Is there any piece of technology that polarizes pundits and flames the passions like Twitter does right now? Seems that most folks out there either love it as a way to connect with news, friends, and professional peers, or loathe it as useless babble that contributes nothing to daily life and wastes a lot of time. Wikipedia provides a concise summary of the criticisms, so I'll let you read for yourself if you like. To me, Twitter hating is a curious, yet widespread phenomenon.Of course there are the boosters. In June the U.S. Department of State contacted Twitter, urging the site to delay planned maintenance in order to maintain service for Iranians during protests against the re-election of President Ahmadinejad. A State Department spokesperson called it "an important form of communication" and said, "This is about giving their voices a chance to be heard. One of the ways that their voices are heard are through new media."
I wrote last April about the U.S. Military's successful use of Twitter (and other social mediums) in the post "Twitter for the Uniform." Again, I'll let you read rather than restate here, but the habit seems to be sticking. In the nine months since I last wrote on this subject, I have followed and benefited from news (and conversation, in some cases) published via Twitter by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Commandant of the Coast Guard (read more about his blogging habits), U.S. European Command, and a number of other ships, units, and individuals, many of whom are able to provide valuable front-line information and personal perspectives that would otherwise be unavailable. I invite you to see what folks in uniform or otherwise involved with the safety and security of our country are discussing on Twitter, and to likewise see what folks in the Coast Guard or otherwise involved with life saving and maritime security are discussing. And, while we're on the subject of geopolitics, I invite you to join me keeping up with our close friends across the pond by following the UK Prime Minister with me.
Politics and the military are not the only people and organizations that have taken to Twitter for constructive purposes. I keep up with a number of people in the science and medical fields (see what they're talking about). Some of my favorites are WHITECOAT Strategies (disclaimer, I used to work there), Alex's Lemonade (join their fight against childhood cancer), and I Am Biotech (this stuff is cool, and will change our lives in years to come, go see).
Yesterday a guest on NPR [News | Politics | Music | Weekend Edition | Talk of the Nation] contended that most of what is on Twitter is useless babble. I don't see much of that from the over 300 people I follow, so I put the question to the world (via Twitter and Facebook, of course). This is what I got back:
"I agree [presumably with the NPR guest, that Twitter is useless babble]."
"Typical comment of someone who hasn't really tried it."
"I need to be better at eliminating junk, have started un-following."
"I've found Twitter mostly helpful and interesting. It's pretty easy to ignore the junk."
"I agree with guest on NPR."
"It is useless babble."
"Twitter is just like anything else you "tune in to". Quality depends on what you focus on, for any medium."
"I think most of Twitter is useless babble. That's why you choose to follow only a very small percentage of it."
"Most of what people say on the telephone is useless babble, too. So what? Some journalists feel threatened by user-generated content, and think content does not happen until a highly-paid writer literally puts pen to pad. Got some news for ya dude: content HAPPENS."Remember what I said about Twitter polarizing the pundits and enflaming the passions. It is interesting, though, that we've moved from debating the merits of the merits of ideas to debating merits of the forum. I love Twitter because I am engaged with its users -- some of whom I have talked with so much in the virtual world that I am sure we would be good friends if ever we met in person -- every day. I read the news. I debate and discuss ideas with professional peers and Coast Guard shipmates. I even catch up with friends from time to time (though I think Facebook, email, and a good old fashioned phone call is still the way to go there). Just as we turn the channel from useless babble on television, so to do we filter out the folks on Twitter who just don't have anything good to say, no value to add to the discussion. The difference here, though, is that with Twitter we can connect globally and have a chance to talk back.
Give it a try ...oh, and feel free to follow and talk with me at http://twitter.com/andrewdwelch.
Thanks to Hallely Azulay, Laura Mattis, Thomas Proctor, and Eric for their input to this post via none other than Twitter.