Have you always wanted to start a blog, but thought maybe you didn’t have enough time in your busy schedule to update it? Perhaps you’re always on the go or simply have nothing particularly profound to say. But guess what… no matter how lazy you are, you’ve always got time for Twitter!
Twitter is a web service that boils blogging down to its core, and then crushes that core into a fine powder. Just when you thought our attention spans had been all but obliterated, along comes something even more fast-paced and streamlined to make us question our sanity. Twitter is kind of like a mini-blog that you can post short messages to using your cell phone or instant messaging software. The idea is that you use it to inform people about whatever you’re currently doing, whether it be “Eating candy and drinking soda as I work on my photography.” or “I’m about to watch American Idol.” (yes those are actual messages that were just posted at the time I was writing this). Don’t some people use their Messenger display names for this already? Hey, I’m all for simplifying things, but the concept does strike me as a little bit odd.
I’m somewhat torn on the idea behind Twitter. On the one hand, it’s a seemingly useless time waster, and adds very little to the web in terms of quality content. Are we so addicted to publishing meaningless information about ourselves on the web, that we have to update it every few minutes, no matter where we are? Not only is it disturbing for the people posting on Twitter, but there’s also something creepy about obsessively following someone’s posts. In essence you are stalking them and tracking their every waking thought!
At the same time, I know that I’m already halfway there. I find myself tempted to sign up for a Twitter account right now and start texting every single thing I do in the span of a day. It just seems fun for some reason, and yet something tells me that there’s a line here that shouldn’t be crossed. There is something to be said for the immediacy and ease of use that Twitter offers (it would be great for live blogging an event, for example) but come on now… don’t people have anything better to do? Be sure to check back next week to find out if I’ve cracked and set up my own Twitter account in the sidebar of this website. (Just kidding. Or am I?)
Link: Twitter
