I apologize to the Web 2.0 Committee Member that created this week's lesson, but I really don't see the point of microblogging through Twitter. If I'm going to take the time to read something online, let alone follow it on a daily basis, I would hope that it contained more substance than 140 characters can provide. And I don't think that Twitter is a useful tool for work at the library either; why would anybody want constant one sentence updates telling them about each day's events when they could just go to the main website and look at the calendar? Anyways, I think my distaste for Twitter was accurately described by ESPN's Bill Simmons:
In 15 years, writing went from "reflecting on what happened and putting together some coherent thoughts" to "reflecting on what happened as quickly as possible" to "reflecting on what's happening as it's happening" to "here are my half-baked thoughts about absolutely anything and I'm not even going to attempt to entertain you," or as I like to call it, Twitter/Facebook Syndrome. Do my friends REALLY CARE if I send out an update, "Bill is flying on an airplane finishing a mailbag right now?" (Which is true, by the way.) I just don't think they would. I certainly wouldn't. That's why I refuse to use Twitter.
Amen.
Of course, the video in this week's lesson about Twitter did include the quote, "Carla's friends followed her updates, and learned that she recently discovered a passion for Van Halen," which made me laugh out loud, so I guess this week's lesson wasn't a total waste.
...Oh, and just to clarify, I laughed at that quote for its randomness, not because I dislike Van Halen, whose first album should be owned by everyone. Even the Hagar era had its moments - somewhere in the depths of 100.7 FM in Radford there is a recording of me belting out the opening to "Poundcake" in all its glory. Still, the idea of somebody discovering Van Halen through Twitter would make David Lee Roth spin in his grave.
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I say AMEN to your entry! Well said! And I laughed out loud. It will be a pleasure to follow your blog.
ReplyDeleteI have deep concerns about this blog entry. Your initial apology notwithstanding, I cannot see how you would not find twitter to be "a useful tool." Are you certain that you have given twitter a fair evaluation? Did you sign up for an account and allow enough time before you passed judgement?
ReplyDeleteCertainly you are entitled to your opinion, and we should always be skeptical of new technologies, but I cannot understand how such a wonderful thing as twitter could draw such condemnation from you.
Perhaps, before making a final judgement, we should ask the ultimate question: does Bruce Springsteen twitter? If he doesn't, then I will recant my views and banish twitter from my life. But if Bruce does...
Well, there you have it my friend. The less said the better.
--c
That Web 2.0 Luver is quite harsh -- what an attack -- and then to call you a "friend" -- what nerve! By the way, does Bruce Springsteen twitter?
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