Twitter is not just a social media platform.
It is a being, a huge, sentient being. Kind of like the Borg on Star Trek: a massive collective that often comes together in one singular thought.
Twitter is groupthink at its best. Yes, you can get differing opinions on Twitter, but Twitter has a personality of its own – something larger than the sum of its parts.
Because I’ve started to think of Twitter as one person with infinite knowledge, it has occurred to me that it is helpful in a variety of ways in my life – ways I never imagined.
What is Twitter good for?
Twitter will always tell you it’s not too early to start happy hour.
Twitter will sympathize when your kids are screaming and you want to whine about it.
Twitter will agree when you call someone a douchebag, assclown, or jackhole. And Twitter will tell you you are funny.
Twitter will provide you with dinner ideas when you’re considering slapping some shredded cheese on a heel of bread and passing it off to your kids as a quesadilla.
Twitter will tell you that one of the hotels you’re considering booking on vacation is one step above a motel right out of a Starsky and Hutch episode. Or it will tell you that it’s so palatial and the beds are so comfortable that even Kate Moss doesn’t feel her own bony hips when she sleeps there.
Twitter will help you find every life coach, lactation pro, social media guru, crafter, marketing strategist, technophile, SEO expert, doula, frugal couponer and Buddhist on the face of the planet.
Twitter will always have a party you can attend if you are bored.
Twitter will talk with you about poop, bikini lines, vomit, ear hair, pee, cellulite, boogers, and skin tags – often as part of the same conversation.
Twitter will agree with you that Google Reader sucks, iPhone rocks, Wal-Mart is scary, Starbucks needs a better rewards program and that the Real Housewives of Orange County are whack.
Twitter will not judge you, because Twitter always knows somebody who’s done something worse than you just did.
Twitter will let you confess sins, bemoan other people, voice outcry and best of all, be passive-aggressive.
Weigh in: what else is Twitter good for?
About the Author Gigi Ross
I'm a blogger, social media geek, mom and wife, foodie, reality TV addict and Jason Mraz fangirl. Not in that order. I write here about parenting, blogging, technology, social media and pop culture.
{ 57 comments }
Twitter brought me real friends. Like, REAL friends. People I’d go to before in a crisis before I’d go to my mother. Or maybe even my husband.
Miranda´s last [type] ..Soda and cigarettes
Like me!!
<3 you, Miranda!!
Katie´s last [type] ..giving grief words
I am pretty new to Twitter still but I love how welcoming everyone has been. People actually talk to me
Stephanie´s last [type] ..One ounce of cheese is 564 calories!!
All of the above…I agree.
But unfortunately in my case, Twitter is also good for burning my dinner. I can’t tweet and cook, I’ve come to find out.
Because the Twitter is too addictive.
Ha Ha! I have been there Sherri!! I learned that the first night I was in a twitter party that crossed over into cooking time – it was DANGEROUS!!
Nicole Rivera´s last [type] ..Recipe- Roasted Potatoes
I’m starting to get it. I’ve been on Twitter for a year now and somehow despite everyone telling me it’s fantastic, I would get overwhelmed. I’ve persevered and I’m beginning to understand. I’m sure I’ll love it soon!
Alison Golden´s last [type] ..Baby Step Your Way To Eat Healthy- Lose Weight In 30 Days
I don’t even have to mention how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE Twitter.
Twitter is also a good way to find people that have the same hobbies/issues/wants/ideas that you do.
Twitter can get you in touch with companies that you love (or hate) to give them honest feedback (I have a story coming up about this).
LOVE The Twitter!
Natalie´s last [type] ..I’m Not Here Today…
I am so new to twitter. It is still overwhelming to me and a little confusing. It probably shouldn’t be. I’ll stick with it a little longer.
Grumpy Grateful Mom´s last [type] ..Hair-brained Endeavors
Twitter is good for helping me ignore my children…
Oh wait.
bahaha!
I agree that Twitter brought friendship and community into my somewhat sheltered life. I have a hard time meeting and making friends with people who understand my love for all things blogging and social media. And twitter brought those kinds of people into my life. And it’s also one of the BEST sources for news. Like when Osamsa was killed…I knew it on Twitter before the media ever thought of breaking the story.
Courtney @ The Mommy Matters´s last [type] ..Toxic People
Me, too! I don’t watch the news. But I don’t feel out of the loop because I’ve Twitter.
NotJustAnotherJennifer´s last [type] ..The One Where Our 3YO Threw Up the Devil Horns At Church
Oh, that’s a good one – me too! We don’t have a TV (by choice) and for the last 6 months or so, Twitter has been how I’ve found out about every major news item.
Tisha | tMedia´s last [type] ..Interview with Vonetta Booker-Brown
I haven’t jumped on the Twitter bandwagon. I kind of want to punch it in the neck. And I’m a lover, not a fighter.
WowThatWasAwkward´s last [type] ..Talk To Me Like A Human
I do adore the Twitter love.
Although occasionally if feels like shouting silently into a crowded room.
But…well..we all know I have issues.
We think they’re charming.
Lori @ In Pursuit of It All´s last [type] ..A Woman Abroad
Wait. You’re telling me shredded cheese on a heel of bread isn’t a quesadilla?
Crap.
I’m an assclown.
Clearly it’s a cheese pizza.
Rachael´s last [type] ..How I Met Your Father – A Tribute to Smallville
Gigi,
This is really scary! I just blogged about my love for twitter yesterday. Mine post is informative, but yours is hilarious! Love it! I am sure my husband gets tired of me saying “Somebody on twitter said …”!
Bernice
Living the Balanced Life´s last [type] ..Why I love Twitter
Totally! I say that very phrase 100x a day!
It is a good place to share a wonderful post you have read.
JDaniel4′s Mom´s last [type] ..Recap of Live Chat about Too Many Toys on Mom Loop!
It’s a great place to find other people who actually know what the Borg are.
Rachael´s last [type] ..The Black Dreams
Yes, yes, yes, wonderful for secret (or not so secret) sci-fi nerdlings to gather and geek out together.
Varda (SquashedMom)´s last [type] ..Dunia
As someone who recently moved cross county, Twitter was a vehicle for me to build contacts in Austin long before I left Michigan.
Cecilia´s last [type] ..What Happened To Amanda
I love twitter.
I would marry it.
maybe.
ok, yes. I would.
Katie´s last [type] ..giving grief words
Love this! I definitely look at Twitter like it is one person- and the ultimate authority. When I need to know something, I ask Twitter.
Shell´s last [type] ..Pour Your Heart Out- Doing It All
I adore twitter- I would be lost without it!! A bonus? Twitter will always encourage you to have that glass of wine, assuring you it is in fact 5 o’clock somewhere.
Ashley´s last [type] ..Taking a Drive through Alaska
LMAO! The Borg! What a great analogy! Love this post!
i thought facebook & iphone rocked but for 2 weeks im a converted twitter’ess with iphone….
you go girlfriend lol.
Selin´s last [type] ..men vs women
Love this, so true. You are never alone if you tweet. And I’m with Sherri, I cannot cook and tweet at the same time. A twitter trance does not allow you to hear the oven timer go off.
Twitter RULES! Twitter has allowed me to meet some of the best women and ,now, closest friend that I have. It has also beecome the BEST networking tool I could ever have imagined. It has gotten me opportunities that would never had happened had it not been for my butterfly like networking skills:)LOL
Truthful Mommy´s last [type] ..Jessica Gottlieb The Truth About Motherhood is that You Lie A lot
This was so funny! People that don’t use Twitter ask me all the time why I like it so much. I try to explain. But it comes off sounding strange. You summed it up perfectly.
I’ve met some of the coolest people on Twitter and I’m always learning something new.
It rocks.
Kris´s last [type] ..Im an email addict
wow, can you believe that I still have not jumped on board yet? I must be the only person in this world who’s not twittering!
Twitter is my great big coffee klatch. I NEVER drink alone anymore. And if I did, the Twitter wouldn’t judge. The tweeps would pass along links to banana bread recipes or vodka shooters, whatever I needed, really.
Heidi Smith Luedtke´s last [type] ..10 Things about My Grandpa
It’s really about setting expectations (like at work and in relationships) so Twitter can be a huge disappointment – or a surprising feast of people and ideas. Beyond that – it’s also a huge time suck.
I don’t know I have never used twitter. lol Seems interesting though. Thanks for your email. Sorry if you read my blog yesterday.. I had a rough one. Anyway, have a wonderful day.
Agree a million% with all of the above. Also, Twitter helps you share news of new life! GAH! I was so excited to know that Amy (mad woman) had her kid last night, and I almost tweeted it quick without consent – but I did ask her if it was OK. Heh.
I am so bad at Twitter. I have it, but hardly use it.
Twitter appeals to the exhibitionist in us
I started working from home in anticipation of my labor and as a result, I see far fewer people so I’ve been going to Twitter more often these days. For company.
And validation that even if I’m not out there in the world, it’s still going on without me
Justine´s last [type] ..To change or not to change The name that is
I am totally with you Justine! Twitter has become my best buddy while on medical leave. We became inseparable shortly after I discovered my dogs were never ever going to learn the English language!
Nicole Rivera´s last [type] ..Recipe- Roasted Potatoes
Twitter is also good for being psychic. I was just accused of having an affair with Obama on FB (and having his lovechild named LeRoy) and I log onto Twitter and there. There in all it’s infinite wisdon and glory is Twitter recommending I follow Obama.
SurferWife´s last [type] ..KidsCause- Shopping never felt so good
I am desperately trying to be a tweeter. I just don’t have the energy folks.
I do find Twitter to be pretty powerful when I need entertainment while waiting for my children to finish on the playground, waiting for my baby to wake up in the car, and of course it’s fantastic bathroom entertainment if you are so lucky to be in there alone….but when does that happen?
The Mommy Therapy´s last [type] ..I Might Make Really Good Roasted Chicken- Its A Recipe-ish People
Twitter rocks. Have met some real life friends from it, lots of online friends who I hope to meet some day, and numerous business contacts including friends.
Plus twitter is awesome when you are bored and just want to connect with people or be entertained.
Twitter is good for:
*making me laugh
*keeping me up to date with whatever sports score I need
*being an open forum for me to rage about whatever is going on RIGHT now
*keeping me company on insomniac nights (I noticed my FB goes silent from 4:30 am to 5am, but Twitter NEVER SLEEPS!)
…and for all those above saying they “aren’t into twitter yet…” Yep. I said that too, but you know what I learned:
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!!
(Gigi, the Borg reference is SO spot ON!)
Nicole Rivera´s last [type] ..Recipe- Roasted Potatoes
He he…so true! I think about the things that I have first heard about on twitter–whether important political news or the best who knows what. And like many have already commented, twitter is definitely good (or bad) for helping me ignore my maternal and wifely duties!
Honestly, at this point, twitter is baffling me. When I google my fullname (yes, I do that) it shows my twitter account even though my fullname is nowhere on twitter. And since I have an ex husband who I don’t want snooping around my twitter life, I’m not pleased. So right now, I’m angry with twitter. But I’m sure we’ll make up ’cause I can’t hold a grudge. I’m too lazy.
Sandra´s last [type] ..Vampires and Peeing Monkeys
I do not Twitter, although it is good for my business. I consider it one more thing to do, and I am already on overload.
mommymommymommy´s last [type] ..Amusement Park and Water Park Discounts Do Exist!
Twitter is great for finding coupons & deals! stumbled!
Kristl Story´s last [type] ..Shopping Online Learn How to Save Money
Sigh,.. I have met so many people I adore through twitter and it is great for connecting…with other people on twitter.
Sadly, twitter has been less giving in my real life relationships. My hiusband does not like it and my friends think it is just strange. So at this point, and you may notice I have not been on as much, it is not the best thing for my marriage to be constantly tweeting away.
Great post though and very funny!
Brittany {Mommy Words}´s last [type] ..Pride Goeth Before the Pain
I do love twitter. And I do think of it as one wonderful entity that tells me lots of things I never wanted to know, gives me opinions about which neurosurgeon to see (which I took the advice of over my own doctor), keeps me in the know so I can scoop everyone that is only on Facebook, and is just another way that our world is getting smaller. And I love it.
Brenna @ Almost All The Truth´s last [type] ..Maternitique- for your non-toxic journey through motherhood and a giveaway!
Hurray, a place to discuss POOP! Who knew? I’ve never twittered (in public, anyway…). I’ve wondered what it is. Thanks for demystifying it.
I’m still scared of it, howev.
Danielle´s last [type] ..The battle of the sexes
My favorite:
Twitter will not judge you, because Twitter always knows somebody who’s done something worse than you just did.
Twitter brings real friends – people that you wouldn’t ever meet in real life, but end up being downright perfect matches for you.
And, Twitter is the absolute biggest support network this world has ever seen.
John´s last [type] ..On falling in love with the gym- yet again
Great post! Twitter is good to connect with companies/brands and get fun gigs that would have never been possible without twitter!
Hi there,
It seems that whenever I go online I see Twitter everywhere. And I’ve never really understood the power of Twitter until I read your post. I do have a Twitter account but I’ve almost never used it. Now, reading what Twitter is good for, I think I’ll start visiting. Thanks for sharing, this is so funny and enlightening!
Theresa Torres´s last [type] ..Top 10 Financial Mistakes Moms Make
twitter, for me, has become a way to support the people I love, when I’m short on time and can’t read all the blogs I follow.
I find out when there is a new post, I can comment, tweet it out.
It’s become essential tos how support, when I just can’t make the rounds.
Twitter is good for me because it made it possible to talk or converse with my favorite stars.
Aybi @ log home living´s last [type] ..Building your log home while saving your marriage and your sanity
Twitter is awesome for lovefests!
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