What is the point of Twitter?

I can see that some here feel differently, and clearly I'm missing something, but I still don't understand the point of it - or rather, I don't understand this need (particularly of the young) to be in constant communication with the rest of the world.

Where I work, (because of the nature of the work we do) all mobile phones are banned, we have special dinky little lockers to put our phones in, our bags are searched to ensure we haven't 'forgotten' about our phones and we are subject to spot checks to ensure we haven't got one stuffed in a pocket (or indeed, I suspect, anywhere else!), and there are only two computers in the whole building from which the internet can be accessed. To 'offset' this, we are allowed to make unlimited personal telephone calls but we are each issued with a unique code (which has to be entered before we can obtain an outside line) which is then logged and calls are recorded. It could be argued therefore, that for 8 hours or so a day none of us has the ability to be constant touch with the rest of the world. And yet ....

I've worked here for 22 years, I've never yet been unable to communicate with people I need to speak to (or indeed they with me), I've managed to make all the appointments and arrangements I needed when we moved house, I kept in contact with hospitals, doctors and carers when my elderly parents were alive, I've always been able to talk to schools when the girls were younger, I can ring the library to renew my books if I so wish, or I can ring the garage, the dentist, the vet or whoever.

I know by speaking to them most days, what our 3 daughters are each doing and, if I should ring when they're busy, I'll ring back or they'll ring me - same with other family members or friends.

And still there are people who feel that their human rights have somehow been infringed if they can't constantly be on the internet or have to remove their phone from their ears for 15 consecutive seconds. And as for 'twitter', surely there comes a point when you're so busy telling the world what you're doing that you no longer have time to do anything but tweet.

As I say, me no understand.

 

This "need" to be in constant contact has been encouraged to the extent that it's almost "brainwashing" by the mobile phone companies.
They wouldn't be able to sell so many if they hadn't created the demand.
Personally I think over 90% of mobile phone calls must be just unimportant "trivia." Some people plead poverty, but still have a mobile phone.

They are made to be "tactile." How many times do you see young people walking down a street with one just in their hand? In some respects they remind me of old fashioned petrol cigarette lighters, which had the same "tactile" feel.

 

I said to my husband the other day. Before, twitter, cell phones etc. How suddenly did ALL the thoughts/lives of everyone become so important they could not wait for traditional phones.
I understand medical stuff.

 

I happened upon this ad recently... (I've removed the name to protect the guilty)

The .... comes with a sturdy and solid covering along with comfortable keypad and easy to use interface, the phone tenders a CSTN display screen, loud speakerphone and torch light with around 40 hrs torch time. Furthermore, there is a mobile tracker, SOS messaging service and Fake Call functionality that makes you feel secured anywhere.

It has a 5 megapixel camera with face-detection autofocus, smile detection auto-panorama, LED flash and digital zoom. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]The camera can be used as a business card reader too. It also has an excellent video camera (with image stabilisation), and [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]the video playback capability includes Divx support. Of course it's a 3G phone with video calling too. The music player is very good and supports nearly all formats, and an FM radio is included too. Web browsing is also an enjoyable experience with fast HSDPA downloads, the large touchscreen, and advanced browser all working together to provide a good experience. It comes with GPS navigation built in. [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Available in a choice of 8 or 16 Gbytes, it also has a slot, enabling an additional 8 Gbytes to be added. This means that you can store a huge amount of music or video (around 8,000 songs or 23 DVD-quality films) and you can even store up to 120 Mbytes worth of text or MMS messages.'[/SIZE][/FONT]

What I haven't yet quoted, is the bit which says:

'The ..... is a compact phone ... meant to make your day to day life much easier.' :skp: very :skp:

Can you actually make 'phone calls on it though, I wonder?

 

Whats a cell phone redstar ?

 

Lol! Love that last comment - one wonders on occasions!

It all reminds me of the time when antipersirants were first brought onto the market. (not deodorants, note!). Before that, washing routines were usually a lick and a promise of the face night and morning and a bath once a week. So, like in the olden days, people ponged!

But then came the oil industry. I can't remember what they were primarily making but they ended up with barrels of this waste product. Some bright spark thought there must be a use for it and got his labs to work. Hey presto, they found it inhibited the function of the sweat glands so they made a nice little bottle with a ball on it and Mum Rolette was born! Their slogan was "Be nice to be near" and women fell for it in droves. Find a supermarket, chemist or other such shop that doesn't have shelves of deodorants and antiperspirants on display. It's a big market grown, not out of demand but out of a waste product.




Cell phone is what the Americans call a mobile phone, ziggy.
And what we called it originally, in the days when they were the size of house bricks! :hehe:

 

Just reading the functions made me dizzy.

About six years ago we upgraded our mobiles from "half bricks."
We bought the basic phone, no camera, the type that just about manages to send and receive text messages, though we've never used that facility. They cost £29 each.
After explaining the simple functions the salesman asked my wife if there was anything else she wanted to know.

"Yes, how do you turn it off?"

"Off?"

 

Martin, yes, that makes sense and I will have to look further into Twittering to see if it helps me.
Daisees, FB is a handy way of keeping in touch and I find it pretty useful in talking to my nieces who would not ever think of ringing but will chat on FB with me.
As for the games on FB, I set it all to blocked so no-one with any games ever interrupts me on there.
I am on other forums and often it gets to be very clicky (Martin knows the site I mean) and then you have to be very careful with what is written on that forum. They kind of have one rule for themselves and a different rule for the others.

One thing I can say on this site is that it has never made me feel awkward or 'not part of the team' and it has always always given answers to questions, not matter how trivial.:thumb:

I guess twitter, FB or any other kind of social media plus forums and chat groups all have their places in our lives these days.

 

I was trying to trace my ex the other day to deal with some ancient outstanding paperwork. Did a quick google and lo and behold! turned up his Twitter account and that of his new partner - wifey number 3 (I was number 1!). Came across this, written by wife #3, and wondered where I had read something similar before:

I am married to an Englishman.They're sexy in a quiet, confident way and are excellent husbands and fathers.

Then I remembered it was in an article on golden retrievers - you know, loyal, well-behaved, good with children etc.

Another 'tweet' went like this:-

Oprah? Hell, if I wanted to listen to a fat know-all shooting her mouth off, I'd move in with husband's ex.

Readers, I know it was wrong but I just couldn't resist. I briefly became the proud owner of a Twitter account and tweeted back: 'which one?'. Things went a little quiet for a while ....

Oh dear, shameful I know. Still, I have tweeted my last. I suppose my ex might be a pretty good husband by now. He has had lots of practice. :D