Why Twitter?

[HogWild]

I'm seriously curious. Why should I twitter? I have Facebook (desktop and mobile), Google Talk (which also connects my AOL IM) instant access to Gmail on my Droid, and text messaging. I blew off Myspace ages ago.

Would twitter add something significant and different to my digital social presence?

Please, no hijacking. This has nothing to do with who has better cell service, who has a better phone, blah blah, blah... I'm really not even interested in hearing how moronic some may think the whole social digital environment is today...

I just want to know should I twitter?

[Kevin]

Some people use twitter as a quick way to load things onto myspace, facebook, etc, etc. I tried it, and (to be honest) thought it was a waste of time.

[Pastor Gary]

My use of Twitter is more for the things I glean from following others (Guy Kawasaki, Rick Warren...) than what I tweet myself.

I learn and gain encouragement from others.

If there are mutual followers direct messaging is enabled, so, for example, I can get a direct personal message to David Pogue, Rick Warren, etc. who would never read an email from me.

Rick Warren, by the way, will "follow" any pastor who follows him.

[stevenson]

ditto what PG said!

[DeWayneTN]

I've heard it explained this way: Facebook is about your past (reconnecting with those you've met in your life), LinkedIn is about about present (work associates) and Twitter is about your future (making future connections). I can agree with that.

I am in the process of putting a seminar together about this that may be put online, not sure. Since I've been tweeting, I've made many new connections that not only help me meet new people, but present my ideas to groups of people I wouldn't otherwise have access to (as Pastor Gary said).

I also use it as a breaking source of news. I follow a few news organizations that I have their headlines texted straight to my phone (I don't have that setting for all of them or my phone would be non-stop). For example, when I was on a Marta train headed to the Atlanta airport I got a text about the plane that had landed on the Hudson in New York. News hits Twitter quicker than just about anywhere.

Check out my page and you'll also see some lists that I've compiled that help categorize what info I'm looking for at any given time.

http://twitter.com/dewaynehamby

[HogWild]

Thanks guys for the info. I had just recently read that several major world events in recent months and years first hit twitter before CNN. Kewl.

[Phil Hoover]

but I decided that I could only handle so much information at any given rate...

While I like to be updated and informed....I just don't want to feed an already-established addiction in my life.

I drew the line at "Twitter" even though I believe it is a great communications tool.

[HogWild]

I've signed up. Now what?

[DeWayneTN]

Now you follow Tweeps and some of them will follow you back. Turn on "mobile updates" for any you want to get straight to your phone as a text message. Interact (reply) as often as possible.

To find some people to follow, you can look through the lists of other people's followers and those they follow OR check out the Twitter lists (if they'd made them) on the right side of the page.

[HogWild]

Thanks DH...

[Billy n NC]

I use Twitter to update my facebook. I am too cheap to pay the 30 bucks for a data plan to get facebook etc on my phone. With my texting plan i can tweet and send pics/videos to my Mobile Photo Album on Facebook.

At this time I cannot justify the data plan. If I did it would be just for fun. I have no work related reason for web/email access.

[Penny]

i have one Just been doing it on line, Not yet made the switch to my phone yet. Not sure I want to...