With even Oprah being a Twitter fan, Twitter is fast becomming so widespread that will soon cease to be cool. So in an attempt to make twitter less cool I opened a new account.
Although I am aware that many people think that social networks have gone a few steps too far and that people post both irrelevant and (too) private information on their facebooks, myspaces, twitters and so on, that’s not to say that social networks don’t have their role.
In my case I decided to start using Twitter as a way to post links, information and thoughts that otherwise would not make it into this blog (or that would be in the blog but at a significantly later date).
So for what is worth, this is my twitter: http://twitter.com/dbasanta
Although Twitter would probably like you to create a twitter account to follow this, there is no need to, so you can follow my musings, rants and some (potentially) random links using the RSS feed or even facebook (if you are in my friends list).
Although Twitter would probably like you to create a twitter account to follow this
Gack! Never!
Through the sallyport!
Into the bailey!
Drop the portcullis!
(Wo)man the parapets!
Smash the loom… oh, wait, wrong revolution. ;-)
I like reading your blog posts just fine, David. Twitter would be like Cliff Notes.
Hi Kristi, thanks for your comment. I’ve seen in your blog that you’ve used twitter before and I assume you didn’t find it too useful.
My plan is to keep the blog for what it is, to discuss things (mostly) related with cancer research and the role of evolution. Twitter is just a place in which to put links to articles or news I found interesting but without discussion attached, it’s only a different channel.
Twitter is a strange thing, but I’m getting more and more into it. Among other reasons, it is usually the fastest source of news, even for topics as obscure as the fact that anti-angiogenesis cancer drugs don’t help in preventing colon cancer relapses (to take just one example from today, via the @Roche_com twitter account).
No, David, I didn’t find Twitter to be that useful, but perhaps it was because I just tried the search function to generate that one goofy post. I don’t have an account. But I thought I should at least look at several Twitter feeds before dismissing it entirely as an option for my own cyber-lifestyle.
I’ve been known to change my mind about things, however. For example, I never thought I’d have an iPhone.
Martin and Kristi: Twitter is supposed to be fast and, necessarily messages have to be concise and to the point. It’s good for what is and it can complement more than replace other ways of communication. Ultimately it is only as good as the use people make of it.
Kristi, I have a large pot of boiling oil and some big rocks – can I come and join you on the parapet?
David, perhaps my age is showing but I guess my reaction to twitter is the same as it is to my cell phone, it’s another imposition on my privacy and time – the phone can make calls, but usually I don’t carry it around because people use it against me! Actually I left my phone in airport security last week, and didn’t notice until I was getting on the plane, the nice people at BNA did at least find it and give it back to me.
Hi Simon,
Probably a lot of people use Twitter to tell everybody about things like their digestive problems or to broadcast cryptic messages about the meaning of life. But twitter, as opposed to the mobile phone, does not come with the expectation that you and your privacy should be available to everybody 24hx7d. I only post links to news I think people here might find interesting but would feel uncomfortable posting about my own live (as I would be too in a blog). It is more a channel to share information with like minded people than anything else.
On a different note I fully share your feelings about mobile phones. I often leave mine in silent mode for days before I realise that some people have tried (unsuccessfully) to contact me.