Twitter me

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:10 pm

Okay,

This twitter thing is so hyped and way to fashionable for Rock and Roll, isn't it?

Like, are we not busy enough or what? I just don't get it. The name is enough to put me off ( you dumb twit). Maybe I'm getting old or something. I'm seeing Jules from GS on this now. I think... he has a forum, I have a forum.. I have to see this. I go to his twiiter page and shake my head. To get more twitters to twit you. We have our forums, what more do you want? Its sad seeing this image.

Please share what this is really all about, and how it is actually a benefit in the Pro Audio World, or enhancing a place like recording.org. This has got to be the worst commercial quagmire plot of the century.

No disrespect to the youth or the innocent, but... right now it looks too much like grade 10 and serious business doing it to us from behind.

Please enlighten me. I'm at a stand still at 51 wondering, where the world is headed when we're supposed to be recording Rock and Roll for real. Its becoming an embarrassment to be human.

RO is moving to a new Portal system this year. It will have a Twitter option.
Does twitter make it better?
Should I get a friken Twitter account too ? Are you going to twitter soft or hard at it?

Someone write a song and make this go away. Shocked

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 10:07 pm

As a sub-20 Twitter user - I wonder the same sometimes.

I use Twitter as a cross between cut-down emails and RSS but I don't get into the whole "doing X" "doing Y" thing.

As a message thing - you can pay attention to it - or not. Just let it slip past you. If people really want to talk to you they can use Direct Messages and you can check those apart from the whole twitter feed.

FWIW I found a massive improvement in my use of the site when I started using Twhirl, the desktop client. Gets updates as they're posted instead of checking it once a day.
I guess it's to do with the shift from connect-when-needed (somewhat like Dialup) to always-connected (like broadband).

Also, it's FANTASTIC at finding out information as it happens. The power went out in 30% of Scotland about a month ago, and as soon as it was back on where I live I visited search.twitter.com and found a number of people posting about it. I was even able to instantly connect to them.

It's relevance to RO, well - I've sometimes toyed with the idea of real-time chat.
Twitter is easily accessible via laptops, iPhones etc. and while it won't replace the whole bulletin board format, a form of chat (I'm thinking an IRC Channel) could improve the site.

The only direct benefit I can see RO getting from Twitter is including a stream of results related to Audio Events (there's a site that lets you do this).

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 10:18 pm

Interesting, thanks for sharing that.

We used to have an IRC channel, and a chat. Both didn't seem like a good direction because nothing is archived. There were some security issues with the chats and other problems with server load.
The forum however is here for a reference and to help for years to come.

Seeing a pic of Jules in a GS T-shirt on a Twitter site ( like an ad) killed me tonight.

It just seems like we are becoming less with all the technologies.

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 1:09 pm

Well I spend most of my time online connected to (dropping in and out of) an IRC channel for a gaming clan and so IRC to me is a good thing.

A chat plugin would indeed become heavy on the server load but IRC in itself runs on other servers.
I agree though, it's good from a social standpoint but IRC would result in a stream of people dropping in, asking questions repeatedly over the course of 30 seconds and leaving.

Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:20 pm

I feel that Twitter best serves people/businesses/whatever that are constantly on the go.

On the main page where you submit updates (limited to 140 characters) it asks "What are you doing?" The idea being, you can let your 'followers' know what's going on in your life/business/whatever right now.

It is totally unlike a blog, myspace, facebook or a forum. There is no real exchange with Twitter, although you can send direct messages or responses, but to me, that doesn't seem like what it's designed for.

I see it as being an app where one can post a brief blub about what's happening to them right at that moment.

For example, if a reporter were attending a conference like NAMM, as they are walking around the floor they may post blubs about the really cool booth that Korg has or the new microphone Shure is demoing.

Personally it can be used for status updates...like "This episode of Mythbusters Rox" or "I just got cut off on the highway and man am I pissed".

I dont know what the best use of twitter would be for a forum but if each forum had it's own twitter account, it would be a great way to follow new topics. When a new topic is created a Tweet about it could be posted that goes out to all the people subscribing. Sure, we can do that via email now, but some people think that the world is just too busy to deal with email.

I don't think it's a draw for a fourm like this or Gearslutz but maybe a cool plus to have for the engineer on the go.

Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:48 pm

pr0gr4m

Interesting. I understand it more now, thanks. Our new CMS coming this year will have a twitter feed. We have a twitter account "recording.org" I'll definitely post our giveaway there, and hope others will post it there as well. Would that help, and be search able in this? I don't believe I have ever found anything on google that point to a twitter account though, maybe nothing gets indexed from twitter. hmm.

This giveaway needs to be searchable via google.

What do you think.

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:17 pm

It will if you search for people. Twitter updates aren't indexed (they move too fast) but profiles are.

You could create a Twitter profile for the ROGiveaway ?

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:06 am

To me, twitter seems like nothing more than capitalization on a technology by-product by the communication corporations.

I breeds it's own fad-ish language that appears to continue to erode effective communication skills on a professional level, that goes well beyond the poorly taught communication skill set that is being foisted upon our youth by the public education systems.

It takes far longer to text someone than it does to pick up a phone, dial the number and leave a message. So, as far as a true communication tool, I see it as more of a hindrance than a proper tool.

Sure, it's new and its "cool"... but it's not a sustainable communication format that, hopefully sooner than later, will die off in the reasonably near future, when people get tired of it. Or at least once people start to get charged for the text bandwidth they use, it will get dropped like a pet rock.

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:04 pm

Probably the best way to describe it is Twitter is like your own personal AP service. You get subscribers (followers) and you post messages that your followers receive.

MadMax wrote:

...Sure, it's new and its "cool"... but it's not a sustainable communication format...
...It takes far longer to text someone than it does to pick up a phone, dial the number and leave a message. So, as far as a true communication tool, I see it as more of a hindrance than a proper tool.

That's not really what Twitter is for. It's not like instant messaging, texting, chat or email. It's less of a communication app and more of an information app.

I've only had a Twitter account for like a month so I don't know everything about it but I do find it interesting. For example, I follow Thomas Dolby who recently posted that he was looking for a good blues harmonica player in the UK for his new album. I don't live in the UK nor do I play blues harmonica, but if one of his followers does, they could get in touch with him or his people and get a try out. It was a window (more like a peep hole) into what is going on with his new album. Pretty cool I think.

I recently posted that I'm looking for a new camera. A few of my friends then emailed me with some helpful info.

It can be a useful app. Like I said in my original post, it could be a useful tool for a forum administrator if new threads/topic could be tweeted out to followers. Here's an interesting story that demonstrates how Twitter can be useful.

Sorry for the rambling...I need to convert this energy into actual work energy.

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:26 pm

MadMax wrote:

To me, twitter seems like nothing more than capitalization on a technology by-product by the communication corporations.

I breeds it's own fad-ish language that appears to continue to erode effective communication skills on a professional level, that goes well beyond the poorly taught communication skill set that is being foisted upon our youth by the public education systems.

It takes far longer to text someone than it does to pick up a phone, dial the number and leave a message. So, as far as a true communication tool, I see it as more of a hindrance than a proper tool.

Sure, it's new and its "cool"... but it's not a sustainable communication format that, hopefully sooner than later, will die off in the reasonably near future, when people get tired of it. Or at least once people start to get charged for the text bandwidth they use, it will get dropped like a pet rock.

Woah ho! Max is with me.
I fear for the future and only think about how brainwashed we are all becoming. What a total gong show, lol.
But, I think the Thomas Dolby thing is pretty cool, but couldn't that simply be posted in a forum or want ad?

Its all so weird and getting weirder. hmm, I think I'll get a twitter tatoo and really do myself in. Shocked

Thanks for the link. I think its more about, go where everyone is going. You will then be where the action is at.

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:46 pm

i think communication is becoming more like sound bites... physical letters killed by shorter, quicker emails, emails diminishing in the face of even shorter Facebook wall scribblings/banter, and now Twitter cuts out the two-way interaction with inane 'what are you doing/thinking/eating/scratching now?' updates, bandwidth filling with any stupid though that pops into someone's head...
and yeah, it reminds me of junior high, especially all these inane 'apps' in Facebook that people seem to waste their time with. no, i don't want your virtual beer, no, i don't want to hatch some stupid egg, no, i don't feel like 'saving' the rainforest by growing some stupid virtual grass...
now forward this posting to 10 people or you will die in three days without being kissed by the person you love...

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:35 am

All of you critics are right.
That's why all of my texts are written with the same attention to grammar, capitalization, and punctuation that my posts here are.

However.

Twitter serves a fine purpose that some others here have already spoken of. I like to think of it as an "instant update" service - for those who need to tell their (friends, fans, etc) what is happening on an hourly basis, and those who need to know what their friends, etc are doing on an hourly basis.
Kind of like a digital age newswire?
I don't tweet, but if I did, I'd still "speak" coherently.

+1 to BDM on the inane add-ons. I use these digital services to communicate and network, not waste time. Right?

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:58 am

MadMax wrote:

Sure, it's new and its "cool"... but it's not a sustainable communication format that, hopefully sooner than later, will die off in the reasonably near future, when people get tired of it. Or at least once people start to get charged for the text bandwidth they use, it will get dropped like a pet rock.

The sad part is Max, there is no bandwidth charge. I know that at least Verizon has the texts piggybacked on signal you already pay for (control channels for the network).

There is a class-action going on as we type actually, or something in the Senate (what a joke eh?), or someone somewhere trying to talk some sense into cell phone scammers.

Verizon is the worst, but the best service in my area. I would drop them in a second if I could.

But, speakin' as a youngster, I would much rather talk to someone, but no one else wants to talk to me Shocked

so my hand is kinda forced to texting someone if I really want to have them respond...

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 1:08 am

Live chat sounds like an atrocious idea for an online forum designed to give pro recording advice. Just who is going to stop the idiots from coming on and saying, "B$hringer is fantastic."? Sure, if there's a mod on then no biggie, but mods can't be on the chat feature 24/7, can they? And yes, I realize that people shouldn't believe everything they hear, but am I the only one who sees the potential for massive misinformation with a live chat feature? At least on forums the posts are there for all to see and a mod can come on and correct any misinformation. This is all assuming there wouldn't be some sort filter feature on the live chat. How about a "chat with a mod" feature, like those oh-so-helpful tech guys in India who don't answer your product questions while being inhumanly polite? Very Happy

Yes, this is a rant about the beginners who post about 10 times and then decide to start dishing out what they think is advice with the pros; this seems to be a bit of a problem with recording.org as of late, and I could only see this getting worse with a live chat feature. Rant over. Cool

And Twitter? I agree with bigree: I don't get it. Wink

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 1:55 am

Useful or not, I could never get past the asinine names 'twitter' and 'tweet'. Even talking about it feels like ordering from a restaurant menu that has those idiotic cutesy names for their entrees.

"I'll twitter you those financial reports Mr Johnson"

"General, our operatives have the launch codes and will tweet them ASAP"

I'll have the Moon Over My Hammy"

I share BDM's rather cynical view of where this is heading. It seems like just another fad that gives people (who apparently have entirely too much free time on their hands) a way to feel popular, and feel like anyone cares about what they're doing, or how they feel right this second... and this second.... and this second. Meanwhile, while they've got their noses pressed up against their computer screen, there's a world full of real people outside their door they can't communicate with, and will go out of their way to avoid interaction with. (pardon the preposition)

I just want a ham sandwich!

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