As for the rest of your other comment, I suppose I could respond to each of your assertions and agree with some of them and disagree with others. But, as long as I don’t become fully “convinced” and hold the same opinion as you (because only those who are enlightened and in the know agree with whatever Vince holds to be truth, while all others are merely out-of-the-loop-kid-yeller-atters who are so ignorant that they can’t possibly know anything about the subject), I can only be the old man yelling at kids to get off his lawn. Gotta love that George Bushian binary argumentation: “You’re either with us, or your with the terrorists.” “You either believe Twitter is awesome, vital, and interesting, or you are an ignorant slobbering old man who yells at kids on his lawn.”

In the final analysis, I can certainly see how someone like you and in your position finds it useful. However, I don’t think anywhere close to the majority of users use it to the extent you do or will, and given that and it’s ’sound byte’ limitations and a plethora of similar communication tools already available and in widespread use, still see it as “the pager of the future.”

Signed,

Guy-with-his-own-3G phone,-laptop,-blog,-Facebook page,-LinkedIn page,-Myspace page,-dedicated business website,-and-who-met-both-his-ex-wife-and- -current-significant-other-via-the-internet,-but-who-is-still-obviously-afraid-of-fancy-new-contraptions-according-to-certain-of-his-friends.

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/NussbaumOnDesign/archives/2008/06/why_clinton_los.html

She recently tweeted the following within the last month:

To inform:
Irony of ironies- Kevin Mitnick can’t prove to Facebook he is the real famed hacker: (link to post)

To connect:
@xTONYxHOOLIGANx I’m following you because you are in the security field. What do you do?

To gather info:
quick poll: why are you following me? what do you want me to tweet about? just curious

At worst, she is testing whether Twitter is interesting or vital, either for her job or personally. At best, she thinks its interesting or vital

For benefits see the following:
Twestival:
http://www.twestival.com recently raised over 250,000 for Charity: Water. This was a grassroots campaign started on twitter.

The Obama campaign
This businessweek article suggests that Obama used twitter more effectively than Hillary Clinton. Obama regularly used twitter to highlight where he was at, to get out the vote and solicit donations to various causes.

http://www.lighttread.com I either met or reconnected with two of my business partners through Twitter.

SocialMediaClub KC
http://socialmediaclubkc.ning.com/ This is a group that largely connected via twitter and meets once a month to talk shop about what is happening and current in social media.

I connect with people offline and found friends: Just last week I met two people through lunch via twitter and earlier this month, at First Fridays, I met people who I met almost exclusively through twitter @kayhaswings, @wrytir, @elmoglick, @bonnieglick, @princessofworld, @joey96, @jenningspr

So I’ve benefited personally, professionally and helped the world a little bit.

All this was there for you to find out for yourself if you’d just sign up for an account. It’s free you know. And at this point, if you’re no longer convinced, I’ll just resign that you are the equivalent of some old man who comes out to his porch for no other reason than to yell at all the digital-planned twittering cell-phoned kids to get off his lawn. And to that I’d just remind you that, also, the Internet more than a series of tubes.

to inform:
Irony of ironies- Kevin Mitnick can’t prove to Facebook he is the real famed hacker: (with link to article)

to connect:
@xTONYxHOOLIGANx I’m following you because you are in the security field. What do you do?

to gather information:
quick poll: why are you following me? what do you want me to tweet about? just curious

At worst, she’s testing whether its interesting or vital. At best, she finds it interesting or vital whether personally or for her job.

For benefits, see the following:

http://www.twestival.com raised over 250,000 for Charity:Water. This was all grass roots started on twitter.

http://www.lightthread.com I met or reconnected with two of my business partners as a result of twitter.

http://socialmediaclubkc.ning.com/ is a gathering of those who meet regularly to talk shop about what’s going on in Social Media.

I regularly meet people offline through Twitter, most recently at First Fridays in early March. @kayhaswings @jenningspr @wrytir @elmoglick @bonnieglick @princessofworld @joey96 or even last week when I met @noblerot and @logtar for lunch.

All done offline but all began because of Twitter.

So I’ve benefited personally, professionally and I’ve helped do something nice for the world.

Pretty interesting and vital I’d say. You really wouldn’t need me or anyone else tell you this though, as you could find it out for yourself. Just sign up for an account. It is free you know.

But it does strike me that I didn’t answer your first question. Is there a social media tool less interesting or vital? Myspace. But you really couldn’t know that at this point.

If you’re not convinced of the benefits or your ignorance at this point, I’ll just confine you to being the equivalent of some old man who only comes outside to shake his fist and yell at the kids with digital planned cell-phones to get off his lawn and they don’t really need those infernal machines.

And also, just in case you didn’t know, The Internet is more than a series of tubes.

1) Just because you’ve shown that Ms. Mills has used Twitter……once…..in the past 2 years is NOT convincing evidence she’s done some 180 degree reversal on her thoughts about Twitter. She’s been asked to write about it….it’s a tool in the industry she writes for……it’s the latest “hip thang” being used in the media that she is also a part of. It is going to be around her whether she chooses to use it or not. People who don’t smoke who hang out in bars still smell like smoke, and may even take a drag off someone else’s cig in a moment of drunken daring, but it doesn’t mean they are smokers. (You on the other hand, are a pole smoker, and I can prove it! heh) For her to have infrequently used it since her article is neither surprising nor telling. She’s never (to my knowledge) wrote gushingly about it. She’s clearly proven my point via her referenced ‘tweet’ about it’s use not being anything special or particularly useful or interesting. Why is it you cannot recognize any of that? Me thinks you doth protest too much due to your inherent gadgetyness and torrid love affair with everything Twittery.

2) If there’s so much “more to it” than that, then “Where’s the beef?” How is it so much more special than existing forms of communication commonly used and available? Does my example in Update 2 not speak volumes to how it is most typically used? Don’t just say it’s so and then call ME ignorant when I’m the only one in this debate providing examples and arguments, provide some back up. Otherwise, it is only you who sounds ignorant.

3) How do you know all I’ve read is the negative side of Twitter? Were you looking over my shoulder when I was researching this? I read your previous blog posts about it. I read 3 or 4 geek articles about it from a technical standpoint, and I read lots of other blogposts from people who thought it was great. All of that in addition to the “not a fan” pieces. Just because I didn’t explicity include that in my short blog post doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Although I know in your worldview and preconceived notions it’s simply not possible for someone like me with strong opinions to possibly ever (in a million years) read a variety of sources and opinions before reaching a conclusion, but I think looking at the arguments so far, that is plainly not true.

4) I beg to differ that I am biased against new fangled contraptions. I simply don’t swallow the manufactured needs hook, line, and sinker, created by tech companies via their constant bombardment advertising. I wait to see how it might actually be useful and how others use it before making such decisions. It probably doesn’t even register with you that I was one of the very first car dealers to operate exclusively over the internet. And, I would wager a large sum I was THE first classic car dealer to be internet only. But, yeah, I hate new fangled things. If we want to go that “labelistic” route, one could easily say that you are the type to all but pee your pants when something…..ANYthing, new is announced and run out and wait in line to buy it regardless of whether you need it or not. One could also say you use such things as status symbols, as “hipness” markers, in order to display and affirm how cool/important you want others to think of you. It’s your version of the 80s/90s era BMW as the status symbol of choice.

5) If you said the 87 GN was pathetic or crazy or whatever, I’d tell you to back it up, like I’m telling you to do now about Twitter. Only problem is you’re not doing it. I know I’d be right there to show you how it was rated the fastest production car in America. It’d be easy. With Twitter, I’m afraid it’s not, cuz there isn’t much there in terms of something truly unique, substantial, or “vital.”

I’ll read your link a bit later. Going to a biz lunch with someone I met, ironically enough, playing poker.

http://theoldschool.wordpress.com/

Maybe it’s Me.

I’ve come across the idea that if one doesn’t experience (insert job, experience, tangible, intangible, environment etc.) that one cannot have an opinion on (insert subject matter). I believe that’s true in many cases especially being a Parent.
As with the cliche of ‘walking in one’s shoes..’ does have it’s merit. In D’s case I don’t believe it applies since the post and it’s subsequent replies are sounding more like angst on Banky’s ability to condescend in the medium of text. Back on topic is whether or not Twitter has value as a viable social medium, being that what you consider viable maybe different to others. In V’s case it is as he doesn’t have time to call someone on the phone with whom he has more than sex with. I don’t. Sorta. He’s busy. So are you D. You simply choose to communicate in another medium.

I find it much easier in my communication to email vs. text. My chain of command for getting a point across goes from face to face, phone, email to leaving a msg. Tweeting for me, personally is akin to talking about the weather. It’s a simple way to say “Hi I am validating you, would you validate me too?” and to those I Tweet to it’s also a virtual handshake, pat on the back, poke…to say “HELLO!”. I find that very cool indeed. Do I think it’s essential? Yes I do. Especially if those on Twitter chose that as their main venue for communicating. example.

If I wanted to call V I could but odds are 3:1 that I’d get a voice mail or he’d reply with “I gotta go, ttyl”. Now If I posted a Tweet directly to him I KNOW he will read it within an hour or less. If I email him maybe quicker. Point is I do roll with the times in all aspects of life: media, communication, sex positions and latest combo in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (Captain Marvel ROXX). I respect D’s decision to set himself apart and unplug from media outlets and also respect the unexperienced disdain he has posed about Twitter in general. I think the use of Twitter in D’s world hasn’t come around to him yet. I bet if you followed people in your business (cars) you’d tweet like a mofo, especially if you sold cars through Tweeting.

God Bless You Both. This reminds me of us posting on the KCSingles forums.

It’s not Rocket Science Mr. 2lips. But there is more than meets the eye . . . and that’s how, not being on twitter, or using it for a period of time makes your ignorance show.

I didn’t take on the job to prove Twitter was interesting and vital. My point is this:

All you’ve read is the negative side of twitter, and that, combined with your bias against these “newfangled contraptions,” you’ve discounted something before you’ve even tried it. And worse yet, you posted something — deriding it — with only a cursory understanding.

Imagine I posted the following, “Could the 1987 Buick Grand National be a more pathetic or crazy example of a classic muscle car?” You’d think I was pretty ignorant I bet. And I would be.

If you don’t want to wait for my blog post, go read Shel’s latest:

http://blog.holtz.com/index.php/weblog/twitter_gateway_to_substantive_content/

Ellinor Mills did prove my point. Exactly. She covered the topic as part of her job. It was assigned to her by her boss. She initially didn’t see the use for it. She’s in the media, and as I’ve clearly already stated, the media is one of, if not the, biggest user of Twitter, thus she has more of a work-related reason to use it, since she’s part of BOTH the techy arena and the media arena. I think it’s pretty arrogant, once again, of you to assume I don’t see these things and can’t make reasonable assumptions from them. The fact she uses it in an inane and useless way perfectly proves my point about its value and does not at all prove your point that it is vital and interesting. I don’t think a singular tweet from her 2 years later proves that she finds it either vital or useful. If anything it suggests the opposite.

I really don’t appreciate your repeatedly arrogant and condescending comment that I know nothing about it, even though I stated clearly what I’ve done to educate myself about it, plus the fact I wrote about it from a social networking standpoint and not a technical standpoint. I never said I was the expert, or that I knew more about it than you. I’m sure I don’t, but it doesn’t mean I know nothing about it, so try and curtail the superiority vibe. Your opinion of Twitter isn’t the only one out there, and my opinion of it is shared by lots and LOTS of other people, just as yours is. I’ve stated plainly the reasons why I think it isn’t worthy. But I’ll ask again since you ignored my questions the first time: What is so “rocket science” about Twitter, Vince? What exactly am I so far off base about? What is so deeply meaningful and vital about 140 character blasts to everyone you know? So far you’ve said not a single thing which convinces me of anything as it relates to Twitter. All you’ve said is how ignorant and silly I am for daring to have an opinion of something I know of, have read about, and have listened to others who I trust who’ve used it, but haven’t personally tried. How is it any different than sending a text message to your contact list like Ben does before his poker games? Please educate me and the rest of the stupid and unwashed non-Twittering masses. Show me how Twitter isn’t just another “look at me” self-affirmation toy that does the same things as texts, IMs, or emails. Maybe you need to allow for the fact that not everyone needs or wants to be incessantly “in touch” with anyone and everyone he/she knows, might know, or knows that someone else knows, every moment of the day.

As for cars, if one cannot tell a car is junk after two hours, one either a) doesn’t know what one is doing, or b) the car isn’t junk to begin with but breaks and becomes junk. Of course there are rare exceptions to the rule (known as lemons), but not many.