The ultimate dumbing down of America -- Twitter

[Cyrano]

Sorry to dis so many of you, but someone is really going to have to explain to me why I'm wrong.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Why don't you explain why you're right?

You don't even need to use a lot of words.

[eleny]

4. It's another thing which promotes the short attention span

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Unlike internet message boards?

[eleny]

16. No, very much like

That's why I read books. Lots of them.

[Baikonour]

35. So people who use Twitter to stay in touch with friends don't read books?

I don't think I follow your logic, or OP's.

[NeedleCast]

44. That's because there is none

Just people who don't understand that Twitter isn't just about teenagers posting about what movie they're going to see.

Social Networking seems to scare the shit out of the Luddites for some unknown reason.

[omega minimo]

52. So they call it Twitter even though it's not for Twits?

How do you use it? It seems along with the gut reactions and assumptions, some folks :hi: would like to hear an informed POV.

[mamameow]

69. ha! ha!

so twitter is not for twits, then is twat not for twatters?

[omega minimo]

85. "What are you doing?" "I'm making PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA PIE"

:puke:

[eleny]

49. LOL!

I'll elaborate. I read lots of books because along with learning things from books, I also enjoy concentrating for long periods of time. So much of our world is experienced in small packets - soundbites. Reading books is one of those activities I experience in long segments of time.

Please have the last word if you wish. I'm done.

[Baikonour]

79. It's not about having the last word or even striking up an argument.

I just didn't follow your logic. Still don't in fact.

It's a harmless website. If people want to stay in touch via micro-blogging, what's the problem?

[omega minimo]

86. It's about twittering

[omega minimo]

51. With, like, words n stuff?

:popcorn:

Odd to see the newspapers on the verge of collapse after they mostly have focused their efforts and formats on online presences.......

[JackRiddler]

81. Actually, it's not their online focus that's killing them...

It's the adoption of online forms and styles.

Well, it's a lot of things, of course. They had to go online, because competitors did. Those who didn't would already be out of business. There's no model yet for making money consistently in the new media environment.

Another thing: didn't they deserve it? Delivered shit year after year, cut the newsroom first when trouble comes...

[omega minimo]

88. I agree EXACTLY

"It's the adoption of online forms and styles."

Thought I said that, maybe it's not clear:

"Odd to see the newspapers on the verge of collapse after they mostly have focused their efforts and formats on online presences......."

The revisions to newspapers that obviously were built around formatting for the web made them unattractive and boring newspapers formats.

"Another thing: didn't they deserve it? Delivered shit year after year, cut the newsroom first when trouble comes..."

Yes, true dat. I like newspapers for local/regional and cultural issues. It's a shame if the SF Chronicle goes under, it was the best for that in Northern CA.

[JackRiddler]

80. Very much like - and even worse!

[Greyhound]

64. You might be surprised that many of us actually do read those long posts and follow the links,

learning and evaluating what the poster has indicated. Then we write lengthy replies with cogent arguments for or against the point made.

It is true that it is rare, and a 10 paragraph post is more likely to sink than the "OMG, he has a funny name!" variety, but still, it happens.

[malaise]

68. True but I also think M$Greedia is using it to

attract people from the blogs and their own popular sites. I pass.

[ThomWV]

23. A man much smarter than any of us provides the answer. Let me quote:

"'It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words. Of course the great wastage is in the verbs and adjectives, but there are hundreds of nouns that can be got rid of as well. It isn't only the synonyms; there are also the antonyms. After all, what justification is there for a word which is simply the opposite of some other word? A word contains its opposite in itself. Take "good", for instance. If you have a word like "good", what need is there for a word like "bad"? "Ungood" will do just as well -- better, because it's an exact opposite, which the other is not. Or again, if you want a stronger version of "good", what sense is there in having a whole string of vague useless words like "excellent" and "splendid" and all the rest of them? "Plusgood" covers the meaning, or "doubleplusgood" if you want something stronger still. Of course we use those forms already. but in the final version of Newspeak there'll be nothing else. In the end the whole notion of goodness and badness will be covered by only six words -- in reality, only one word. Don't you see the beauty of that, Winston?"

George Orwell, 1984

[omega minimo]

27. Very unbad and undumbingdown post. Double plus good.

:applause:



Some troll actually tried to insult me by dissing Orwell yesterday. :rofl:

[ThomWV]

42. This is the part I always forget to add - it explains my objection exactly

"'Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it. Every concept that can ever be needed, will be expressed by exactly one word, with its meaning rigidly defined and all its subsidiary meanings rubbed out and forgotten."

[omega minimo]

58. Sorry Dear ThomWV, we is already there.

[Cyrano]

77. "... to narrow the range of thought." Damn, Orwell really grasped

the importance of words -- and of thinking.

Thanks for the post, ThomWV. It sharpens the point I was trying to make.

There is, of course, a place online for abbreviated messages. But such messages should never be confused with thoughtfulness. Can someone really reason out a position and then express it, with all of its implied nuances, instantaneously and in 140 characters?

[muriel_volestrangler]

43. Because Twitter has a list of proscribed words, of course

If you try to type them in, a little electric shock comes out of the keyboard, to discourage you from using the forbidden words.

[Posteritatis]

70. Damned Twitter stormtroopers up and killed me *twice* because of that list this week!

And I don't even use it! Their nefarious reach is longer than any of us could forsee!

(DU really needs that "panicked, arms-flailing running in circles" smiley I've seen on other forums. ;) )

[omega minimo]

100. If you're unaware of those words to begin with, no shocks!

[omega minimo]

26. Neurosis? OCD? Crossed eyes? Delusions of grandeur? Trivial BS raised to high art? Narcissism?

Any or all of the above?

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. Nope. American Idol.

I don't really believe that, but your baseless statement needed an equally baseless response!

[leftstreet]

3. LEAVE TWITTER ALONE! n/t

[XemaSab]

5. By morons, for morons

To wit:

rocknerd
I am fucking bored
less than 20 seconds ago from txt
Finally getting around to watch lost
about 1 hour ago from txt
I need to plant my flag
8:19 PM Feb 24th from txt
Soo glad to have my phone back
6:18 PM Feb 24th from txt
I have a tattered old flag.
5:22 PM Feb 23rd from web
@siflayhakra How was your first day of work?
4:14 PM Feb 23rd from web
Uh...why?
9:03 PM Feb 19th from txt
This night is thw night of the living crazy
7:49 PM Feb 19th from txt
Escape!
6:43 PM Feb 19th from txt
Heeeeeeelp
6:12 PM Feb 19th from txt
I cannot escape soon enough
5:42 PM Feb 19th from txt
Entering the belly of the beast
5:19 PM Feb 19th from txt
SimAnimals? Really?
2:17 PM Feb 18th from txt
I take offense madam!
9:57 PM Feb 17th from txt
Haha family guy made fun of 2 and a half men
9:53 PM Feb 17th from txt
Good point
9:43 PM Feb 17th from txt
@angelinthesnow who?
9:41 PM Feb 17th from txt
Tears of a clown.
8:42 PM Feb 17th from txt
God work is so boring today
7:11 AM Feb 17th from txt
Man. I wasted this long weekend.
5:40 PM Feb 16th from txt

http://twitter.com/rocknerd

(Yes, this was the VERY FIRST entry I opened.)

[Cyrano]

7. Thank you, thank you, thank you XemaSab. The prosecution rests.

[tabatha]

21. That guy not only wasted the long weekend, he is wasted.

[JackRiddler]

82. Key: "Haha family guy made fun of 2 and a half men"

What TV started, electronic forms like twitter are now concluding.

[Joe Fields]

89. yep. case closed.

no chance for appeal.

[NYCGirl]

91. And here's a sample of one of the people I follow on Twitter:

@hnager Yes. We had to pull a binary, we submitted the update, got an approval back but it's not live. Any tips? Email me.
about 1 hour ago from web in reply to hnager


iPhone devs, need help. If I reject a binary and do an update is there any way to get the app live again? App is approved but not live.
about 3 hours ago from web

@ernst I like the idea: http://bit.ly/VLpkV but it should promote IE7, Safari, Chrome and Firefox equally to be something I would use.
about 12 hours ago from web in reply to ernst

Here's a concept for a project that turned sour. I think it looks cool so I'm sharing: http://tinyurl.com/ccqzss Any automation companies?
about 12 hours ago from web

Just got a note that HP Upline the backup service doomed for failure, finally failed. Service was live for less then a year I think.
about 13 hours ago from web

Our tip calculator is now the #1 app in the finance category. Woo Hoo.
about 14 hours ago from web

Had a good time demoing at #democampboston1. For anyone who asked, you can find our apps by searching for 'raizlabs' in the app store.
about 23 hours ago from web

At DemoCamp Boston
7:08 PM Feb 25th from web

@cwalcott If you figure it out. Let me know would like to add my company as well.
1:35 PM Feb 25th from web in reply to cwalcott

DemoCamp Boston is sold out. Tonight I'm demoing '5 iPhone Apps in 5 Minutes.' Should be fun.
11:27 AM Feb 25th from web

@ldebett Thanks for your support! If you have comments/feedback let me know.
11:25 AM Feb 25th from web in reply to ldebett

Very cool 3D video from the UI guys at TAT http://tinyurl.com/dcjxyv
1:16 AM Feb 25th from web

Fitts law just doesn't work as well on Safari mac as it does in Safari on Windows. It's easy to overshoot tabs when they are on top.
12:40 AM Feb 25th from web

@jsnell Apple TV based on the iPhone platform is more likely then a tablet. Apple already has the TV hardware, just needs better software.
11:35 PM Feb 24th from web in reply to jsnell

@tatran Who wants pancakes? I want pancakes. Whipped butter, maple syrup... what?
2:38 PM Feb 24th from web in reply to tatran

Planning an iPhone developer drinks and meetup in Boston on March 16th. Details later this week.
12:12 PM Feb 24th from web

Trying out LimeSurvey. UI is a problem. What icon do I click to add a question? http://tinyurl.com/al5suu
11:30 AM Feb 24th from web

I like how in Safari 4 text bigger = zoom. This is what users expect and it is less likely to break the design/display of web pages.
11:07 AM Feb 24th from web

New office art http://twitpic.com/1o0t5 http://twitpic.com/1o0tt
10:44 AM Feb 24th from twitterrific

Safari 4.0 Beta reminds me a lot of Google Chrome.



All depends on where you look, right?

[ContinentalOp]

98. Sorry, but that's arguably worse than XemaSab's post! -nt-

[SidDithers]

116. How 'bout this example...

BarackObama

1. is asking you to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr by volunteering in your area. Visit http://USAservice.org or text SERVE to 56333 for info.3:01 PM Jan 19th from web
2. To participate in the Inauguration visit http://pic2009.org or text HISTORY to 56333. Follow the Inauguration on Twitter @obamainaugural7:52 PM Jan 15th from web
3. We just made history. All of this happened because you gave your time, talent and passion. All of this happened because of you. Thanks11:34 AM Nov 5th, 2008 from web
4. Asking you to help Get Out the Vote in these last few critical hours of our campaign for change. Visit http://my.barackobama.com/f...2:42 PM Nov 4th, 2008 from web
5. Asking for your vote today. For polling location info visit http://VoteForChange.com or call 877-874-6226. Make sure everyone votes!11:49 AM Nov 4th, 2008 from web
6. Asking you to vote Nov. 4th. Visit http://VoteForChange.com, call 877-874-6226 or text VOTE to 62262 to find your polling locations.8:50 PM Nov 3rd, 2008 from web
7. In Manassas, VA. At a "Change We Need" rally. Watch it live at http://My.BarackObama.com/L...7:38 PM Nov 3rd, 2008 from web
8. In Jacksonville, FL. At a "Change We Need" rally. Watch it live at http://My.BarackObama.com/L...7:58 AM Nov 3rd, 2008 from web
9. In Cincinnati, OH. At a "Change We Need" rally. Watch it live at http://My.BarackObama.com/L...6:14 PM Nov 2nd, 2008 from web
10. Asking you to help in these last few critical days of our campaign for change. Visit http://my.barackobama.com/f... to get involved.2:44 PM Nov 2nd, 2008 from web

Sid

[AndrewP]

106. LOL! Sums it up well.

[LSparkle]

6. As if e-mail weren't bad enough, another tool for ADD America ...

We have turned into the "MTV Generation" in all respects ...
We have such short attention spans that we can't write real
letters anymore (yes, I'm a Luddite) -- we prefer e-mail
and texting has reduced us to reliance on abbreviations
("u" for "you," etc.). Quick cuts, change the subject,
I'm too busy to ... THINK.

When the power grids fail and we're all back to using (manual!)
typewriters (not to mention pens), some of us will still be
OK, but many others will be S.O.L.

:rantover:

[XemaSab]

11. You bemoan the use of lazy abbreviations in one breath

and in the next... :rofl:

[LSparkle]

13. "Think of the children!" .... but you got me there ...

[county worker]

14. If two people can communicate an idea so that both have the same meaning

in their heads, who gives a fuck how they communicate?

[Posteritatis]

20. Folks clutching to a sense of superiority, that's who

People defending the purity of the English language are hilarious.

[LSparkle]

25. Guilty as charged -- I rarely use spellcheck, can still do long division ...

Lost arts perhaps but there's something empowering about
knowing you can get by when the lights go out and the
computer crashes.

[Ghost in the Machine]

60. "who gives a fuck how they communicate?"

Think a little deeper about your statement..

What if someone wanted to communicate to you that they didn't like you, and chose to do so with bullets? *You* would understand what he was communicating... but I think *you* would "give a fuck" on *how* he chose to communicate it...


:hi:

[Posteritatis]

71. That's a fairly impressive deliberate misinterpretation of what was said there.. (nt)

[Baikonour]

97. You're equating spoken word with gun violence.

:rofl:

[Ghost in the Machine]

105. You mistakenly think that the spoken word is the only means of communication?

it must be so pleasant living in Shallow World.. :eyes:


Believe me, I could make you understand exactly just how much I didn't like you... and never utter a sound...


You wouldn't understand it though, if you think the spoken word is the only means of communication....

[Baikonour]

110. So you're saying, then, that violence is a viable form of communication?

[Ghost in the Machine]

114. **sigh**

Are you having trouble following along in this sub-thread? Did you read the post I responded to? Here it is in case you forgot it:

county worker (261 posts) Thu Feb-26-09 07:16 PM
Response to Reply #6
14. If two people can communicate an idea so that both have the same meaning
in their heads, who gives a fuck how they communicate?

According to *that* logic, yes, violence is a viable form of communication. They both *get* what is being said....

However, I never said it was a vialble option, did I? I merely pointed out how low communication *could* devolve...

:hi:

[Baikonour]

115. Was just trying to follow your logic.

And making sure I didn't misunderstand you. Thanks.

But you do concede that two people communicating through a website via micro-blogging is harmless, correct? Because it is.

I fail to see how Twitter personally harms any of the people so vehemently against it. Just don't go to the site.

[Cyrano]

15. Oh, LSparkle. You're forcing so many to Google the term "Luddite."

Thank you. Hopefully, many will learn its meaning. That's assuming they are interested in what the term Luddite means.

It was a negative during the industrial revolution. But today, I would call it a positive term if it makes people actually read.

And hopefully, someday, people will rediscover what it means to read something that contains a large amount of text, information, and no acronymns. Oh yeah, they're called books.

[Posteritatis]

17. Because people who use Twitter automatically don't read anything else ever, right?

Yawn, one more of those idiotic bandwagon threads as a result of people finding out that some Republicans use something.

[Cyrano]

deleted dupe

[Cyrano]

34. Ummm, not really. I'm someone who is afraid that the knowledge of

the ages will dissapear.

Children today, are more likely to read online posts/materials/"facts", than books.

While the facts are not clear, the Library of Alexandria was (supposedly) burned down about 50 BC. It contained hundreds of years of information that are forever lost to antiquity.

The computer industry has taken us to a new and better world. But that doesn't mean that everything "new" is "progress."

So tap in all the tweets you want. But leave me out of this latest fad which, I believe, will be gone as quickly as it came.

[NeedleCast]

39. Cyrano

Your mistake here is that you don't appear to understand that a technology can have more than one use. As has been pointed out to you in this thread, Twitter has more uses than a means for a people to communicate the mundane things they're doing. I volunteered for a get out the vote for Obama organization here in Virginia and we used Twitter to do all kinds of organization because it is cheap and easy to use. Even the Obama campaign used Twitter to keep people abreast of where he was and what he was doing. Raw story uses Twitter to disseminate a news feed. Lots of liberals are using Twitter to get the message out.

And, just like I point out to everyone else who feels some bizzare need to bash something they don't use and don't seem to understand...no one is forcing you to use it.

[Joe Fields]

90. Twitter is something you don't have to use to understand.

While it may be true that Twitter has many uses, that does not mean that the bulk of the people with twitter accounts take advantage of those options. Odd that everyone I talk to with a twitter account always tell me they waste too much time on it doing nothing.

I agree with the OP.

It is another instrument that is responsible for the dumbing down of America.

[NeedleCast]

29. Said LSparkle, on a internet message board...

[MountainLaurel]

117. Just having a conversation about this

With one of the docs I work with (I'm a medical editor, helping researchers submit their papers to peer-reviewed journals). He was noting that almost always these days his residents can do the research with no problem but are completely unable to write up the results. They just don't have the solid experience with composition of anything beyond abbreviations and phrases; research papers in high school and college just aren't doing it. Pretty soon they'll only be able to speak in abbreviations and phrases as well.

[Cyrano]

118. Not unusual, MountainLaurel

One of my friends was a technical writer for years. He told me that it's virtually impossible to interpret anything written by engineers of any stripe (chemical, electronic, construction, etc.).

He explained that if engineers could write, there would be no such profession as technical writing. A tech writer's primary job is to interpret the work of an engineer so it can be understood by technicians and others who have to deal with the engineers' end product.

[Avalux]

8. I hate it so I'm not the person to explain why you're wrong.

I can't figure out what good it is and refuse to participate. It encourages lesser thinking.

[pipi_k]

18. Hah....I didn't even know what it was till I looked it up two minutes ago

Now that I know, I'm going to say the same you did:

I refuse to participate



although I can see why it's called "Twitter". Sort of like a bunch of little birds all chirping at each other just because they're birds.

Hell...I'm shallow, but not that shallow...

:7

[NeedleCast]

30. You should let the Obama campaign and the thousands of grass roots volunteers who used it to help

organize know how silly it is...

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. Yet you got it done in under 140.

:)

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. All your communications are belong to us!

Haha! Twitter only way to use internet or phone now. Blogs pwned. Fora pwned. IM sux. kthxbai

[tabatha]

19. Raw Story twitter is like a news feed

# Raw Story JPMorgan Chase to axe 12,000: JPMorgan Chase to axe 12,000 http://tinyurl.com/d7q6qeabout
1 hour ago from twitterfeed

# Raw Story Reid: Coleman should concede: Reid: Coleman should concede http://tinyurl.com/bdm2wcabout
1 hour ago from twitterfeed

# Raw Story DoD reverses coffin photo ban: News orgs can now show KIA homecomings; ban put in place by Bu.. http://tinyurl.com/d86r8uabout
1 hour ago from twitterfeed

# Raw Story Exclusive: Obama to brief leading congressmembers on plan to keep 50,000 troops in Iraq....: .. http://tinyurl.com/dbohqyabout
1 hour ago from twitterfeed

# Raw Story Jindal may have fudged Katrina story: Jindal may have fudged Katrina story http://tinyurl.com/auvyntabout
3 hours ago from twitterfeed

# Raw Story Rocky Mountain News to shut down: Rocky Mountain News to shut down http://tinyurl.com/afrw26about
3 hours ago from twitterfeed

# Raw Story Love: Stopping the Ticketmaster merger: Love: Stopping the Ticketmaster merger http://tinyurl.com/cboelaabout
3 hours ago from twitterfeed

# Raw Story India: Slumdog kids feted as heroes: India: Slumdog kids feted as heroes http://tinyurl.com/bodbdkabout
3 hours ago from twitterfeed

# Raw Story NASA climate scientist to join huge protest: NASA climate scientist to join huge protest http://tinyurl.com/brvyuoabout
3 hours ago from twitterfeed

# Raw Story Krugman: GOP 'party of Beavis & Butt-head': Krugman: GOP 'party of Beavis & Butt-head' http://tinyurl.com/btrnmcabout 5 hours ago from twitterfeed

# Raw Story NFL lays off dozens, chief take
s pay cut: NFL lays off dozens, chief takes pay cut http://tinyurl.com/agseuqabout 5 hours ago from twitterfeed
# Raw Story Bengali: A book too hot for Kenya: Bengali: A book too hot for Kenya http://tinyurl.com/d22m7eabout
5 hours ago from twitterfeed

# Raw Story ...Wants raid on WA plant looked into: ...Wants raid on WA plant looked into http://tinyurl.com/acls8dabout
5 hours ago from twitterfeed

# Raw Story New DHS boss calls sweeping review: New DHS boss calls sweeping review http://tinyurl.com/d4rxxgabout
7 hours ago from twitterfeed

# Raw Story Clinton to tap activist for human rights post: Naming Michael Posner to post in State Dept.; .. http://tinyurl.com/c7ov3fabout
7 hours ago from twitterfeed

# Raw Story Obama Administration will stop medical marijuana raids: Obama Administration will stop medica.. http://tinyurl.com/c295jdabout
7 hours ago from twitterfeed

# Raw Story Specter vote helped firm with ties to wife: After 'reluctant' vote on Bush bailout, firm got .. http://tinyurl.com/dhxq3yabout
7 hours ago from twitterfeed

# Raw Story GM posts $9.6 billion 4Q loss: GM posts $9.6 billion 4Q loss http://tinyurl.com/cnfbvwabout
9 hours ago from twitterfeed

# Raw Story Stevie Wonder receives award: Stevie Wonder receives award http://tinyurl.com/c4xekaabout
9 hours ago from twitterfeed

[Posteritatis]

22. Careful! Useful counterexamples will puncture the Luddites' rightous rage! (nt)

[Baikonour]

36. Hahaha.

[treestar]

56. Looks no different than Google toolbar

Can you read the stories?

Keeping up with the news is great but is it necessary at this level?

Traffic reports, maybe. The radio has those.

[Posteritatis]

66. You *should* be able to; the links are broken in that example

The tinyurl links typically wind up going to the original URL; tinyurl is a way of compressing lengthly URLs into something that can fit inside Twitter's character limits.

[baldguy]

24. .

[NeedleCast]

28. An Obama Grass Roots support group in North VA used it to help organize

volunteers on a regular basis.

Obama used it with quite a bit of success during his campaign.

I use it to let people know where I'm doing sound and lighting for local bands in the hope that it will draw me more business.

[blues90]

31. I asked about this twitter and high tech crap not long ago

It seemed like I am alone out here not caring about it and not knowing about it. Lets face it just the name Twitter sounds stupid.

[NeedleCast]

33. High tech crap?

Tell me the difference between making a post on Twitter and making a post on a message board like DU.

[blues90]

37. I have no idea what the diff is. If there is none

Than what's the point of twitter or is it something that will eventually make my old computer obsolete so I can't post at all and put me right out in the dark?

[NeedleCast]

40. What's the Point of lots of things?

What's the point of having a beef, bean and cheese burrito when there was already a bean and cheese burrito? Because some people want beef in their burrito and some don't.

Twitter is just another communications technology. Some people like it, some don't. It's a (usually short form) version of a blog or message board. The issue I have with posts like yours is that you're sitting here bashing it without (apparently) having the first clue what it is. You're the guy shaking a fist at Edison and telling him you didn't need any of that crazy new fangled electricity in YOUR house by god.

Message boards have been around since the birth of the internet in one form or another. I don't think Twitter is going to put you out in the dark with the naked, starving Luddites.

[blues90]

45. don't you feel there might just be too many choices?

Do we really need 6,000 choices of cereal? There were people who did not want electricity , I don't know if I would have been one of them , way before my time. We had trains before the automobile and looking back from where we are now maybe the auto was not such a good idea.

We really don't know what is good or not until it's too late to turn it all back so what's the hurry. Twitter seems like a message that allows so many charactors so if you go past the count then what, the last word may make all the difference. I guess this is where LOL and all the other short cuts come in handly and we won't need to be able to spell complete words anymore. TTYL IMHO .

[NeedleCast]

46. Honestly, No

Do we NEED 6000 choices of cereal? No. But what does it hurt to have 6000 choices of cereal? Baskin-Robbins probably doesn't need 31 flavors of ice cream except for the fact that some people are happy with Vanilla every time and some people like a little Rockey Road or Coffee or even a lemon sorbet.

I love the argument that LOL is going to be the downfall of civilization. That's like saying the printing press was a disaster because it put all those monks hand scribing books out of business.

[hfojvt]

47. Are twitter posts really as long as yours there?

Can they be stored and re-read? With message boards there is always the potential of a thoughtful, well-researched, well informed essay. You can also have the one line snarkorama or lolcat but that's not necessarily the overwhelming majority of messages.

[Posteritatis]

54. Check post #19

I don't use Twitter actively (much as I defend it I'm annoyed by it, but that's a personal taste thing and not Objective Trooth about its threat to us all), but I follow a few friends' feeds. That's fairly typical of what I'll see - short summaries with links.

People upset because Twitter's character limits can't contain "thoughtful, well-researched, well-informed essays" are not only wrong - the whole tinyurl thing sidesteps the character limits - but are a bit off base by thinking that those are even the point.

[hfojvt]

74. I looked at that and none of the links worked

My question is if people are using the links and then reading those stories on their phones.

[trof]

32. K&R Thanks.

[rucky]

38. Do you just post everything that enters your mind?

:evilgrin:

[Cyrano]

41. Like everyone else, I often post mindlessly.

But I'll tell you what. Let's check out each other's profiles and see who has posted more often over the years.

[rucky]

48. I don't even have to check.

:hi: me :hi:

and 90% mindless

[burythehatchet]

50. At some point in our lives the ability to keep up with technological advancement

becomes too fast for us to keep up. That is the point at which we dismiss anything new.

Twitter is one of a number of new offshoots in the revolution in communications. Just because someone can post an example of an inane exchange (quite like many that take place here on DU) does not make the platform useless.

What is happening at the Twitter's of the internet represents the threshold of an entirely new form of communications. It is easy to be misled in believing that nothing good is happening because of it. As a business consultant I can see incredible applications for Twitter.

These platforms like Twitter and Facebook are sandboxes. Those among us who see the window of opportunity will deliver solutions that will solve problems, others will ignore it.

[omega minimo]

53. Enlighten us, please

"As a business consultant I can see incredible applications for Twitter.
".... window of opportunity will deliver solutions that will solve problems...."

:popcorn:

I'd like to know more and I'll admit, I'm poking fun at it b/c I predicted back when cell phones first came out that folks would be walking around talking about what's for dinner..... Am I right?!!! I didn't know they'd be IN THE STORES asking home base for help in what item to buy!!!!

One warning sign in all this, however people use it, is the assumption that "everyone" has to be wired in all the time, every moment..................

[burythehatchet]

67. its all in how one looks at it. You state:

"I predicted back when cell phones first came out that folks would be walking around talking about what's for dinner..... Am I right?!!!"

You choose to dismiss a technology because you see examples of how it is used in furtherance of nothing important. Others might choose to view cellphones as having become an indispensable part of their businesses, and indeed their lives. Where would transportation companies, delivery services, emergency service providers, and many other functions operate without cellphones today?

So again, it comes down to how we choose to view things.

As to your tongue-in-cheek request to enlighten you, that's not my desire. I will tell you that I am currently managing the development of new applications for social networking sites that will revolutionize the way families deal with an individual family members who suffers from chronic disease.

[Posteritatis]

72. You're piqued my curiosity there

What sort of applications? That sounds pretty neat.

[burythehatchet]

78. You can check out

the FB developers page if you are curious to learn more.
http://developers.facebook.com/
or here is an example of another developer's projects
http://healthcare.webficient.com/

As for my projects, I am not free to discuss details.

[omega minimo]

84. What an effin copout

:thumbsdown:

I didn't "state" I said, "I'll admit" and told an anecdote that is true, HUMOROUS and hoped that it would lighten up the post to indicate my request was genuine and not a challenge.

You chose to stay stuffy and pretend you'd caught me in some attitude I hadn't already acknowledged.

:evilfrown:

Your point is well taken except it's TOTALLY misplaced and misdirected. AND YOU AVOIDED BACKING UP YOUR OWN CLAIMS, which as a professional, would have been of interest and constructive to this discussion and the awareness of curious DUers who you would rather put down.

:thumbsdown:

I don't need your lecture and if you can back up your claims from the previous post I enquired about, you would be enlightening us. Now, it doesn't appear that you can.

[burythehatchet]

87. ok

[NeedleCast]

95. If you've read the thread, there have been many attempts to enlighten you

Many politicians, including Obama, used it during their campaigns to let people know where they were speaking or going to be.

The group I volunteered with during the presidential campaign used it to communicate quickly on the fly. It helped us stay coordinated and maximize our efforts.

You keep acting like there's no practical application for this technology...like it's nothing but a bunch of people gabbing about what's for dinner. The difference between Twitter and the DU Lounge is right around zero. Heck, look at the example you give about cell phones. What's wrong with calling home to find out what the family might want for dinner or that the spouse needs you to pick up a jug of milk? What's wrong with making a phone call to a buddy to pass some time at the airport?

Yeah, your predictions are truly astounding. You predicted that people would use cell phones to make phone calls and that some of those phone calls might be about trivial things. Because back when we only had land-lines, no one ever called anyone to see what they were having for dinner...

[omega minimo]

99. Maybe you can use it to be unnecessarily hostile and misinterpret others' comments

If YOU read the thread you'd see I already explained the intention of that story. Yet you ALSO use it to attack me and my interest. And for the record, when you're out in public and folks are on the phone, MOST phone calls are about trivial things, trivial people thinking they have to be wired and connected every minute of the day.

Yes, the technology can be used purposefully. Thank you for missing the point and being an example of the problems thoughtless text communication causes.

Here's what Twitter says about Twitter.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5145278

[AndrewP]

107. I got the point of your previous post, but I guess tonight is lecture night.

AS I BELIEVE YOU STATED, of course these technological advances can be used for good. They can often also be used for the absolute mundane and can lend to a tendency for people to feel the need to be connected 24/7/365.

It's not evil to view something with interest, but also with a weary eye.

But, maybe since I stated something of a moderate view of being interested but not obsessed, I'm no longer worthy of living because I don't want to know how my friend Jeremiah latest bathroom trip went?

[NashVegas]

109. Yes. That's About The Time When We Realize We're Hampsters On a Wheel and Have Been All Along

And say, "enough."

[NYC Liberal]

55. The ultimate dumbing down of America -- Photography (Real artists paint.)

The ultimate dumbing down of America -- The Telephone (Kids won't know how to write anymore! They'll have terrible penmenship!)

The ultimate dumbing down of America -- Radio (Go to the opera, radio is destroying real music.)

The ultimate dumbing down of America -- Movies (Go to a play! The movies are destroying the art of theater.)

The ultimate dumbing down of America -- Television (Destroying theater just like movies!)

The ultimate dumbing down of America -- Rock Music (Kids won't appreciate 'real' music, i.e., classical music.)

Etc.

[Posteritatis]

59. And let's not forget those damned roads and highways...

Letting the common people move to and fro as they choose. Unthinkable! Worst thing to happen since the telegraph and printing press!

[NYC Liberal]

62. Oh yes - forgot about those!

The printing press, those peasants shouldn't be reading, they should be working!

[Cetacea]

61. The real dumbing down of America:Clear Channel n/t

[Posteritatis]

63. Okay, that one I'll sort of buy

That's definitely a matter of content and not medium, though.

[Cetacea]

65. True. Worthy of it's own thread. n/t

[NashVegas]

108. Actually, I Agree About the Television and Rock Music Parts

Rock's a lot of fun, but it's also incredibly limited and rigid in its structures and textures.

Its adherents are openly encouraged to be the most narrow-minded group of people ever seen on the planet, and are repeatedly rewarded for doing so by having advertisers and marketers continually validate their music culture as the only legitimate, and integrity-filled one going.

Right now, rock is the deadest its been in 60 years, and other forms of popular music are flourishing and finding audiences. I'm thrilled and can only hope we don't have another Nirvana come along and flog the rotting corpse, again.

TV - Wife swap? I rest my case.

[NYC Liberal]

111. Your case against TV, an entire medium, is one show, Wife Swap?

"The theater - Mamma Mia? I rest my case." (Or whatever play you want to put in there.)

And against rock ... tenuous at best. How about some examples? Or how about showing why the entire genre represents a "dumbing down" of this country?

[NashVegas]

112. You'll Have to Wait For My Book

Working title: "What You Like Sucks." The premise is that over-marketing to 17-34 YO white, homophobic white males strangles pop culture.

:hi:

[Cetacea]

57. The Army taakes Twiiter seriously.

I'm not a user but I do remember some time last year the army had a memo going down about Twitter being a possible treat against democracy or somtin like dat. They specifically referred to vegetarians and peace activists amd instant mobilization of like stuff.

Maddow referenced it on her show at the time and I was miffed that she wasn't outraged by it. "We need to be good when we use technology" or sumtin like dat.

[B o d i]

73. A man much wiser than me once said "The medium is the message"

Something to think about.

[Posteritatis]

76. Now maybe if folks quoting McLuhan had *read* McLuhan.. (nt)

[B o d i]

96. I bet you copy-pasted that from somewhere

[NashVegas]

75. Haha. I Was Over Twitter Before You Were Over Twitter

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=5005751

[chollybocker]

83. It's the modern version of a circle jerk.

3-year fad, max.

[NeedleCast]

92. They said the same thing about rock music...

[NYCGirl]

93. That web stuff will NEVER LAST.

:eyes:

[NeedleCast]

94. I can't imagine a future when anyone will need more than 64k of Memory

-Bill Gates

[Occam Bandage]

101. Things I don't understand are dumb!

[Cyrano]

102. So are many things I do understand

[Occam Bandage]

103. Perhaps. Maybe you should make a thread about one of those things!

[Vinca]

104. Thanks for saying what I've been thinking, Cyrano. nt

[Baikonour]

113. Why there this much luddite outrage here when Youtube was created?

I gotta know.

[sfpcjock]

119. Give it a chance. Looks to me like personal horoscope...

or personal newspaper. Mine brings me tech news of the net from diverse sources like Don Lemon, Anderson Cooper, Rick Sanchez, Leo Laporte and the young turks like Jimmy Fallon, John Mayer, Martin Sargent and Kevin Rose.

You could do it on Facebook or Myspace, but this is faster.