<p>Could someone explain this to me? Am I missing out on something essential, entertaining, relevant, etc by not being part of it? I am already on Facebook and Instagram, both of which i participate in daily. I see some interesting re-tweets (I think that’s what they’re called) on FB, but I’m loathe to spend more of my days reading other people’s random thoughts. Is it worth it?</p>
<p>It’s certainly over my head. I just don’t get it either.</p>
<p>It seems handy in the case of revolution in the streets ;)</p>
<p>It’s like digital karaoke for some - their time in the spotlight, or at least their perception of being in the spotlight, kind of like posting everything about oneself on Facebook - hanging it all out there. </p>
<p>On a practical level, it’s a way to get quick messages out to a potentially large group of interested parties. Twitter is quicker to ‘get the word out’ than FB, emails, phone calls since it’s really just a text message that gets sent to a large number of recipients.</p>
<p>I’m new to twitter. During the debates it was so much fun to read tweets live time.
Right now I’m following our local meteorologist. Updates about frankenstorm, notice my screen name and you’ll know why I’m concerned.</p>
<p>I’m a Twitter fan.</p>
<p>It allows me to follow people that I would not be friends with on Facebook and still have a chance to “hear” their thoughts. </p>
<p>I follow many people/organizations that are related to my work and have found MANY resources, ideas, research findings, etc. - all in a quick read, and often with links to find out full info.</p>
<p>Gives me a glimpse into the lives of some of my favorite celebrities - I don’t watch any of the entertainment news shows so I like this again, QUICK, glance into what’s up with them (some of their photos are hilarious).</p>
<p>I don’t watch the news on a regular basis, but Twitter allows me to follow a couple of National news sources and local news sources to keep updated in a flash about important breaking news.</p>
<p>Don’t follow my kids on FB, but we follow each other on Twitter and it gives me insight to little bits of their day - often humorous. </p>
<p>That’s the tip of the iceberg for me. It’s a quick, easy read update!!!</p>
<p>I use it to follow the designer brands that announce their sales on twitter, as well as some journalists who post about stories I have an interest in. I do not follow friends, nor do they follow me, probably because I registered under a fictitious name.</p>
<p>My daughter followed it during the debates to see what people were saying. I’m not clear on how to do that, but I think that would be fun.</p>
<p>I’m on Twitter but haven’t quite figured it out. When you “follow” someone, do you have to get on to Twitter to see what’s been tweeted? I occasionally get some sort of digest of recent tweets, but not on a regular basis. Is there any sort of notification like there is with Facebook?</p>
<p>You can get email notifications but that could get crazy. Just log in once or twice a day (or more often!) and scroll down your feed - unless you are following hundreds of people it won’t probably take that long! </p>
<p>I have a family member who tweets the debates as part of his job (he’s a journalist) - it’s been great fun - like having him sitting in the living room with me and making all his usual wisecrack comments!</p>
<p>Twitter is pretty useful for following sports results from games that you can’t attend. Usually there is a league “hashtag” that you can log into on your computer and get various reports from “citizen reporters” who are attending the games. They usually look something like #wpialfb, and will have a stream that says something like:</p>
<p>2nd qtr MtL up 21-14. NA has ball on MtL 4.
4th qtr CC down by 7. 3:30 left. </p>
<p>etc.</p>
<p>This dispersed reporting ability from handheld devices is what makes it potentially useful during civil unrest. Its kind of like a mini-broadcast station.</p>
<p>Some places have hashtags that the kids have set up to alert themselves to the presence of police. </p>
<p>As far as the “intermittent dribble of consciousness” use that most seem to employ it for, I agree that that part is inane.</p>
<p>I am a huge Twitter fan and use it all day long. I get local news updates, a lot of sports stuff and am really plugged in to my areas of interest as a result of Twitter. I follow (and am followed by) my favorite college basketball players and it’s been a neat and meaningful community for me. Some people are extemely clever on Twitter. You need to know how to use it. It is NOT for announcing that you have just taken a shower or are stopping to get coffee. If you stick with it, you will figure out who you need to follow and who you don’t!</p>
<p>^^ YES! </p>
<p>Think about what/who is meaningful or has a part in your everyday life - at home or at work. If you are just starting out, just pick a few people to start following. </p>
<p>Examples:
a magazine you like to read regularly</p>
<p>your local news station or paper</p>
<p>a national news source </p>
<p>Hobby websites - etsy, cooking, etc. If they have a website, they probably have a Twitter account</p>
<p>Your favorite celebrity (watching DWTS? Follow your favorite celeb that is dancing)</p>
<p>Causes that are important to you. A local or national non-profit that you support.</p>
<p>Sports teams</p>
<p>Your child’s college or your alma mater.</p>
<p>Your local library</p>
<p>Favorite online stores - they often announce one day specials - free shipping, % off, etc.</p>
<p>What’s your occupation? Well respected advocates, professionals in your field? Follow them for inspiration, motivation, ideas.</p>
<p>As with anything though - your best use is if you USE IT REGULARLY. Peeking in once a week won’t keep you on tabs and in the groove with it. But you also don’t need to check hourly. You can, but not necessary! :)</p>
<p>I don’t use Twitter, MySpace, FaceBook, LinkedIn, or Google +. I don’t get them either.</p>
<p>I can’t really figure twitter out either. For instance, although it is too late now, how does one follow the debates on twitter? abasket – can I follow your family member? How does one contribute to conversations on twitter? Is there a Twitter for Dummies out there?</p>
<p>Twitter can be useful for getting the latest most up to date news, I don’t like the idea of using it to measure public opinion because that invites manipulation; whoever sends out the most tweets #soandsoisajerk wins. I don’t like to see cable “news” shows scrolling examples of tweets at the bottom of their screen. Tweets are too often random anonymous comments and don’t deserve to be rebroadcast on TV.</p>
<p>I’m a big fan of twitter. I’m registered and follow organizations/people, but I have never tweeted which makes me an official twitter lurker. 
I’m totally okay with that and prefer it. I follow many organizations affiliated with my kids schools, news organizations, a couple of college admissions reps, etc. It’s great to get information in real time when the news organizations haven’t officially put out a story yet. When there was a shooting at a state university last year I was able to get information much quicker on twitter. I’ve become very adept at following football games that aren’t televised, or when I’m out, as people tweet updates. I’ve followed most Apple releases live via an organization that live tweets from the event. My hs2014 son actually had a teacher that tweeted hw and test reminders last year. That was pretty darn awesome!</p>
<p>Under a persons tweet (in their box area) point your mouse and you can “retweet” (their tweet goes out to your followers, “reply” (commenting or replying to the tweeter) or “favorite” - which I don’t really keep track of. </p>
<p>Also if you click within the box of the tweeter the box will expand and you can see any replies, retweets, conversation, etc. </p>
<p>When you see a “hashtag” within a tweet (like #collegeconfidential or #debate) you can click on the hashtag and see all the current tweets about that topic . #sandy, for the tropical storm is a popular one right now.</p>
<p>If you have a favorite columnist from any media source look for them on Twitter. </p>
<p>Another tip for more popular people. Look at their main page for their account and look for a little blue checkmark next to their name - that means this is their “verified account” - it is actually them! Celebrities will often have someone posing to be them or starting an account with their name in it.</p>
<p>I did use it to follow the debates, but that’s about it. I don’t have a smart phone, so it isn’t like mass text messages for me. I know I should try to get more adept, but, meh.</p>
<p>I follow a couple of organizations that I find entertaining like my alma mater or news organizations. I log on once or twice a day and keep up. I do not follow any celebreties. I really don’t care what they have to say. But my kids and nieces and nephews get sent to my phone so that I instantly see what they have to say. It’s also entertaining when they are tweeting each other so that I can follow a conversation between my son in Ann Arbor and his cousin in California. That I love.</p>
<p>I follow a couple people on twitter because they are freaking hilarious.
But I have also dropped a couple because they post so much, Apolo Ohno, I am talking to you!</p>