Twitter is…

Image via CrunchBase

The other day I tweeted out something about my RSS reader, and in response someone tweeted back:

Twitter is my RSS feed.

And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this was true for me in some ways as well. While I subscribe to quite a few blogs via Google Reader and RSS feeds, I also click on quite a few blogs that pass through my Twitter feed.

Then I got to thinking that Twitter, which happens to be my favorite of all the social platforms, fulfills a lot of needs for me. I use Twitter for quite a few things, and because I’m connected even when I’m not sitting at my laptop, it has become quite valuable to me.

So I decided to think through things, and figure out what else Twitter is to me. Here are a few of the answers I came up with:

Twitter is…

…my RSS feed.

…my 24/7 link to the real world.

…my first source for breaking news.

…my instant messenger.

…my Craigslist and classified ads.

…my community with whom I share my thoughts.

…my shared experience with others while watching sports or television programs.

…my easiest connection with friends, family, and some clients.

…my source for product and business reviews and suggestions.

…my Google.

…my Yellow Pages.

…my source for local happenings.

…my greeting card.

And I could go on and on. But now it’s your turn.

How do you use Twitter? Think about the many ways that Twitter enhances your life and what it offers you. How would you finish the sentence, “Twitter is…”?

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Tagged as: Google, Google Reader, news, RSS Feed, Twitter

Hajra 334 pts

Like someone once posted, Facebook is where we lie to our friends, Twitter is where we say the truth to strangers..

I don't use Twitter much; it is hard for me to keep up with tweets, also, I find 140 characters a challenge. And I wonder why everyone is just sharing links on twitter. I mean that is okay, I don't have a problem with that, but what happened to just sharing your status..I would like to see more of that! But yes, I am using it more now and hopefully will continue doing so!

Twitter for me is like the short story challenge we had in schools, just that 140 is way short.

Twitter is a tool for safe stalking because ultimately you do follow them around!

Twitter is the bird I will never catch

Twitter is what will soon send me to rehab

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LadyQuixote 7 pts

Twitter is my rebound from FB. I ended my FB account 2 months ago, because it had taken over my life. Thanks to Twitter, I don't miss it. The short sweet tweets suit me much better. Also, Twitter is a great way to keep in touch with my always-on-the-go, totally awesome, mega-fabulous, favorite (and only) daughter jackieelsner <3

KenMueller 1760 pts moderator

LadyQuixotejackieelsner Interesting how you chose Twitter over Facebook. And I'll assume that if Jackie wasn't your only daughter, she probably also wouldn't be your favorite...

KenMuellerjackieelsner OH NO~Jackie would be my favorite, regardless! I have 2 sons, and they are both my favorite, also.

KenMuellerjackieelsner Every one of my grandchildren is my favorite, too. I can't help it, I'm just partial that way.

Regarding my choosing twitter over fb, it had gotten to the point where I had way too many fb friends, and it had taken over my life. I had grown to genuinely care about most of them, and life's too short to have 500+ really close friends.

LadyQuixotejackieelsner Oh well, I have 2500. I'll get over it...

KenMuellerjackieelsner

Yes, I have no doubt some people can handle that. I'm not one of 'em. I get too emotionally involved. I had, at the end, 508 FB friends, and my little bird brain was way overwhelmed! Too much of an empath, I am. So, now I tweet.

@Quartz164 28 pts

Twitter is a connector for me. It's opened me up to new friends, new loves (ThaSportsChick), new business ventures and new ideas and thoughts.

@Quartz164ThaSportsChick I hear you, and agree on all of those. Well, all but the one about ThaSportsChick . She's all yours!

justashcraft 8 pts

Twitter is my SportsCenter.... what do I need to wait til 11 oclock for when I already know all the scores. On that note...

Twitter is my 11 O'Clock News...

Twitter is my Platform... as much as i get from Twitter, I can also give back.

Twitter is my connection to my friends.

I also agree with all of yours above.

My latest conversation: Blogging to the Wedding...

justashcraft Another great list. Thanks, Justin!

girlseeksplace 17 pts

I use Twitter in many of the same ways you do. I just saw a piece on the news last night about how a family in my city is using Twitter to help find a missing family member. As the missing person's niece put it: maybe I only know one person in that city, but they see it and know more people and those people know people... It's amazing what can be done with social media these days.

girlseeksplace I hear stories like that all the time, and they are going to become more prevalent. I hope they find her!

RichardHarrison 9 pts

Twitter is my Rubik's Cube - so far. I continue to try to use it for a number of the features that you point to but for some reason simply cannot get my head around it. The stream overwhelms me. I suspect I haven't figured out how to use lists correctly to filter out noise. I am curious how you use it as "Google" and "Craigslist". Does come in handy for keeping up with maurafive

RichardHarrisonmaurafive I just go with the flow. For me, I'll often put something out there that I might normally Google, that way I'll get a variety of answers, from people I trust, and not filtered through Google's algorithm. As for Cragislist, if I have something to sell, or giveaway, I'll mention it on Twitter, and often find someone who wants what I'm getting rid of. Or, if I'm looking to buy something, i.e. a used TV, or when I was looking for a used car for my son, I mentioned it on Twitter, and found a good one rather quickly!