Spring Break
'Tweets' a new, fun way to keep in touch
Alex Sanders
Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: Commentary
Twittering sounds like a nervous habit that people have when awaiting an exam or other foreboding event. In fact, Twittering is just another form of offering up yet more personal information in the vast blogosphere. Certain famous people use Twitter to allow drooling fans to have some insight into their personal lives, while others use it to liveblog about sporting events, concerts or other exciting happenings. Then there are those of us, myself included, who are just curious and signed up to simply see what all the fuss is about.
Generally, I am opposed to delving so far into technology that it can potentially obstruct real social relationships. Your Facebook friends may not de-friend you, but your real friends might if you don't unglue your fingers from the keyboard of your BlackBerry and make some eye contact.
That is certainly a downside to being perpetually connected. When one of your friends asks where you want to go to dinner and you reply, "yeah, wow, I can't believe your boyfriend did that again," - or worse, you don't respond at all - you may have a problem.
However, blogging is like anything else in life - it is fine in moderation, but it can be done too much and too often. Those who can blog responsibly should do so. After all, it is human nature to be curious about others and want to reach out to them. Social networking sites and blogs are a great way to do that. Humans are social creatures, so even if you joined Twitter because it piqued your interest, you may find yourself following people you otherwise wouldn't: curious what Hasheem Thabeet is up to? Check out his updates on Twitter.
It's time to jump on the bandwagon. Social networking sites and blogs are generally very user-friendly and they can be very valuable tools. Now, Twitter is on Facebook, so your friends can read your liveblog about the Final Four en route to looking at their friend's spring break pictures.
When done responsibly, blogging can keep people connected while away rather than pulling people apart. Unfortunately, people tend to turn to blogs for some news more than newspapers. Blogs are mostly beneficial for finding out about casual news that one may not find in their local paper, reading about events while they are happening or maybe even killing time before class. Either way, sites like Twitter are taking the world by storm and there is really no reason not to join the crowd and start Tweeting.
Generally, I am opposed to delving so far into technology that it can potentially obstruct real social relationships. Your Facebook friends may not de-friend you, but your real friends might if you don't unglue your fingers from the keyboard of your BlackBerry and make some eye contact.
That is certainly a downside to being perpetually connected. When one of your friends asks where you want to go to dinner and you reply, "yeah, wow, I can't believe your boyfriend did that again," - or worse, you don't respond at all - you may have a problem.
However, blogging is like anything else in life - it is fine in moderation, but it can be done too much and too often. Those who can blog responsibly should do so. After all, it is human nature to be curious about others and want to reach out to them. Social networking sites and blogs are a great way to do that. Humans are social creatures, so even if you joined Twitter because it piqued your interest, you may find yourself following people you otherwise wouldn't: curious what Hasheem Thabeet is up to? Check out his updates on Twitter.
It's time to jump on the bandwagon. Social networking sites and blogs are generally very user-friendly and they can be very valuable tools. Now, Twitter is on Facebook, so your friends can read your liveblog about the Final Four en route to looking at their friend's spring break pictures.
When done responsibly, blogging can keep people connected while away rather than pulling people apart. Unfortunately, people tend to turn to blogs for some news more than newspapers. Blogs are mostly beneficial for finding out about casual news that one may not find in their local paper, reading about events while they are happening or maybe even killing time before class. Either way, sites like Twitter are taking the world by storm and there is really no reason not to join the crowd and start Tweeting.
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