Twitter for dummies

Let it be said I’m a bit of an Internet slut. I’ll try anything once. But most of the stuff on the Net is either too complicated, completely pointless, a waste of time or it has a small willy. And my time is too precious to waste on any of the above. There are however, some things that captivate me and keep me interested long enough to keep coming back for more. Blogging is clearly one of them. Thousands of blogs are started every day but many die out after a while. I’ve been blogging almost daily for the last four years. Clearly blogs and blogging works for me.

Facebook is another thing I’ve taken a shine too. I am not as addicted as I was in the beginning, but I still love Facebook for its amazing ability to connect me to people I haven’t seen in years and years. It is social networking at its best. (PS If you want to add me as a Facebook friend, you are welcome to do so, but please let me know who you are.)

I love Flickr, and I love LinkedIn. MySpace I’ve never really got but perhaps that is because I am Very Old.

My latest ‘thing’ is Twitter. Twitter has been around for ages but I’ve only recently ‘got’ Twitter. What is Twitter, you ask? Twitter is micro-blogging, which is a bit like a combination between Facebook and blogging, combined into an RSS / feeder type thingy. Basically, you sign up for Twitter (VERY easy), and then you post updates (like mini blog entries) whenever the mood grabs you.  People follow your Twitter stream and you can follow the Twitter stream of people you like. Or don’t like. There is apparently certain etiquette about following someone who is following you, but because people sign up with all sorts of pseudonyms, I have no idea who they are. You can set your updates to private if you are paranoid about that type of thing, but if you are, then you probably shouldn’t sign up for Twitter. 

So basically, Twitter allows you can keep up with the lives of all the people who interest you in one single page.

Now, it sounds very boring, which is what I thought in the beginning. Why on earth would I want to follow the updates of someone’s boring life? And yes, why on earth would you, but Twitter is a lot like blogging: there are some bloody awful, boring blogs out there just as there are some pretty boring Twits / Twitters (still trying to work out the lingo) around. I’d advise against following the boring Twits. But some people are really funny in their updates and it is a great way to keep up with where people are at in a single page. 

The thing I love about Twitter is that it gives me a single snapshot in to this diverse world of people who interest me, fellow mommy bloggers, geeks, famous people, not so famous people, all updated in one single page. Love it.

Sign up for Twitter here. You can follow my stream here. For more on info on Twitter, refer to this excellent article.

Happy Twittering!

Comments

[Rainboww]

i'm not complicated, and while it has been said that i am a pointless waste of time, i've **never**ever**ever** been accused of having a small willy.

just so you know.

[Jillian]

Hi Tertia --

I'm exactly where you are with the social media. Loving blogging, well warmed up to Facebook and dipping my toe into Twitter. I've just been following your blog for about a month. In my most recent career incarnation I hired and managed bloggers. Now that I've moved on I'm still struggling to figure out how my personal stuff fits in (or doesn't) with what I do professionally.

I did add you to my friends list on Facebook, but it didn't give me the opportunity to attach a note. If you can connect this comment to the request, then "Hi!" If you can't then my feelings won't be hurt if you don't confirm me.

[Stephanie in Puerto Rico]

I recently started following you on Twitter (gosh, that sounds sort of stalkery, doesn't it). Anyway, I'm izaguirres over there - I'm probably one of the boring ones since I'm still getting the hang of it.

I sent some money for Harrison and won a raffle basket so I feel like I know you a bit even though I rarely comment. It comes with having a 3 year old and a three month old - lots of time ti read but never time to type.

[Steve Crane]

See twictionary for a small start on cataloging the language of Twitter.

[kirstyphysio]

I haven't bitten the twitter hook yet - but am in the "totally addicted to FB stage" and have just started my own blog! Go and have a look - but I REALLY hope you don't categorise me into the "bloody awful boring blogs" I'm just a beginner, and my main motivation for starting is so that friends and family can keep in touch with us as we move continents! Go and have a look if you have a free nano second! (It will stop idle hands reaching for forbidden food for at least 2 minutes!!) Once I get bored of checking my blog stats every 2 seconds, I might find time to check out how twitter works!

[Jenty]

I enjoy Twitter, I only signed up a few weeks ago but I'm already hooked!
As for FB, I'm not addicted to it at all anymore.

[robyn]

tertia
it is always so much fun to catch up on your blog!
girfriend you should be a standup comedian!!
love

[Donna W]

I hate Twitter. I don't understand Facebook.

[Glen]

Hi Tertia,

For those who don't understand what Twitter is, here is a brilliant video where they describe Twitter in plain english. I heard that this has made many non tech savvy people understand it well.

http://www.commoncraft.com/Twitter

They have other vidoes like Podcasting in plain english, blogging in plain english, etc.

Brilliant resource to use to help explain all these call social media stuff to your grandparents.

[Stef]

wow... all that stuff... and you work too... and you have kids... and a husband???? serious??!!! wow...

ok just to let you know that i have you on twitter, how that happened i have no idea... :)

[Tibi Puiu]

Hello Tertia,

Thanks a ton for linking and referring some of your readers towards my blog. It's nice to hear that your experimenting a lot with new services. Anyone that slightly uses the internet should be up to date with everything revolving around him and trying out anything new, that look interesting, on the web is always a neat idea. Love,

-Tibi

[Dani]

I am now a twitterer thanks to you. Like I need another damn thing to keep me in front of the computer! My divorce will be all... your... fault. ;)

I'm following you... look for dani3boyz.

[Hanlie]

I've only been on Twitter for a few days, but love it!

[Small World]

Interesting article....

http://www.forbes.com/home/2008/05/02/social-networks-vip-tech-personal-cx_nr_0502style.html

If you want to join ASW and add to your list - let me know...

[Boulder]

Some quick tips for new twitter people - once you sign up, you can use the search box to find people, or you can simply add a known user name to the www.twitter.com (so, Tertia would be www.twitter.com/tertia).

When you are on her site, you can see who she is "following" by clicking on the link in the right column, and then if you see a name that is interesting you can "follow" them as well. You can also see who is a "follower" of Tertia's by clicking that link.

Love twitter! (www.twitter.com/bboulderr)

[Muse]

Damn, I never thought reading your blog would not only help me as I begin (Gasp, I am admitting it...shut up, shut up before people realize that you are the not-so-proud owner of a 'lying bitch of a uterus!') my road down infertility, give me a good laugh and teach me how to be a cool person on the internetz! You rock Tertia :) Gotta go check it out...

[Chic Shopper Chick]

I am a new twitter, a twit -- whatever -- now too, and I really like it. And I used to be totally addicted to facebook, but now notsomuch. I still like it though, just have turned my current obsessions to twitter!

[PaulaS]

Right now I just don't get it but I'm going to print out your article and go home tonight after work and start playing with it. Thanks for the info