone signs up for a site like Twitter, it's all about "me, me, me!" In other words, they want the world to notice them because they think they're important. Granted, they might find family and friends on there, but most of all, they simply want followers (the Twitter term for those who've subscribed to your page).

Ashton Kutcher apparently has the most followers of anyone on Twitter. I'd like to know why this is important. There's some sort of importance placed on how many followers you have. But what does that do for you? Not a whole lot, really.

I realize I'm complaining about this on a message board, which is an online form of social communication, but it's a little different overall. People join message boards due to similar interests. They don't join to follow someone's every statement nor do people create message boards to have others follow them like lost puppies.

So if anyone here has used -- or is currently using -- Twitter, please explain it to me. I'm genuinely interested in knowing why there's so much fuss over it. What's the appeal?

[Collector]

I know that JasefWisener has a Twitter page, but he has not been on here for a while, probably because of end of school year distractions. I, like you, am a little clueless as to the appeal. While some may not see much difference between a board like this and Twitter, I see it in a very different light. As you said, people are drawn to various message boards because of common interests. Even though this is my board, I don't try to control topics. My rules are simple and few; no direct abandonware linking and and I ask that tech help is posted in the right forum to make it easier to search for information. everyone here has been civil and polite enough that nearly all the work in moderating and administrating this board has been because of spambots.

Rather than being a soapbox for me to air the mundane, meaningless minutiae of my day to day life, I prefer to let the members post what they like. It is more like owning a tavern where people gather to talk and debate about whatever they think others here might find interesting or amusing and to generally enjoy themselves. Besides providing a way for people needing further help with their Sierra games to communicate with others for that help, this is a venue for all of us to enjoy, even if it doesn't always involve me.

[Datadog]

Don't worry - I don't think a lot of people get the appeal behind Twitter. Personally, I don't even use Facebook's status update that often. It all seems like an attention grab to me. At best, it's good for following politicians and anyone who's involved in a behind-the-scenes project. Or good if you have nosey relatives.

Although I do like this Twitter cartoon Al Lowe included in his CyberJoke e-mail a while ago.

[DeadPoolX]

That Twitter cartoon was hilarious!

[Jules]

Twitter was created to irritate old farts like yourselves!

Seriously, I've never 'twittered' and don't care to, either. Like Datadog, I only visit facebook to ignore requests from "friends" I've never heard of. Mostly, to keep in touch with old friends from back home.

Now we know how our grandparents felt about us.

My work blocks youtube (one for the neck-wringing thread) so I'll have to watch it later. Dang!

[Tawmis]

One might ask - why would anyone play a 16 color game, made over 20 years ago? Where it requires tweaks like DOSBox to run it? It won't even run on a regular machine!

Why? Because some people enjoy it.

Some people like to broadcast their silly stuff. Some of it is meant as humor. Some people even make accounts that are STRICTLY for silliness. My friend Paul keeps telling me to look up "Cobra Commander" on Twitter. Apparently someone made an account that takes on the persona of Cobra Commander twittering about trying to take over the world.

Why do other people use twitter to really talk about what they're doing? Who knows. But then who do people play King's Quest II still when the game is 20 years old? They each get some kind of enjoyment out of it.

It's not harming anyone so it doesn't bother me in the least.

[Jules]

I don't know whether to laugh or shake my head at that video. ^_^

I agree. If twittering is the new hot commodity, then they can do whatever they wish. We were the same with our Sega Genesis' and Nintendo's. Personally, I simply see no point in wasting time letting the unknown universe in on every detail on one's life.

(this thread is making me feel old)

[Rath Darkblade]

I'm waiting for someone to write this in their Twitter thingummy:

"Woke up" (7:30 AM)

"Fell out of bed" (7:31 AM)

"Dragged a comb across my head" (7:32 AM)



Seriously, I don't understand Twitter and I don't want to.

[Tawmis]

I don't know whether to laugh or shake my head at that video. ^_^

I agree. If twittering is the new hot commodity, then they can do whatever they wish. We were the same with our Sega Genesis' and Nintendo's. Personally, I simply see no point in wasting time letting the unknown universe in on every detail on one's life.

(this thread is making me feel old)

Yes, but there are some of us so obsessed with you Jules, that I'd love - I mean, I am sure THEY - would love to see what you do from moment to moment.

Seriously, I don't understand Twitter and I don't want to.

Is Twitter really any different than MySpace, Facebook or people's personal blogs? They're pretty much all about here's what I am doing, here's what I think, here's what I... well, whatever.

Or is it really any different than posting on a forum and sharing your thoughts about Twitter?

What's the real difference between saying, "I don't understand Twitter and I don't want to" on a forum and actually posting, "I don't understand why some people can't drive" on Twitter?

Really, it's all the same.

The only real difference is that it's far more simplistic.

[misslilo]

Simplistic my butt! Try boring, uninteresting, a mess... you name it.
And while I'm at it.. so is facebook and all the other services like it.
It's as if people think it's OK these places to forget all about gramma and contract each and every word, so it's impossible to read.
Terrible!

[DeadPoolX]

Is Twitter really any different than MySpace, Facebook or people's personal blogs? They're pretty much all about here's what I am doing, here's what I think, here's what I... well, whatever.

Or is it really any different than posting on a forum and sharing your thoughts about Twitter?

What's the real difference between saying, "I don't understand Twitter and I don't want to" on a forum and actually posting, "I don't understand why some people can't drive" on Twitter?

Really, it's all the same.

The only real difference is that it's far more simplistic.

I actually have a Facebook account, but that's because my brother badgered me into getting it. FB can be fun, but most of the time it's just plain dumb. I mostly use it to communicate with my brother and a couple of old friends whom I haven't seen in over a decade. Otherwise, it'd be completely useless for me.

The main reason I use FB to talk with them is because it's sometimes difficult to get ahold of others. Plus, it can be expensive to call Houston, TX from Vancouver, BC. Sure, we have a North America long-distance plan, but they don't. So if I miss them, they can't really call back.

I also have a blog, but I think the only two people who actually read it are Maia and my brother. I don't expect anyone to view it, either. It's nothing more than catharsis for me. I tend to rant a lot.

The major difference between FB and a blog versus Twitter is that the latter is designed for "shout outs." In other words, you make a 140-character (or less) message and it's for instant responses. FB, on the other hand, requires a more patient approach (albeit just barely). A blog definitely isn't meant for immediate conversation, but even so, it is there for airing your "dirty laundry."

I don't have a problem with others using Twitter. It's their life and their free time. I just don't get it and have little-to-interest in using it. That's all.

[Tawmis]

Simplistic my butt! Try boring, uninteresting, a mess... you name it.
And while I'm at it.. so is facebook and all the other services like it.
It's as if people think it's OK these places to forget all about gramma and contract each and every word, so it's impossible to read.
Terrible!

There's a certain sense of irony to be found here.

I actually have a Facebook account, but that's because my brother badgered me into getting it. FB can be fun, but most of the time it's just plain dumb. I mostly use it to communicate with my brother and a couple of old friends whom I haven't seen in over a decade. Otherwise, it'd be completely useless for me.

I, too, have a Facebook account. I made one because my cousin whom I lost contact with over 20 years ago (due to some family drama well out of my control in my youth) uses Facebook - and that is where I found her. Because of Facebook, she and I have reconnected, I have gotten to know her all over again, her son; I know of her husband, what he does, her mother (who is my aunt), and all of that.

Facebook has been well worth it for that reason alone.

In the meantime it has a bunch of silly apps that one can use (I, personally, enjoy Mafia Wars) - and also has the Fan Pages and Groups, you can make - which I have used to promote my own stuff, like Neverending Nights.

I also have a blog, but I think the only two people who actually read it are Maia and my brother. I don't expect anyone to view it, either. It's nothing more than catharsis for me. I tend to rant a lot.

Amen brother. I have a blog that I update every six blue moons or so.

I don't have a problem with others using Twitter. It's their life and their free time. I just don't get it and have little-to-interest in using it. That's all.

You and me both. I have a Twitter account because my wife and best friend made one. But I have never Twitted, Tweeted, whatever the term is - the only thing I ever did with it is change the wallpaper to be a wallpaper of Odin (my dog). Not even a single entry from me on there.

But some people enjoy it for the silliness of it. Some people use it because it's the only thing not blocked at work (for example, MySpace and Facebook are both blocked here at work... though I have not broken down and used Twitter yet).

[DeadPoolX]

I, too, have a Facebook account. I made one because my cousin whom I lost contact with over 20 years ago (due to some family drama well out of my control in my youth) uses Facebook - and that is where I found her. Because of Facebook, she and I have reconnected, I have gotten to know her all over again, her son; I know of her husband, what he does, her mother (who is my aunt), and all of that.

Facebook has been well worth it for that reason alone.

In the meantime it has a bunch of silly apps that one can use (I, personally, enjoy Mafia Wars) - and also has the Fan Pages and Groups, you can make - which I have used to promote my own stuff, like Neverending Nights.

I've heard of some potential security risks involving FB applications. I don't know how real these are, but on the off-chance these issues do exist, I severely limit which apps I install.

I think the only app I have right now is one where I can review movies. Other than that, only the default Facebook apps are installed.

You and me both. I have a Twitter account because my wife and best friend made one. But I have never Twitted, Tweeted, whatever the term is - the only thing I ever did with it is change the wallpaper to be a wallpaper of Odin (my dog). Not even a single entry from me on there.

But some people enjoy it for the silliness of it. Some people use it because it's the only thing not blocked at work (for example, MySpace and Facebook are both blocked here at work... though I have not broken down and used Twitter yet).

Have you tried Meebo? It's a web-only instant messenger which has AIM, ICQ, Yahoo Messenger, Windows Live Messenger (aka MSN), Google Talk, MySpace, Facebook and other lesser known applications.

I don't use it since I have Pidgin and Meebo requires me to log into its website. If your work blocks you from using normal IM applications or accessing Facebook, Meebo should still function.

I know a few people who use Meebo because their work prevents them from accessing other means of communication. I can't guarantee it'll work for you, but it's worth a shot.

[Tawmis]

I've heard of some potential security risks involving FB applications. I don't know how real these are, but on the off-chance these issues do exist, I severely limit which apps I install. I think the only app I have right now is one where I can review movies. Other than that, only the default Facebook apps are installed.

Meh, there's a security risk with anything you do. Surf the web and it's a security risk, whether you use Firefox, IE, Opera, whatever. (Unless you're on a Mac apparently, which is nigh impossible to destroy).

Not that there's any real info on my Facebook, and none on my computer, anyway.

Have you tried Meebo? It's a web-only instant messenger which has AIM, ICQ, Yahoo Messenger, Windows Live Messenger (aka MSN), Google Talk, MySpace, Facebook and other lesser known applications.

I don't use it since I have Pidgin and Meebo requires me to log into its website. If your work blocks you from using normal IM applications or accessing Facebook, Meebo should still function.

I know a few people who use Meebo because their work prevents them from accessing other means of communication. I can't guarantee it'll work for you, but it's worth a shot.

Work is much smarter than the average bear now - they have Websense, which blocks all the "fun" sites - and a few selected additional sites - Meebo, being one of them that is blocked like Facebook, MySpace, etc.

It's fine though. I have gmail, just not the chat. So I "chat" through email and pester many forums.

As you can see!

[Collector]

Unless you're on a Mac apparently, which is nigh impossible to destroy

Not really. When it is only about 5% of the market it presents a very small, uninteresting target to hackers and malware authors. Anyone looking to turn a profit on their efforts will go for the largest target out there -- Windows. Even Windows 9x is becoming safer as many of the newer attacks don't work on it. Any systems administrator will tell you that the weakest link is a "PEBKAC" error, even on *NIX. Just a router and good practices go much further than the best security software.

There have been proof of concept viruses written for OSX that work very well. No one with malicious intent has bothered to invest the effort into OSX... yet. Given your trade, Tawm, I'm sure that you have encountered machines from people that don't keep their PCs updated and just cannot resist clicking on banners, fall for the fake Windows error messages and are constantly installing "Free Screensavers", all while running Limewire and then wonder why it takes 15 mins. for their PC to boot, if it even boots at all without crashing to a bluescreen. These are the people that are starting to buy into the myth that Macs are bullet proof.

Macs are gaining market share, many from these lazy, moronic users, taking their bad practices with them. If this trend continues, Macs will become a more attractive target. When that threshold is reached, there will be hell to pay in Macland. Security software and good practices are few and far between amongst most Mac users. They will be in for a very rude awakening.