also @ TechSpot: Building a Thin Mini-ITX PC: Small and Silent Performance

Weekend Open Forum: Do you (still) Twitter?

Discussion in 'TechSpot News and Comments' started by Julio Franco, Feb 12, 2010.

Page 1 of 2

  1. Julio Franco TechSpot Editor Posts: 6,045   +119

    From the early days of the blogosphere, there's always been a fashionable Web company everybody seems to love talking about, justifiably or not. In most cases we've tried to steer clear from these trends, like with Twitter, giving the Web service its fair share of coverage while remaining skeptical on its long-term viability as a standalone product.

    Read the whole story
    Julio Franco, Feb 12, 2010
    #1

  2. Matthew TechSpot Staff Posts: 5,893   +53

    I found the premise to Twitter somewhat appealing and registered a while back. I wound up not using the service at all -- not a single person followed or following. In fact, I don't even remember my account information.

    I think I registered to funnel information from useful or interesting sources, but after looking around I realized there's far more junk being exchanged than anything of true value -- at least to me. If you're fascinated by what actors eat for lunch then all the power to you.

    For the record, I've never been especially interested in social networking sites. I made my first MySpace account a little over a year ago, and deleted the profile less than a week later.

    While I like the thought of having a group of contacts conveniently contained in a single infrastructure that facilitates the sharing of media and knowledge, social networks simply don't work that way -- or so it seems from the outside looking in.

    From what I've seen, most people just clutter their pages with seemingly unrelated videos, music, images, games, glitter effects, animated graphics of Betty Boop, and the results to inane quizzes. It's MTV meets the Weekly World News on crack.

    Also, "friends" are often added on a whim or with a marketing agenda, and some people have hundreds or thousands of "buddies" on their contact list that they'll never interact with.

    I'm probably oversimplifying all of this, and really, it comes down to how an individual utilizes the service. However, I'm inclined to believe that most social network activity is nothing but noise -- noise that I happily live without.

    /bitter rant
    Matthew, Feb 12, 2010
    #2

  3. TomSEA TechSpot Chancellor Posts: 1,965   +135

    I've never twittered although I have an account. Twitter is an incredible dysfunctional application that seems to attract only sports and movie "superstars" and their minions who are so starved for attention (and frankly stupid), that they can only come up with 140 characters to promote themselves.

    For Matthew, I don't think you oversimplified anything. It's a piece of crap intended for the utterly simple minded and clueless.
    TomSEA, Feb 13, 2010
    #3

  4. tengeta TechSpot Enthusiast Posts: 632

    I went to a twitter profile once. By mistake. I have not once used the site and have no plans whatsoever in the future to consider otherwise.

    For those that do use it, enjoy. I guess.
    tengeta, Feb 13, 2010
    #4

  5. mrtraver TechSpot Enthusiast Posts: 204

    I use it to get updates from my kids' school, so i know when a game is canceled, etc. But that's about it - i've got nothing to say on there.
    mrtraver, Feb 13, 2010
    #5

  6. codefeenix Newcomer, in training Posts: 40

    I dont tweet, but i check it a few times a week.
    newegg sometimes tweets deals.
    There is the LHC and their updates.
    codefeenix, Feb 13, 2010
    #6
     

  7. Timonius TechSpot Enthusiast Posts: 515   +18

    Never have, never will.
    Timonius, Feb 13, 2010
    #7

  8. Archean TechSpot Paladin Posts: 5,735   +27

    I've never bothered to visit twitter / myspace ...... visited uselessbook or whatever it is called only once and that was that for me. Its total wastage of time in my view and is for the kind of people who may grow mustaches for charity or have nothing productive to do.
    Archean, Feb 13, 2010
    #8

  9. treeski TechSpot Guru Posts: 668   +31

    I'm a big fan of Facebook because it allows me to keep up with people that I otherwise wouldn't be able to. But I've never found a big attraction to Twitter, and as is, I can't see myself ever signing up.
    treeski, Feb 13, 2010
    #9

  10. Guest

    Twitter sux. I always thought it was overrated.
    Guest, Feb 13, 2010
    #10

  11. Clrabbit Newcomer, in training Posts: 90

    Never twitted, I didn't like being confined to 140 characters, I have gotten into Google buzzing sense I can post images and just use it as a mini personal blog.
    Clrabbit, Feb 13, 2010
    #11

  12. spikester48661 TechSpot Enthusiast Posts: 103

    NO WAY! but I will face book a little.
    spikester48661, Feb 13, 2010
    #12

  13. BlackIrish Newcomer, in training Posts: 84

    @Matthew

    You nailed it!

    I can only see possible usefulness for Facebook/Twitter if you have long distance relatives and want to stay in contact and not pay huge phone bills.

    But still, Skype would be a much more elegant solution. The same goes for business contacts and partners. Email and IM software are fully capable of doing everything.

    Finally, I think you can't actually "keep up" with people via a website. It's like brain masturbation - you don't contact talk with them or feel emotions. You just pass on cold information and glitter, so you don't forget each other. But you aren't becoming any closer...

    /another rant :p
    BlackIrish, Feb 13, 2010
    #13

  14. maestromasada Newcomer, in training Posts: 97

    @Matthew

    High five!
    maestromasada, Feb 13, 2010
    #14

  15. windmill007 Newcomer, in training Posts: 278

    Twitter is so lame. Myspace use to be ok till facebook come along. Now myspace is dead and facebook rules if they would stop redesigning the site. People who won't try or use facebook are people who hate any technology. I have found so many lost friends and school mates I am still amazed. I like how facebook is starting to integrate into other services on the web. Other businesses need to stop trying to compete with facebook and just find a way to integrate into it. ...yes google I'm talking to you about your twitter wanna be buzz service which was dead before it started!
    windmill007, Feb 13, 2010
    #15

  16. purplehayz Newcomer, in training

    Short answer - yes.

    Longer answer... I <3 Twitter. I've been on for over 2 years. I've made friends all over the country, which wouldn't have happened via any other existing internet technology. And I've learned a great deal too.

    Who could ask for more?

    If you want to "talk" with me more I'm purplehayz on Twitter.

    Have fun! - Bob
    purplehayz, Feb 13, 2010
    #16

  17. Guest

    At first I didn't like it but now I use it all the time. Nobody follows me (well only 4 people that I've never heard about) but I don't care. I use it to learn about news that I would take a lot of time to find otherwise. I don't follow any star. But I follow a lot of news websites, gossip sites, and some interesting bloggers. All in all I'm glad I have it. It's also nice to see what people think about a program you're watching on TV (The Grammy's, the Olympic Games or your favorite show) or stuff that are happening in real life (like the huge storm in DC) which is why I use a lot the search engine. It helps to have an ipod touch and a good wifi connection to be able to reach Twitter even if you're not in front of your computer...

    So, bad first experience, excellent second one.
    Guest, Feb 13, 2010
    #17

  18. Phantasm66 Newcomer, in training Posts: 6,504

    Agreed. I think Facebook is useful and a laugh but Twitter is kind of taking the whole thing a bit too far, IMHO.
    Phantasm66, Feb 13, 2010
    #18

  19. Guest

    Buzzzzzzing around
    i forgot twitter !
    google has done an excellent job of integrating buzz with the emails
    so u r more likely to check buzz often !
    Guest, Feb 13, 2010
    #19

  20. Archean TechSpot Paladin Posts: 5,735   +27

    I doubt it very much, because I know many people who doesn't use gmail anymore for one or another reason.
    Archean, Feb 13, 2010
    #20
Page 1 of 2
Topic Status:
Not open for further replies.

Add New Comment

Social Login & Guest Posting

TechSpot Members
Login here or sign up for free,
it takes about a minute.
Get complete access to the TechSpot community. Join thousands of technology enthusiasts that contribute and share knowledge in our forum. Get a private inbox, upload your own photo gallery and more.