Wednesday, March 25, 2009



I'd like to comment on and explore this whole Twitter phenomenon that is taking over the internet and the way that people communicate. I watched a video regarding Twitter on Youtube a couple of minutes ago and it helped me to understand why people are for and against the use of Twitter. So basically this online tool is supposed to help people stay in touch and have perpetual knowledge of what all their friends and/or associates are up to. To me this whole concept seems invasive and a little strange, but I see the potential appeal. We are living in an age where everything is virtual and digitalized. On Twitter, you are talking to noone and everyone of this same time. People are putting every second of their lives onto this device just because. The video I watched comments on the notion that if these people who are friends on Twitter were actually friends, they would pick up the phone and make the call to let eachother know what they are doing- if it actually mattered. But it doesnt, people care becuse its up there- if it weren't, it would become obsolete. Like the video says- it's like yelling into the open air "Im watching tv with my cat". I presume that this is a form of citizen media, but what exactly is the point? The video also highlights the notion that people are exhibitioning themselves online. Facebook, Twitter and all these other forms of presenting youself online is one hige exhibition of youself- or your online self. Game theory ties into this whole online identity concept. Why do we bother creating an online self to begin with? Why do we use our citizen media skills for such seemingly pointless purposes? If we put half the energy into something more useful than we do into Facebook and Twitter, we could all be professional journalists. Why do we put our lives up on display in such a way. People become obsessed with the virtual world and I feel as if our social skills are going down the tube. I dont understand why we can no longer pick up the phone to make a phone call- its all about online communication and expression. We have entered a new rhealm of life and it is not going anywhere anytime soon. Here is the link, this video is very funny and cute- fun to watch as it expresses nothing but the truth about Twitter- or the trouble with Twitter! ENJOY! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5Ff2X_3P_4

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