Twitter

Dave Ferguson convinced me to give Twitter a try and I've been using it the past couple days.  If you aren't familiar with the application, it's basically like blogging on speed.  On the web or through text messages you can write one-sentence updates about what you are doing or thinking throughout the day.  And people who are interested in your life can follow you through your day.  And you can follow them.  It's much faster and easier than blog posting.  And if you can ignore the people who chastise you for doing it...it's actually quite fun.

I keep thinking I need to teach my mom how to do it.  She is very interested in knowing the ordinary of my life.  I think Twitter might have been invented for moms with kids who don't call home enough.

But, seriously...well, I am serious about the mom thing...so I guess in addition, I know blogging, Facebook, and Twitter aren't for everyone but I am increasing amazed at the power of these technologies to redefine what it means to experience connecting.  Say what you want about it, but I know there are dozens if friends I would be out of touch with if it weren't for these mediums.  We simply don't have the time to keep all these relationships going face-to-face, through phone calls, or even through e-mail, but on-line social platforms make it possible for me to feel connected to people I had lost touch with before exploring these mediums.  It's amazing who comes out of your past when you are on-line.  Last year my old boss from The University of Toledo found my blog and we ended up getting to reconnect when I was in Phoenix.  A few weeks ago my roommate from my freshman year of college found me on Facebook and we hadn't seen or talked to one another in probably 18 years.  I love it!

But it is also interesting how these mediums help you connect more with people you do see in your everyday life.  As a friend that's about knowing more about one another.  As a leader that's about gaining influence.

So if you're still just a reader of blogs or have never joined on-line communities like Facebook or Twitter, maybe you should give it a try.  You might just enjoy it!

Comments

[laurie]

Man! You just got me on FaceBook and now I have to join something else? You're getting too techie for me.... give me a call sometime!

[Mike Armstrong]

So Twitter is something you would recommend? I'm a PDA/Smartphone guy so I've thought about it. And I did follow your recommendation with Kiva ...

[Tammy Melchien]

Hi Mike! Good to hear from you...thanks for reading my blog. It seems like Twitter has some glitches that need to be worked out (I've gotten some error messages at times) but I think I'm going to like it. Dave also recommended I download an application called twhirl.org that basically acts like an instant messenger for twitter. If you decide to try it let me know and I'll follow you!
That's cool that you are contributing to Kiva. I'm really enjoying that organization.