Who TWITTERS and if so, why???

[beemaster]

I just sat and watched the TWITTER "Why Twitter" video and found it to be the most waste of time mini-service I've ever heard explained. I will be the first to say I don't like any of these Face Book, My Space, social networking sites - I hear horror stories about people who get turned down for jobs because of the things they say and do and by the friends they keep on such networks.

Twitter, except for the ease of the cellphone seems the lamest of all. Telling someone "I just ate soup" or "I had to mow the lawn this morning" is not communicating in my book - it is advertising forced down our throats with another shallow and useless service.

Please someone disagree and let me know why, cause I just don't get it!

Thanks.

[kathyp]

twitter and facebook are handy when you are traveling and want to update a number of people without making individual phone calls.  facebook is good for sharing links, pics, and info with large numbers of people.  both can be accessed from a web enabled phone, so you don't need to find a computer to use them.

[Natalie]

I have never even logged on to any of those social network sites.
To me the word twitter means an electronics store we had around here and then a concert venue that was named the same.
I don't know, with me I just feel like if I want people to know stuff about me I will tell them what I want them to know individually without putting it out there for all the world to see.
I am a fairly private person to begin with so maybe thats part of it but I just don't get it.
I too have heard alot of horror stories, especially with young people being stupid, the fights they have and the outrageous things they say that I am sure they will regret.
I am not knocking anyone who likes those sites and uses them, it just does not appeal to me.
I still like the "old fashioned" ways, chatting on the phone(my least favorite) or my favorites , getting together with girlfriends and catching up over a cup of ice tea in the garden or a barbecue with friends etc...
Things are getting so impersonal in the world now.

[SgtMaj]

I have thought about signing up just to get news updates, etc... from the WH, or other world leaders... they say even Kim Jong IL twitters... might be nice to get a heads up about nuclear war.   

[foxman]

I have a myspace for the sole pourpose of keeping in touch with the friends i moved away from (they never have been able to answer the phone, but neither can I. I hate playing tag on the phone!!!!!!!!)

[dragonfly]

I don't even know what "twitter" is. I suppose it's due partly to my age, and because I'm not that electronically savvy. I like to visit face to face, write letters, email, or text to keep in touch. I'm also a pretty private individual.

[mick]

I cant agree more John. Why on earth do people feel the need to be connected 24/7 in the first place? Twitter is just for idiots that are also sheep.

Facebook is owned by the CIA, I wouldnt be surprised if they are behind twitter as well. All these sites are just aimed at getting people (idiots) to divulge their personal info to the various Govts and companys in the world.

If I was a Govt, that wanted to spy on its citizens for any reason, I could think of nothing better than to create a site where idiots reveal every simple thought that enters their heads.

Twitter is a goldmine for Govt. You use it at your own risk. Id be surprised if some fool hasnt been caught twittering about buying drugs already.

At the end of the day, these social networking sites are just a marketing tool. Its just so sad that society as a whole is getting more and more stupid.

IMO a sign of success in this life is to not find your name on google.

[Bee Happy]

I don't  - there's other sites I like being on; fakebook for the games, yahoo for the chat, hulu for all the tv shows I ever liked, and this one to learn about bees. It's as heavily newsvertised (that's an ad slipped into the news or posing as news) as it probably is full of ads.

[reinbeau]

Mick, where did you get the idea that Facebook was owned by the CIA?  It was started by a bunch of Harvard sophomores, the head guy is Mark Zuckerman, the CIA has nothing to do with it. 

I'm on Facebook.  It's fun, nothing like Twitter, a bunch of friends exchanging pictures and stuff like that, it's as revealing as you'd like it to be.  It's also a good way to reconnect with people from your past, you an find lots of people from all age groups and interests on there.  I'm not advocating it, if you don't like it, you don't do it, but for those of us who do, it's just fun.

[Michael Bush]

>I just don't get it!

I never got any of them.  But obviously I'm not understanding the appeal because I'm missing something.  I"m not saying that I want to do any of them but I would like to understand why people do...

[jimmy]

I suppose I am too old ,too conservative for to -days world. I have been a member of several  veterans sites for a long period of time .Somethings that I see posted goes against the way I was raised  and the way I am. I have been no angel but I see a lot of things posted that makes an ole sailor,who has traveled extensively in my time,   blush.
Having said all that I doubt, I will ever twitter , go on facebook or myspace.
Just me.

[Ernest T. Bass]

I dunno, Twitter seems like a paradox to me. Only people with boring lives have time to constantly talk about what they're doing; nothing. I think it might work better for traveling music bands or whatever--they're always on a plane or something, but it doesn't seem like the average Joe would have time to twit. And to put it bluntly, who cares what flavor of bagel you're eating for breakfast?

[Natalie]

Grant it I have not seen many, only the ones someone has made a point to show me. Like "hey look at what so and so is saying or posting etc."
It seems like alot of people use them to brag about themselves which I can't stand in people.
Not everyone obviously uses these social sites to do that but some of the ones I have been shown appear to be. I guess thats why someone took the time to point the posts out to me.

[eri]

AKGovSarahPalin Twitters from her Blackberry

http://twitter.com/AKGovSarahPalin

[Natalie]

Don't we already know way too much of her private life?

[eri]

Palin tends to get her public life and her private life confused, among other things. Twitter is perfect for showcasing that 

[alfred]

I don't twitter...yet. but I do have a facebook account. I got on it because my highschool reunion commitee was using it to connect with people. I'm still not sure exactly what I think of it. I have found some old friends and that is sort of fun but also a little strange. I have also used it to promote my martial arts classes and that seems somewhat worthwhile.  I also belong to a ning comunity for Indonesian martial arts called Silat tv. Has lots of video piped in from youtube.  It is very interesting and informative much like this forum. Imagine this forum but with space for individuals to highlight their own beek stuff, like mini websites and mini blogs worked into the forum, kind of.... I am also working on creating a ning community for Bagua a type of Chinese martial art which I plan to cross link with my martial arts web site www.baguachuan.com . The idea is to create community which will help to fuel interest in the art. Then of course hopefully ultimatly bring me students. Lots of work to put together. Jury is still out for me on these types of things it is a lot of work to keep up on it all as well.
Alfred

[johnnybigfish]

Twitter....Cool word!
 Yeh, mick...whats with the CIA?...EVERYBODY knows that Oprah owns it!
As for me, I cant even keep up with my blog!

your friend,
john

[reinbeau]

I think saying that many are on Facebook because they like to brag is a little over the top.  I've seen very little of it, and I have lots of 'connections' on Facebook.  Maybe it's my age group, but we're all just a bunch of people who like to banter back and forth, stay connected when our busy lives keep us from doing so.

As for Twitter, that, to me, is neurotic networking.  I don't see the point, but then again, millions do, so who am I to judge?

[mick]

Mick, where did you get the idea that Facebook was owned by the CIA?  It was started by a bunch of Harvard sophomores, the head guy is Mark Zuckerman, the CIA has nothing to do with it. 

I'm on Facebook.  It's fun, nothing like Twitter, a bunch of friends exchanging pictures and stuff like that, it's as revealing as you'd like it to be.  It's also a good way to reconnect with people from your past, you an find lots of people from all age groups and interests on there.  I'm not advocating it, if you don't like it, you don't do it, but for those of us who do, it's just fun.

Its well known that facebook is owned by a CIA shadow company. Has been for years.

All social networking sites are monitored. Its not hard to build up a profile on someone from these sites. If I chose a person who has an anonymous facebook site or similar, within 24 hours and just using the net, not using commercial pay to spy sites, I would have that much info on you, I could steal your identity. It happens every minute.

Its not only what you say, its what people linked to you say and do as well.

What the kids of today are posting at age 12 or 16, will be used 30 or 40 years later if necessary. Its all about profiling. What we say today is also recorded. Only difference is us older types have less in our files.