Twitter - The Revolution That Hasn't Started

There's has been a lot of talk on the web lately about Twitter. It seems that everyone "in the know" is singing its praises, while everyone else seems to be saying "I don't... get it?" The later response is completely understandable. It's an awkward sounding service. Why would anyone want to send personal information out for the world to see? It's just too much connectivity for some. Some just think it's a waste of time all together. Don't forget, however, that is what people said about blogging not too long ago and, well, here we are.

Twitter's magic is a bit hard to pin down at first. Setting up your account is quick and easy, and finding your first batch of friends to follow is fast as well: just search your contacts list from your email program. From there, you can start sending your first tweets (each individual update is called a tweet). These tweets can be about anything and everything, but they'll be cut off at 120 characters. You can link articles (perhaps your favorite Homotron articles?), which will then be minimized via Tinyurl's shrinking service automatically. All you need to do then is update periodically and check your twitter page for your friend’s tweets. That's the most basic summation of Twitter I can think of.

You can interact with Twitter in any number of ways including directly through the website, third-party applications like Twitterrific, Flock's integrated Twitter app, and even text messages. Send updates from AIM, then log onto the website and see other people's updates, then send it all to your phone when you're on the go. There are a number of excellent apps out there to help you interact with Twitter however you choose, so customizing your experience is a breeze as well.

So where's the magic? It's not what Twitter does, per se, it's how people interact with it. People have been using it as a stream-of-conscious blogging tool, an RSS reader, a community building device, and even a way to stay updated within your large circle of friends. There's a level of intimacy within the Twitter community that you can't find anywhere else. People edit their blogs and flower up their wording to make them more interesting, but the luxury of time and space is not afforded to you in Twitter. You can even follow specific catch phrases to receive updates from anyone, anywhere that makes a tweet concerning your key word (for example, I receive an update anytime someone's tweet includes "Gay Gamer" or "Homotron").

I personally follow several Twitter feeds via Flock's built-in twitter app, but I also follow a select group of friends and a few news feeds via text messaging, and I update and respond often from text messages (it really helps to have an unlimited text plan if you choose to use the text feature). It's a way for me to stay connected to people on an on-going basis, and can start some interesting conversations, particularly when your friends are updating from the bar late into the night/

Overall, I feel like Twitter is an experience that you must jump in and try before you can completely "get it." I know, that seems like a cop out, but just try it out before you write off the service. Grab your friends and get signed up, you can even add me. I know that Twitter is a revolution just waiting under the surface, patiently waiting for its time to shine. I have a tendency to agree with the guys from Read/Write Web: Twitter is a game-changing communication tool. Sure it needs a bit more polish to make into the general accessibility category, but I find it's always better to bet on the bus early. You get the best seat that way.

[comic via: The Gaping Void]