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* The Champaign News-Gazette is once again live-Tweeting the commission hearing to investigate the U of I’s enrollment scandal.

Chicago Public Radio is live-Tweeting today’s redistricting committee hearing.

WTTW’s Rich Samuels Tweeted from today’s city council meeting.

And Jon Friedman at MarketWatch writes a column with the lede: A backlash against Twitter is building. MediaBistro flails Friedman via Twitter and the Twitterverse also responds.

* The Question: Do you use Twitter? If so, why? If not, why not?

…Adding… By “use” I mean “read,” not necessarily post your own Tweets.

* By the way, yesterday’s winner is vole for this little gem…

PQ, pitching the perfect game in his mind, is lead to the dugout by the manager.

Please contact me. Thanks and congrats.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 12:36 pm

Comments

Yeah, but I’m still trying to find a real use for it.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 12:42 pm
No. I’m still trying to figure out how the can opener works.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 12:44 pm
I think the bigger issue is mastering social and online media. It’s not just about print, t.v. and radio anymore. How do you respond to charges on a popular blog (i.e. team america)or capitolfax that perhaps the proletariat does not read? Twitter brings the newscycle to a whole new realm. To me it’s a very interesting strategic question.

Comment by Shore Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 12:45 pm
I do not use twitter. It is just a fad and will soon be obsolete.

That so many people go on and on about it and seem obsessed with it also turned me off to it.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 12:46 pm
personally, I have an account, but only check it about once a month. I have not found much of a use for it. Professionally, though, it is a very handy way to keep up on breaking news and share information. It is not the end all and be all, but another useful tool.

Comment by montrose Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 12:50 pm
I dont tweet. I prefer to Twit.

Comment by Speaking at Will Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 12:55 pm
I have Twitterrific on my iPhone and I occasionally tweet, but I’m not sure if anyone is reading them. I have a couple friends whose tweets I check, but other than that I haven’t really sat down and figured out how to use it.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 12:55 pm
Yes. I use it to aggregate a few news feeds (including @capitolfax), and lots of travel-related feeds. (last minute airfare/hotel deals, etc.) I rarely post on it, except to ask a specific question.

Comment by Anonymous Coward Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 12:58 pm
Oh, and I’ve ordered coffee from Dave Dahl using it..

Comment by Anonymous Coward Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 1:00 pm
I do not have an account but I follow some of the legislators. Most of the time the tweets are worthless (Rutherford, get a life and stop posting links to the news–we can find it on our own) but it has the potential to be a great play-by-play source of caucus meetings and legislative sessions.

Comment by Obamarama Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 1:03 pm
I have no need to tweet or Twitter.
Such apps are electronic litter.
All my friends are Twitter infected,
But I have no need to be so connected.

Comment by Fan of the Game Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 1:09 pm
No I am not one of the tweeting twitter twits. Twitter can get the word out, but how do you know the word is true?

Comment by Belle Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 1:15 pm
OK, admitting my stupidity here but I can’t figure out how to download my still pics from my video cam. So how in the world would I ever learn to tweet? I’m hoping Walgreen’s or someplace can download from the camera or everything is lost. No IPhone, no BB, no nuttin.

Comment by Just My Opinion Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 1:16 pm
I started following a number of new sources recently. I love to follow the Onion for a daily chuckle.

Comment by just wondering Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 1:21 pm
I think it’s great. Best way to have information tailored to the users specifications. It serves as wonderful tool to conncet with like-minded people. Fr example, rarely do I see coverage of any atheist or science stories so I can follow something that does. This form of communication only increase the notion of a global village. I think McLuhan would be ecstatic about twitter and every other social networking site for that matter.

I rarely tweet and when I do it is nothing of substance.

Comment by DonkeyBreathe Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 1:22 pm
I never read or write. I don’t write because I don’t think I have anything that anyone would be remotely interested in and I don’t read because most people don’t say anything that I’m remotely interested in. Actually I can say exactly the same for Facebook, MySpace and blogs in general. Maybe I’m just old fashioned…I do most of my social networking through IRC.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 1:28 pm
Have not Twittered to date. So far I am not interested in that stream of data, but may be enticed if there are reliable people sending data about something I am interested in…

Blago trial, debates about important issues…..

Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 1:28 pm
I do not twitter. Was told yea, long, long ago in parochial school, you would go insane.

Comment by You Go Boy Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 1:36 pm
I don’t use Twitter. Is the minute by minute story of my life, or for that matter anyone’s life, really that interesting.

Comment by Niles Township Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 1:47 pm
I’ve looked at some tweets and find the vast majority 98% to be worthless. I think there can be of value in some situations such as tweets on what is happening in budget negotiations.

Comment by Objective Dem Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 2:03 pm
Not really, there was way to much chaffe to wade through to find the occasional useful grain.

Hynes is a perfect example, if I was following him I would not want the kind of drivel he put up floating across my screen, I would want the occasional substantive comment or information.

I am not one of the folks who follows the stars to see them tweet about normal life. I am interested in it for hard information/news, and it does not currently work well for that.

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 2:08 pm
No, I’m afraid I might get sued by my landlord.

Comment by Stu Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 2:31 pm
I think it is a great way to get access to news now that news budget are minuscule. it has the potential to be really helpful. i like ILTweetstream.com - that was good during the budget vote and meetings. it is hard to get good information and diverse news. the two main chicago papers and the main stations cover what same stories. twitter breaks through that wall of one voice. it is also good for elected officials to demonstrate transparency. people want to know what they are doing with their time (on our dime).

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 2:44 pm
I use Twitter all the time. Great way to keep up with the various news streams, I use it to grab both domestic and international feeds. With Babelfish, you can easily translate foreign language articles to get a broader perspective. Enjoy both creating content or RT, usually with a link. I have it set up where it also updates my Facebook account. Been using it for about half a year now, enjoy it too much!

Comment by Das Man Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 2:54 pm
I have used Twitter, Facebook, IM, texting and almost all the rest and do my best to avoid them. The technology is nice but the content is generally worthless. When coordinating an event, activity, emergency, making a sale, or hitting a tight deadline I can see the benefit of portable communication stuff to keep things moving. Twittering every 10 minutes from a meeting usually gains what? At a recent concert, I watched 5 people in front of me spend most of their time texting. Why go? Right up there with a cell phone home to get the ok for rye bread or whole wheat. All this stuff reminds me of the cap gun as a kid. Fun for a couple of days, then move on to important stuff like the latest Spiderman.

Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 2:55 pm
Twitter is what myspace was a few years ago. Twitter does not have the infrastructure or the longevity necessary to stay on top for a long time. I use twitter every day, more reading it then actual posting.

That said I see emerging social networking tools taking what twitter has done and incorporating the concept of micro-blogging into new social networking vehicles, so the concept of micro-blogging is here to stay, i just don’t see twitter staying on top for very much longer (October 2009 twitter begins to fade)

Twitter is a great tool IMHO, but I think fear keeps people from using and understanding its inherent value. There is a great online guide to utilizing twitter, (I am unsure if Rich lets us post links here, if he allows it I’ll share it as I think its a wonderful intro to the world of twitter).

Comment by neato! Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 2:55 pm
I use and read Twitter frequently. Honestly, I got one just to follow some of my favorite celebs and politicians. Now I’ve found it to be a much more user-friendly tool than Facebook to share links, pictures, ask questions, and post my thoughts. It’s a lot less of a hassle. There are also no stupid quiz boxes or long drawn out wall posts. I like the idea of legislators Tweeting because (assuming they actually update themselves) it breaks down a bit of the facade. They’re saying what they REALLY think.

Comment by LN Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 3:02 pm
LN - ==They’re saying what they REALLY think.
==
Are you sure they only tell the truth on twitter? What about the rest of the time they communicate?

Comment by Belle Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 4:09 pm
I waste enough time w/ Cap Fax and Facebook and email, I’m afraid to twitter and tweet

Comment by Abe's Ghost Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 4:23 pm
No.

I find I already know too much about all the politicians who think tweeting is the best.

AND I really object to smarmy pols tweeting in hearings, etc. while they should be paying attention to actual business, which we’re paying them for, instead of preening their egos.

God love the twits.

Comment by sal-says Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 5:10 pm
No, don’t twitter, don’t have the time.

It’s like analyzing a flood by counting raindrops.

I need my news condensed and impartially analyzed.

Comment by Rod Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 7:15 pm
No. It’s stupid.

Comment by NICE KID Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 8:12 pm
I have a reporter friend who told me she just started tweeting I asked her if that made her a twit?

Comment by Tom Wednesday, Jul 29, 09 @ 10:58 pm
God, no

Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, Jul 30, 09 @ 12:20 am
Use it for my news feed and for tweets from political candidates.

Comment by Drive By-athelete Thursday, Jul 30, 09 @ 7:05 am