A couple of hours before my session at Innovate, I posted this question:
Why is Twitter or Facebook worth YOUR time?
Just a few of the responses I received instantly via Facebook and Twitter, mind you.
- Kylie Brown it's great a social networking tool...people who say it is a waste of time are those who don't get the full potential of the application! boo on them...hehe.
- Doug Weatherly "The only time not wasted is wasted time." --Ben Franklin
- Laura Gekeler Twitter and Facebook are mindless and usually fruitless. (Like if I had to make a summary statement of what I gained each time, mostly I couldn't come up with anything). I come to Facebook and Twitter to escape my reality... to play. Sometimes it's refreshing like play is supposed to be, but sometimes it's not even that, just a time waster. Come on, Kem... you now have the foil you need to fully articulate your position. (I, of course, missed the social networking session...).
- Michael Rentfrow I really only do the Facebook thing because I have it on my blackberry.... In general I get more work done if I ignore my blackberry
- Daniel Decker FB: I’ve been on FB for about a year now. Love it. It’s worth my time because 1) it doesn’t require a lot of time 2) it’s visual in that I can see photo uploads from friends and family, they can see mine, we can tag each other with makes it like a mini conversation and fun to see who others hang with 3) love the status updates as it is a peak into what others are up to which makes it fun to comment on and create a mini ongoing conversation 4) FB is not complicated so it’s easy for my grandma to use 5) it enabled me to meet people online that I have then been able to meet offline who are friends or friends, etc – creates a near social ring
- Twitter: Only been Tweetin’ for a month or so now, if that long. So far I like it. Like FB status updates on steroids. The harder thing for me is that many of my friends and close contacts are not on Twitter so I am learning how to connect with other liked minded people who aren’t necessary in my close earshot. The benefit for me I can see is long-term, developing new friendships and see what others I admire are up to.
- MissyLG I would not have been able to follow awesome videos from my friend at Innovate w/out twitter. def not a waste of my time.
- shepgolfer not a waste at all. Connections and sphere have grown through both of them. And the icing is I have met some cool people..
- tiffanibarnes @lensweet calls twitter the old village green where you met others in the community on a daily basis. It keeps me connected. facebook however is a waste of my time, but I maintain an account for "street cred" I suppose.
- GrantFerguson not one clever church promotion to help me invite my unchurched friends has been more effective as facebook or twitter.
- mandyconforth I met you through twitter. Folks who say it's waste of time are out of touch
- CareyComments I totally agree it can be a waste of time for most circumstances, but when I need to contact someone or have a forum for a question, they can be great!
- melisajohnson FB & twitter have helped me make personal connections w/people I respect
- welshmnky We use Twitter at ND to communicate with all IT when something big happens
- todderickson Waste of time? Yes and No....I mean just how much time can you waste with under 140 characters.
- cavettbinion In social net, art imitates life, can recapitulate ☺2☺ interaction. FB+Twitter can drive meetups, & explore new relationships.
- JeannaMiller Twitter is how I stay connected to our team :)
- bgsand Waste of time? No and CRAP NO. not a waste of time. I work at home - get feedback, help and quick answers to questions and valuable contacts.
- winnjr it equals connections - eliminates small talk and on many levels lets me get to the heart of where someone is at.
- ebuford I really don't get Facebook.... but I love connecting with my friends with Twitter
- sslolley twitter is a quick, fun and efficient way to connect -- and ingenious form of info sharing and facebook adds personal whimsy but still a connection point foremost
- cnygren Twitter has bridged new relationships and made accessible experts not available before.
- dszp how ever would I read about my friends in other states talking like pirates today without Twitter? :-) I guess in CITRT chat?
- batwood resources, links, ideas. Free stuff. : ) Twitter = saver of time because 140 characters forces condensed ideas. saver of time. 140 chars forces concise thought. I think of it as 21st cent. Haiku.
- GodsMac I say it all depends on the community you are in or are leading.
- artsymom31 being approachable...never a waste of time.
- jasoneilbedell facebook- possibly unless it's a group/org page for community, twitter- nope, it seems to hit an immediate community vein for ppl
- kjellnygren it connects me with people who I don't know but want to learn from.
- jeremyscheller Waste of time? 1700 updates later: Totally agree. I'm out.
- joshuawhite I've made business deals from both.
- kerner not sure if you follow @twiturgy but I think it's great. Might be something to mention in your session today.
What a most excellent, practical illustration of how we have moved past the industrial age through the information age to the interconnected age.
It should count as 'cool' that I know how to read Twitter-ings if I want to! I'm a minority on this one...point taken.
Posted by: Kathy Guy | Sep 30, 2008 at 08:11 AM
My wife sent me a tweet this evening that dinner was ready. Tell me that THAT is not impressive!
Twitter rulez! :-)
Posted by: Jason Powell | Sep 29, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Wow. I win for longest response. :)
Posted by: Daniel Decker | Sep 29, 2008 at 04:47 PM