How does Twitter work?

nancy sv · 05-17-2008, 06:58 AM

I opened an account a week or so ago, but I really don't get it. Can someone explain what it's all about? Why would anyone want to read a bunch of one-sentence blurbs about what someone is doing right now?

Dawno · 05-17-2008, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nancy sv

I opened an account a week or so ago, but I really don't get it. Can someone explain what it's all about? Why would anyone want to read a bunch of one-sentence blurbs about what someone is doing right now?

Heh - good question. I'm just a lemming.

NJFoster · 05-17-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nancy sv

I opened an account a week or so ago, but I really don't get it. Can someone explain what it's all about? Why would anyone want to read a bunch of one-sentence blurbs about what someone is doing right now?

I agree, I keep reading about it but just don't 'get it'

nancy sv · 05-18-2008, 12:49 AM

I'm sure it would be great for us on our trip - if I was willing to send in a little message every couple of hours. But I'm not willing to do that...

mjlpsu · 05-18-2008, 09:36 AM

I use it a bit. I have it connected to the blog, so my feed posts as well. I mostly put up little things that I wouldn't otherwise include in the blog.
I'm ChinaMatt.

StoneTable · 05-18-2008, 10:13 AM

For those that don't get it, I'll do my best to explain it from my perspective.

It's the flash fiction of blogging, in bite-sized chunks of 140 characters or less.

It's another method of networking. A way for friends, family, or fans to get more of a glimpse into the portion of your life you're willing to share.

laffarsmith · 05-25-2008, 11:51 PM

I have a Twitter account but never have gotten into the habit of tweeting. I've just never seen much point. The conversations don't seem to gel together because it only shows the tweets from each individual and not the other tweeted responses. It's like blog comments that don't interact with each other, loveless.

Still, with it's popularity is always sounds like something we should all be into from a marketing perspective. I guess the real question is do you feel you would gain more from time committed to twitter than you would with whatever else you spend that time doing?

At the moment at least, my answer is no.

StoneTable · 05-26-2008, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laffarsmith

The conversations don't seem to gel together because it only shows the tweets from each individual and not the other tweeted responses. It's like blog comments that don't interact with each other, loveless.

That depends on the client you use, I think. The one I use, Twitterific, does that but it's Mac-only.

Ava Jarvis · 05-29-2008, 10:55 AM

I often get into conversations with others on Twitter. It's not just about your updates, and it's not just about someone else's updates---it's about updates from people you're interested in.

The Twitter conversations I've had are kind of like broadcast IMs---and if you're a follower of both people involved in a conversation, you see both ends if you like.

If you follow people, many of them will follow you back, and you'll get to see plenty of conversation.

If you twitter interesting things, people will find you and follow you.

Twitter goes beyond little updates every few minutes, or just twittering what you're doing. It's micro-blogging and networking with people. Especially networking is important.

And then there's FriendFeed.

I'm

http://twitter.com/ArachneJericho

and

http://friendfeed.com/arachnejericho

wordsmith · 06-01-2008, 07:32 PM

I tweet.

I'm emsgeiss over there. I also use twitterfeed, which tweets recent blog posts. It probably works like FriendFeed above, which I will now have to check out.

NJFoster · 06-20-2008, 12:44 PM

actually I think I am understanding it now.

For those of us that blog it can be quite a powerful tool, and for those looking to network

There is a link to a free ebook about it on my blog here

follow the links, its a very interesting read.

p.s. my twitter account http://twitter.com/recruitmentnick

LIVIN · 06-21-2008, 12:54 AM

Should I Twitter? Or, Tweet, as it were?

L M Ashton · 07-16-2008, 07:18 AM

I'm thinking about it. Convince me?

Dawno · 07-16-2008, 11:17 AM

Twitter is much in the tech blogs and feeds recently - lots of problems with scaling, downtime, features fitzing out. Don't know what they're going to do - get some venture cap.? Doesn't hurt to sign up. There are some folk who use it a lot and love it.

Dawno · 07-16-2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L M Ashton

Yeah, see, Dawno, that post just wasn't altogether convincing, ya know?

And yet, I signed up anyway. And now I'm ~~stalking~~ following a whole bunches of yous...

I plan to tweet from WorldCon in August, but unless I'm doing something like that, I haven't used it much. I could do it from my cell phone, I just keep forgetting! Which makes me think that Twitter isn't particularly the right medium for an ol' fart with chronic CRS.

L M Ashton · 07-16-2008, 08:06 PM

Dawno, what's CRS?

Medievalist · 07-16-2008, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawno

I could do it from my cell phone, I just keep forgetting! Which makes me think that Twitter isn't particularly the right medium for an ol' fart with chronic CRS.

Well, no, but it should work fine for you Dawno.

Dawno · 07-16-2008, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L M Ashton

Dawno, what's CRS?

Can't Remember Sh!t

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medievalist

Well, no, but it should work fine for you Dawno.

Ha!! Do I know you? You're that guy who got the MFA in Faulkner studies, right?

writergirl08 · 07-17-2008, 06:30 AM

Fun thread! I just joined Twitter this week and haven't even sent a "tweet" out yet, I'm such a newbie! I'll go through and add the people on this thread. Here's mine: http://twitter.com/stephaniedube

Btw, how do you attach your blog to twitter for blog updates? I haven't figured out much about Twitter except how to follow people.

L M Ashton · 07-17-2008, 06:35 AM

Yeah, I see that. I just got a notification that you're following me.

As for your question - uh, I dunno. *shrugs* I just got there myself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawno

Can't Remember Sh!t

Ah, that. I couldn't remember what it was called.

art nerd · 07-17-2008, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawno

I plan to tweet from WorldCon in August, but unless I'm doing something like that, I haven't used it much. I could do it from my cell phone, I just keep forgetting! Which makes me think that Twitter isn't particularly the right medium for an ol' fart with chronic CRS.

I plan to tweet from San Diego Comic-Con which is next week. At least that's the plan. I don't know if I'll be able to tweet, buy stuff, and take pictures at the same time.

art nerd · 07-17-2008, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by writergirl08

Btw, how do you attach your blog to twitter for blog updates? I haven't figured out much about Twitter except how to follow people.

I just link my blog posts manually. You can link your RSS feed via TwitterFeed.com, but the site is down at the moment.

L M Ashton · 07-17-2008, 04:41 PM

Nancy, I hadn't realized you'd already left on your bike trip. Until I started following you on Twitter and now I can see that you're in Whitehorse.

Have a great trip, eh?

Also, and I sent this to you via Twitter as well, you can put your Twitter feed on your blog/website if you want. Just so you're aware of the possibilities.

Disdainful Soul · 07-20-2008, 09:21 AM

I tweet: http://twitter.com/workingtitlecms

I also use the TwitterFox addon to keep track of tweets.

Nicki B · 07-23-2008, 05:58 PM

How useful do you guys find it is to tweet?

05-17-2008, 06:58 AM	#1
nancy sv 30 months on a bicycle... Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: On a bike between North and South Posts: 1,064	How does Twitter Work? And Twitter tools and toys and whatnot... I opened an account a week or so ago, but I really don't get it. Can someone explain what it's all about? Why would anyone want to read a bunch of one-sentence blurbs about what someone is doing right now? __________________ Check out what's happening on our 20,000-mile, 30-month bicycle journey from Alaska to Argentina! www.familyonbikes.org Boise International Travel Examiner World Bike Touring Examiner The Communities at the Washington Times

05-18-2008, 12:49 AM	#4
nancy sv 30 months on a bicycle... Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: On a bike between North and South Posts: 1,064	I'm sure it would be great for us on our trip - if I was willing to send in a little message every couple of hours. But I'm not willing to do that... __________________ Check out what's happening on our 20,000-mile, 30-month bicycle journey from Alaska to Argentina! www.familyonbikes.org Boise International Travel Examiner World Bike Touring Examiner The Communities at the Washington Times

05-18-2008, 09:36 AM	#5
mjlpsu unidentifiable food tester Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Shenzhen, China Posts: 229	I use it a bit. I have it connected to the blog, so my feed posts as well. I mostly put up little things that I wouldn't otherwise include in the blog. I'm ChinaMatt. __________________ Visit the Waiguoren Critic of South China and The Chinglish Adventures of Chairman Mao Terracotta Typewriter: a revolutionary literary journal for the masses

05-18-2008, 10:13 AM	#6
StoneTable Floating in the void AW Mod Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: in stasis Posts: 1,045	For those that don't get it, I'll do my best to explain it from my perspective. It's the flash fiction of blogging, in bite-sized chunks of 140 characters or less. It's another method of networking. A way for friends, family, or fans to get more of a glimpse into the portion of your life you're willing to share. __________________ [ My blog \| Twitter \| LiveJournal \| Facebook ] "The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane." - Nikola Tesla

05-25-2008, 11:51 PM	#7
laffarsmith AW Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Western Australia Posts: 284	I have a Twitter account but never have gotten into the habit of tweeting. I've just never seen much point. The conversations don't seem to gel together because it only shows the tweets from each individual and not the other tweeted responses. It's like blog comments that don't interact with each other, loveless. Still, with it's popularity is always sounds like something we should all be into from a marketing perspective. I guess the real question is do you feel you would gain more from time committed to twitter than you would with whatever else you spend that time doing? At the moment at least, my answer is no. __________________ Rebecca Laffar-Smith The Writer's Round-About http://www.writersroundabout.com http://www.rebeccalaffarsmith.com "The journey toward your dreams is life's greatest adventure." - Rebecca Laffar-Smith

05-29-2008, 10:55 AM	#9
Ava Jarvis Too stupid to know fear Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bainbridge Island Posts: 1,143	I often get into conversations with others on Twitter. It's not just about your updates, and it's not just about someone else's updates---it's about updates from people you're interested in. The Twitter conversations I've had are kind of like broadcast IMs---and if you're a follower of both people involved in a conversation, you see both ends if you like. If you follow people, many of them will follow you back, and you'll get to see plenty of conversation. If you twitter interesting things, people will find you and follow you. Twitter goes beyond little updates every few minutes, or just twittering what you're doing. It's micro-blogging and networking with people. Especially networking is important. And then there's FriendFeed. I'm http://twitter.com/ArachneJericho and http://friendfeed.com/arachnejericho __________________ Spontaneous Derivation The unholy marriage of writing and blogging. Latest posts: - 5 WordPress Plugins That Make Life Easier - 2008 Hugo Awards Countdown: Best Professional Editors, Short Form - 2008 Hugo Awards Countdown: Best Professional Editors, Long Form

06-01-2008, 07:32 PM	#10
wordsmith AW Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: That fleshy part near the base of the thumb Posts: 842	I tweet. I'm emsgeiss over there. I also use twitterfeed, which tweets recent blog posts. It probably works like FriendFeed above, which I will now have to check out. __________________ -Erika My Site \| Magazine \| Lens Blogs: Musings \| TWM \| BOL \| PWC POM, a WIP: 5,153 / ????? words Sept JHS SHINY! The Right Words for Any Occasion

06-20-2008, 12:44 PM	#11
NJFoster Almost expert! Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wales, UK Posts: 72	actually I think I am understanding it now. For those of us that blog it can be quite a powerful tool, and for those looking to network There is a link to a free ebook about it on my blog here follow the links, its a very interesting read. p.s. my twitter account http://twitter.com/recruitmentnick __________________ Blogging about Welsh rugby

06-21-2008, 12:54 AM	#12
LIVIN AW Addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: At a computer? Posts: 669	Should I Twitter? Or, Tweet, as it were? __________________ Holy BigScreens! I’m Jerry Jonesing for an NFL Rule Change How to Make Money While Duping Kids - the Slippery Slope from Secret Free Webkinz World Cheat Codes to Secret Free Myspace Mobster Cheat Codes to Free Drugs My blog is comatose.

07-16-2008, 07:18 AM	#13
L M Ashton crazy spec fic writer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka Posts: 4,516	I'm thinking about it. Convince me? __________________ Laurie, formerly known as quidscribis Get yer very own werd counter! Twitter \| Facebook \| Shards, an excerpt (NaNo2007) \| Peregrinas \| A Canadian in King Parakramabahu's Court The Blogging Forum on AW \| AWers on Twitter \| AWers on Plurk \| AWers on FriendFeed \| Did you update your blog today? \| Absolute Writer's blogs \| Absolute Write on Facebook

07-16-2008, 11:17 AM	#14
Dawno He's Back! AW Supermod Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: someplace around here, anyone seen my keys? Posts: 11,276	Twitter is much in the tech blogs and feeds recently - lots of problems with scaling, downtime, features fitzing out. Don't know what they're going to do - get some venture cap.? Doesn't hurt to sign up. There are some folk who use it a lot and love it. __________________ Dawno's Blogs: NVNC ID VIDES, NVNC NE VIDES, Dawno's Beaded Lanyards & Jewelry Attending a writers conference or other convention? Jewelry quality and fun handmade badge lanyards by Dawno. Also, visit Dawno's Art Fire store for handmade necklaces, earrings and bracelets. I Tweet

07-16-2008, 08:06 PM	#16
L M Ashton crazy spec fic writer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka Posts: 4,516	Dawno, what's CRS? __________________ Laurie, formerly known as quidscribis Get yer very own werd counter! Twitter \| Facebook \| Shards, an excerpt (NaNo2007) \| Peregrinas \| A Canadian in King Parakramabahu's Court The Blogging Forum on AW \| AWers on Twitter \| AWers on Plurk \| AWers on FriendFeed \| Did you update your blog today? \| Absolute Writer's blogs \| Absolute Write on Facebook

07-17-2008, 06:30 AM	#19
writergirl08 Got the hang of it, here Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 38	Fun thread! I just joined Twitter this week and haven't even sent a "tweet" out yet, I'm such a newbie! I'll go through and add the people on this thread. Here's mine: http://twitter.com/stephaniedube Btw, how do you attach your blog to twitter for blog updates? I haven't figured out much about Twitter except how to follow people. __________________ **** Professional Site: www.StephanieDube.com Follow me on Twitter! **** "Like all of my fictions, this is a mirror. Look into it and you will find yourself. What you do with what you see is your choice." - Ted Dekker

07-17-2008, 04:41 PM	#23
L M Ashton crazy spec fic writer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka Posts: 4,516	Nancy, I hadn't realized you'd already left on your bike trip. Until I started following you on Twitter and now I can see that you're in Whitehorse. Have a great trip, eh? Also, and I sent this to you via Twitter as well, you can put your Twitter feed on your blog/website if you want. Just so you're aware of the possibilities. __________________ Laurie, formerly known as quidscribis Get yer very own werd counter! Twitter \| Facebook \| Shards, an excerpt (NaNo2007) \| Peregrinas \| A Canadian in King Parakramabahu's Court The Blogging Forum on AW \| AWers on Twitter \| AWers on Plurk \| AWers on FriendFeed \| Did you update your blog today? \| Absolute Writer's blogs \| Absolute Write on Facebook

07-20-2008, 09:21 AM	#24
Disdainful Soul AW Addict Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 463	I tweet: http://twitter.com/workingtitlecms I also use the TwitterFox addon to keep track of tweets. __________________ Projects and Status: Lionheart [YA fantasy with steampunk elements]: 54 500 / 70 000 The Circled Green [YA historical fantasy]: 25 000/70 000 Bones [YA paranormal/ghost]: 11 800/60 000 Me Elsewhere: Website/Blog * Book Blog * Twitter * GoodReads * Last.fm * LiveJournal

07-23-2008, 05:58 PM	#25
Nicki B Board Fanatic in Training Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Anaheim Hills, Ca Posts: 69	How useful do you guys find it is to tweet? __________________ - Nicki B. Check out my articles

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