2.10.2010

What is this twitter thing you speak of?


Twitter.

What is this madness?

O.o

I mean, I kind of get it. I've been on twitter* a couple of times and I think I even made an account a while back but it just. Doesn't. Make. Sense.

Idon'tunderstandatall.

I get the bird logo, I think. But I don't get the rest of the shenaniganisms** of twitter. The posting. The following. The posting. Mostly, the posting.

Am I confusing you guys too? Sorry if I am--I tend to spew confusion when I'm confused.

Anyhow, I've been thinking I should start tweeting. But I really don't understand. What do you tweet about?

"I went to the store."

"I read a book."

"I'm on page 49."

Or am I missing something? Is there some sort of code or special way or secret subliminal messages in invisible ink that only twitter ninjas know about? Or is twitter really just writing one-two random sentences documenting your life or blog for everyone to see?

I've noticed a lot of bloggers have their own twitter, sort of like a side-by-side operation. And I'm starting to think that maybe I should just learn this twitter thing. Instead of avoiding it like I do myspace and facebook. (I have successfully done so so far, and so what if it's more proof that I need to get with the times? I'm content in my social-networking backwardness. God knows how I even manage to run a blog--it's so...newfangled and sparkly).

Maybe I should just stay out of this whole twittering stuff.

But what do you guys think? Is twitter a great complement to blogging? How does it affect your blogging? Should I actually attempt to wade through the strange world of twitter or am I good with wading through the blogosphere?

* Are twitter-users called tweeters? Twitter-ers? Wouldn't it be funny NOT FUNNY AT ALL if they just went by twits?

**Oh, the unparalled joy of making up words!

9 comments:

ninefly said...

I personally just use twitter as a mini-blog type thing, not to the extent of saying "I'm boarding the bus" or "I'm eating" or anything, but a few links to blog updates here and there, and interesting links/thoughts that would look lonely/small in an actual blog post
it's kind of how I only use facebook so I can join study groups for class (people think email is old-fashioned nowadays I guess =T), I joined twitter at first because there were lots of contests that were exclusive there or gave extra entries for tweeting lol
alternatively, it's like a public chat room with an annoying word limit

Unknown said...

Lol! I think you should join Twitter! It's nice to chat with other bloggers, and you can do it in 140 characters :)

Katie said...

I don't think anybody really uses it for sole 'documenting life' purposes. It's more of a way to chat with bloggers/authors and announce blog updates so more people see them. If I do something of importance, sure I'll tweet about it, but it's just a fun way to keep in touch with authors/bloggers/publisher friends.

It's addicting once you start, just so you know what you're getting yourself into.

Keren David said...

It's a way to promote what you do - to reach a wider audience, tell them about your blog, interesting links you've spotted, books you like. And it's a new way to meet people - I've met quite a few people through twitter. If you only tweet about boring aspects of your life it won't work for you.

Unknown said...

Well I have been on Twitter since October and at first I was a complete sceptic. It seemed like nonsense but now I get it.
Through Twitter you can connect with authors, publishers and bloggers. I tweet each time I post a new post. Then other people retweet that tweet and so more people see it, click the link and find your blog. It helps increase readership. You can find out about publisher contests and things through Twitter too and book events. I always thought it was people saying "just brushed my teeth with colgate" but it isn't. It is people saying "just found this awesome new book etc". If you let us know you're Twitter account, we can follow and you'll soon get what it is all about.

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

Yeah, what Becky said. But the best part of it is that it has to be short. With a limit of 140 characters, people get to the point fast.

StephTheBookworm said...

I definitely hear you on this one. I'm a bit baffled by the whole Twittering thing too.

Lily Meade said...

I use mine to keep people updated on what's up with my website, my novel, and me in general. And occasional funny anecdotes. I've been a bad tweeter (the proper term) lately, haven't been as active as I ought to be. Like once a day instead of the three to ten tweets per day I use to do.

in which a girl reads said...

Thanks for all for your explaining/input. I'm thinking I'll try twittering--it can't hurt :D

Post a Comment