Tonight at 1:21 a.m. marks exactly one week that I've been on Twitter. Now if you've read a lot of my posts here, you probably know I've written why I wasn't on Twitter. The first post was about how I didn't think Twitter was useful to me. The second post was a list of how people can use Twitter as a tool for various things and how I managed to do the same things without it. So what happened?
In all honesty, I was bored. I tend to try something new when I'm bored, and last week that was Twitter. I signed up as digitalfare and followed people I subscribe to on YouTube and a few sites I often read. My Tweets so far have been about things I might blog about, except I don't want to write a whole post so it's just a quick remark on Twitter. You can see my most recent Tweets in the sidebar to the right.
I check my RSS feeds, Digg, and Delicious bookmarks, and now Twitter is another way for me to get information. The 140-character limit allows me to determine at a glance if something interests me or if I'll continue skimming the stream.
I found out about BEDA on Twitter, actually, and now I'm blogging every day of April. I haven't mentioned yet that part of BEDA is to promote Maureen Johnson's book, Suite Scarlett, that comes out in paperback May 1. You can check it out at Amazon here. I haven't read any of her books yet, so that might be where I start.
Showing posts with label Twitter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Twitter. Show all posts
Friday, April 3, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Living Without Twitter
Earlier this month, I wrote a post about why I don't need Twitter.
Everything I wrote in that post is still true for me, but as I looked through popular bookmarks on Delicious yesterday, I started thinking of ways I might use Twitter. I came across a collection of social bookmark icon sets and Mashable's post about Blogger widgets, many of which were Twitter-themed. I considered incorporating Twitter into this blog and posting interesting links I found throughout the day. Hypothetical Tweets floated around my mind.
Then I thought about how I don't need to get involved in another web service, that I stopped using StumbleUpon and hardly Digg anything anymore. I remembered I don't even update my Facebook status that much. Currently it says something about not having anything to write as my status.
Leo at Zen Habits posted How to Get Things Done with Twitter today. I know the post is for people who already use Twitter a lot. It's not meant to convince people start Tweeting, but I still read the post looking for a reason to start.
I realized most of the tips and uses listed in Leo's post I already have covered.
My version of his list:
1. Reminders. Post It notes, a comment in my planner, or a calendar event in my cell phone.
2. To-do list. I use to-do gadgets in iGoogle and NetVibes, and I keep paper to-do lists. I used Remember the Milk for a while too.
3. Calendar. Regular paper planner. I take it with me everywhere (which is handy, being a college student) and write down assignments, meetings, and anything else I need to keep track of.
4. Delegate. I don't have to delegate many things, but e-mail works for me when I do.
5. Follow up. E-mail again. Phone call if necessary.
6. Accountability with goals. Not something I really need, but I could use Facebook for it. Use my status, write notes, or write on friends' walls.
7. Get info or ideas quickly. I think this would be the most useful for Twitter if you had a good network. I'm limited to people I know or browsing the internet for ideas and info.
8. Do real work. I know people write poetry and even stories on Twitter, but the 140 character limit would frustrate me. If I want to write something, I'll open Word or pull out a notebook and write it down. No limits, no formats to worry about.
I've never used Twitter, so I can't speak from experience but it seems like it would be a huge distraction for me. That's why I stopped using StumbleUpon. I wasted too much time on it. Same with Digg. I don't even sign onto instant messenger anymore when I have work to do because I find it's too much of a distraction.
Social networking is a great way to get up to date information, stay connected, and find people with similar interests. There is a breaking point, though, where social media cuts into your other work and hinders your productivity. Twitter would push me to that breaking point.
Everything I wrote in that post is still true for me, but as I looked through popular bookmarks on Delicious yesterday, I started thinking of ways I might use Twitter. I came across a collection of social bookmark icon sets and Mashable's post about Blogger widgets, many of which were Twitter-themed. I considered incorporating Twitter into this blog and posting interesting links I found throughout the day. Hypothetical Tweets floated around my mind.
Then I thought about how I don't need to get involved in another web service, that I stopped using StumbleUpon and hardly Digg anything anymore. I remembered I don't even update my Facebook status that much. Currently it says something about not having anything to write as my status.
Leo at Zen Habits posted How to Get Things Done with Twitter today. I know the post is for people who already use Twitter a lot. It's not meant to convince people start Tweeting, but I still read the post looking for a reason to start.
I realized most of the tips and uses listed in Leo's post I already have covered.
My version of his list:
1. Reminders. Post It notes, a comment in my planner, or a calendar event in my cell phone.
2. To-do list. I use to-do gadgets in iGoogle and NetVibes, and I keep paper to-do lists. I used Remember the Milk for a while too.
3. Calendar. Regular paper planner. I take it with me everywhere (which is handy, being a college student) and write down assignments, meetings, and anything else I need to keep track of.
4. Delegate. I don't have to delegate many things, but e-mail works for me when I do.
5. Follow up. E-mail again. Phone call if necessary.
6. Accountability with goals. Not something I really need, but I could use Facebook for it. Use my status, write notes, or write on friends' walls.
7. Get info or ideas quickly. I think this would be the most useful for Twitter if you had a good network. I'm limited to people I know or browsing the internet for ideas and info.
8. Do real work. I know people write poetry and even stories on Twitter, but the 140 character limit would frustrate me. If I want to write something, I'll open Word or pull out a notebook and write it down. No limits, no formats to worry about.
I've never used Twitter, so I can't speak from experience but it seems like it would be a huge distraction for me. That's why I stopped using StumbleUpon. I wasted too much time on it. Same with Digg. I don't even sign onto instant messenger anymore when I have work to do because I find it's too much of a distraction.
Social networking is a great way to get up to date information, stay connected, and find people with similar interests. There is a breaking point, though, where social media cuts into your other work and hinders your productivity. Twitter would push me to that breaking point.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Twitter: I still don't get it
On average, I read (or at least skim) 2-3 articles or blog posts about Twitter every week thanks to Delicious.com's popular bookmarks page. I don't have a Twitter account, but I'm waiting for a convincing reason to start Tweeting.
I do prefer textual communication, but here's the thing. I use Facebook and e-mail most of the time. (I should say I don't use my phone a whole lot either because I have access to a computer throughout the day. I can hop online to send or respond to messages easily.) That works for me because I can leave a message for someone when I have the time to, and they can reply when they get a chance. We can communicate without being available at the same time. Twitter works like that too, sending and receiving Tweets without you necessarily being at a computer or with your cell phone.
But my point is, if I'm functioning fine, why would I add Twitter? I don't know anyone on Twitter that I can't contact some other way. It's a great way to keep up with people and interests, yeah, but I'm not sure that's enough to make me sign up. I'm not sure that's enough motivation for me to get involved.
I've visited quite a few Twitter pages of bloggers and YouTubers. I can see how Twitter is useful for many people. I'm just talking about me, personally, though, or anyone else who doesn't see a need to use Twitter.
I just read this article and it's well-written, but still...
Readers, I'd like to hear from you. If you're on Twitter:
- How long have you been (actively) using Twitter?
- What do you use it for? (Talking to people, sending links, posting information...)
- What benefits have you seen from your Twitter use?
- Any down sides? (time you spend on Twitter, for example)
Feel free to answer any or all of the questions. Post a comment below or write a blog entry/record a vlog in response and leave a link in the comments.
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