We have all asked our friends, families, and co-workers the simple question, “What are you doing?” because communication with those individuals is important for our relationships.  Depending on the time of day, mood, or inflection of tone when asked, the response can vary. And you never know what you’re going to get.  The same is true with the site called Twitter that provides users a forum to answer this one little question – with no more than 140 characters (more detailed description here). 

Jeff called this site to my attention earlier this week, and though I felt the site was slightly egotistical, I decided I should research a little before I made any judgments.  But honestly, to think that Twitterites would want to know what I’m doing “right now” would be very self-centered.   Apparently, Helen A.S. Popkin, a contributor to MSNBC, agrees as she writes “Nobody cares what you’re doing.”

After spending many hours on the site (yes, I take my research seriously) I have to admit that I’ve become addicted to refreshing the public timeline to see the types of answers users are submitting.  Posts occur almost every second, from users all over the world:

• At the Rockies game chatting w/ our sales guys. Fascinated by the lives they lead - tons of travel & critical interactions. [tiny twitter]
• just now remembering to take happy pill. crap. no sleep until… 6am?
• Waiting for the Comcast man to arrive… I wonder if he’ll do anything this time?
• Long day. I am thinking about the alligator physicals and a surgery on a snake tomorrow. My feet are killing me. I need bionic feet.
• Found a Fanta Orange soda in the fridge…haven’t had a Fanta for years, didn’t even know they still existed

Twitter can be used to communicate with others, but why through this medium?  Why not through email or instant messaging?  Is society getting to the point where everyone feels the need to tell anyone interested what they’re up to?  And why do we get so caught up in the information provided by the online communities we participate in?

It’s highly unlikely that any of my family or friends will adopt Twitter.  They follow the mindset of “I’m already using this site – I don’t want to keep up with another,” and I can’t say that I blame them.  I have too many accounts, more than I’d like to admit, but I’m intrigued by Twitter now (Thanks Jeff…).  As it’s new to me, I’ll keep playing with the site and see how it I feel about it later on down the line. 

But for now, I’m closing the browser and getting back to work.