As soon as this post is live, I will post my thousandth tweet on Twitter and direct those who follow my sporadic stream of telegraphic comments to click a link to this blog post. I’ll do this for the same reasons as many of my fellow tweeters or twitterers — to promote this blog, direct traffic this way and hope to snag a few seconds of time from other distracted technophiles.
But what’s the point, really? Is a thousand tweets a significant milestone? I’m thinking about that in the context of two things:
- Recent introspective “why I blog” posts from the likes of Kyle James and Karlyn Morrissette. Why not a variation on that theme: “why I tweet”?
- A comment @esigler made via Twitter last week when I mentioned the impending millitweet.
@andrewcareaga I don’t know whether to congratulate you or put together an intervention. (“Sir, step away from the social media…”) :)
Good point.
There’s no getting around the fact that Twitter is an addictive little piece of technology. It’s mobile, it’s easy, and it’s flexible, even amorphous, in that individuals can fit it to just about any purpose, personal or vocational. It’s also fun.
I signed up for Twitter on Sept. 30, 2008 2007. (It’s true and on the record; you can look it up.) At that time, Brad J. Ward left this comment:
I’m on there, but only to secure my ‘bradjward’ login in case I ever decide to use it. As of now, I’m not sold on it.
Fast-forward to Sunday, July 27, 2008: @bradjward has recorded 2,618 tweets.
Sold yet, Brad?
Twitter is the Seinfeld of social networking: a social network about nothing. Maybe that’s why it’s so popular. We all gather around — all the Jerrys, Georges, Elaines and Kramers and, yes, even Neuman — to chit-chat about nothing. It worked for Seinfeld. Why not for Twitter?
Of course, even Seinfeld had to come to an end eventually. I wonder what will replace Twitter when it’s day passes?
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Now playing: Various Artists – Song 5 – White
via FoxyTunes
Andy writes! 
Do you know I have a twitter name, and I cannot even tell you the last time I logged into that account? Is there something wrong with me for not having jumped on this bandwagon?
Maybe I just have the wrong folks following me? I found it annoying though. Maybe I should reconsider the medium? Maybe not.
Courtney – I will follow you. Will you follow me? (Apologies to Phil Collins.)
HAHA, love it!! I actually referenced that comment in this blog post a few months back:
http://squaredpeg.com/index.php/2008/05/15/using-twitter-for-student-bloggers/
See bullet point # 5.
I did not see the value of Twitter until I started to grow my network. That’s why I really try to get people who want to try Twitter plugged in to the community so they can see it as I do. It’s such a valuable tool for professional development.