Comments on: Twitter is not micro-blogging http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/01/23/twitter-is-not-microblogging/ The blog of John D. Cook Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:02:57 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jürgen Fenn http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/01/23/twitter-is-not-microblogging/comment-page-1/#comment-12370 Jürgen Fenn Sat, 24 Jan 2009 12:37:25 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=1342#comment-12370 There are two more point I would like to mention. First, Twitter is a bit of everything. It has been compared with IRC and IM, but it also has features that are more like good old usenet newsgroups because there are archives on the web retaining all tweets ever made, even those you have cancelled. There are also some elements of simple email in Twitter because you can send direct messages -- but only to those following your tweets, not to everyone out there. But then, as opposed to the old web 1.0 channels, Twitter is very much a place marketing pros want to take over: there's a lot of activity there from their part already. Other providers such as Ideti.ca, e.g., are less prone to become just another public relations channel for purely commercial and political purposes. With the federeral elections in Germany due this fall, political parties have studied Barack Obama's campaign on Twitter which they now try to copy. It's a cheap and effective way to communicate with your followers. Finally, Micro-blogging Conference in Hamburg is held since yesterday till 1700 UTC today. You can follow livestream at http://www.mbc09.de/ Some discussions and talks held there are in German, some are in English. There are two more point I would like to mention. First, Twitter is a bit of everything. It has been compared with IRC and IM, but it also has features that are more like good old usenet newsgroups because there are archives on the web retaining all tweets ever made, even those you have cancelled. There are also some elements of simple email in Twitter because you can send direct messages — but only to those following your tweets, not to everyone out there.

But then, as opposed to the old web 1.0 channels, Twitter is very much a place marketing pros want to take over: there’s a lot of activity there from their part already. Other providers such as Ideti.ca, e.g., are less prone to become just another public relations channel for purely commercial and political purposes. With the federeral elections in Germany due this fall, political parties have studied Barack Obama’s campaign on Twitter which they now try to copy. It’s a cheap and effective way to communicate with your followers.

Finally, Micro-blogging Conference in Hamburg is held since yesterday till 1700 UTC today. You can follow livestream at http://www.mbc09.de/ Some discussions and talks held there are in German, some are in English.

]]> By: Jason Dyer http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/01/23/twitter-is-not-microblogging/comment-page-1/#comment-12361 Jason Dyer Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:59:31 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=1342#comment-12361 I cannot get the hang of Twitter. I have too much need for elucidations. (Of course, the above would have made an excellent tweet.) I cannot get the hang of Twitter. I have too much need for elucidations.

(Of course, the above would have made an excellent tweet.)

]]> By: JD Stone http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/01/23/twitter-is-not-microblogging/comment-page-1/#comment-12355 JD Stone Sat, 24 Jan 2009 01:05:08 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=1342#comment-12355 Good points. It's like a chat room or collective IM where members are blocked by default (you have to follow or be followed) instead of visible by default. And where the "rooms" aren't separate circles where everyone is in or out, but overlapping where each of us has our own circle which can partially overlap or not overlap other "room" circles. Ok fine. Twitter isn't micro-blogging. But then what is? Good points. It’s like a chat room or collective IM where members are blocked by default (you have to follow or be followed) instead of visible by default. And where the “rooms” aren’t separate circles where everyone is in or out, but overlapping where each of us has our own circle which can partially overlap or not overlap other “room” circles.

Ok fine. Twitter isn’t micro-blogging. But then what is?

]]> By: Jürgen Fenn http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/01/23/twitter-is-not-microblogging/comment-page-1/#comment-12354 Jürgen Fenn Sat, 24 Jan 2009 01:00:19 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=1342#comment-12354 John, thanks for your thoughts about Twitter. As you already know, we have both been on Twitter for a while, albeit a short while for me. I try to keep a sort of micro-blog about the topic of my blog at <a href="http://twitter.com/juergenfenn" rel="nofollow">my Twitter account</a> (blog and Twitter in German only) which is really designed as a small blog I use for notes between entries to my blog. I think micro-blogging is just in its very beginning, people are playing around with the possibilities it poses. BTW, there is still one more kind of twittering you didn't mention, viz. RSS feeds of newspapers or companies relayed to Twitter. Twitter's much smaller counterpart Identi.ca offers the opportunity to create groups on a topic to discuss. Of course ;-) I could not resist to found a group on TeX and Friends which you can find at http://identi.ca/group/texandfriends . I'm interested in which direction these new services will develop to. I think the public timeline in Identi.ca is sometimes rather interesting. I follow it in twhirl. BTW, I received a hint to this blog entry ... via Twitter. ;-) Best, Jürgen. John, thanks for your thoughts about Twitter. As you already know, we have both been on Twitter for a while, albeit a short while for me. I try to keep a sort of micro-blog about the topic of my blog at my Twitter account (blog and Twitter in German only) which is really designed as a small blog I use for notes between entries to my blog.

I think micro-blogging is just in its very beginning, people are playing around with the possibilities it poses.

BTW, there is still one more kind of twittering you didn’t mention, viz. RSS feeds of newspapers or companies relayed to Twitter.

Twitter’s much smaller counterpart Identi.ca offers the opportunity to create groups on a topic to discuss. Of course ;-) I could not resist to found a group on TeX and Friends which you can find at http://identi.ca/group/texandfriends . I’m interested in which direction these new services will develop to.

I think the public timeline in Identi.ca is sometimes rather interesting. I follow it in twhirl.

BTW, I received a hint to this blog entry … via Twitter. ;-)

Best, Jürgen.

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