Like, Shoshanna I also chose to discuss the article “How Twitter Will Change the Way We Live” by Steven Johnson. However, my reasons for selecting this article for my Ancillary 1 and paper were different.
Before, reading this article I had never used Twitter, but I have heard of it and been asked to use it many times. After using a Myspace account for so long, I never felt the need to then advance to a Facebook and then ultimately to a Twitter account - which has seemed the path many people my age have taken. The whole idea of yet another online thing to check daily has seemed a hassle. I have tried to actually stop using my Myspace altogether and be a better friend by refusing to only communicate through online means.
But what sparked my real interest then to even investigate these Tweets I'd heard so much about? I went to Japan in April while my fiance was on tour. He was working with Bad Religion and was doing sound check so I went to lunch at a vegan restaurant with my friends who make up the band Rise Against. (I usually do not refer to them as people "in a band" as they are my friends, but it is relevant to understand my reasoning for exploration of my chosen article.) I had not seen them in a long time so it was nice to catch up. However every few minutes they were taking out their phones to "Tweet." I inquired what they were doing, since I had never taken the time to really investigate the details of this system. They informed me it was a way to "Briefly update others" on what they were doing, where they were going, etc. I could see the positive uses for them to use Twitter to make their fans feel more connected, especially when they are on tour. I could see all the teenage girls Twittering "I'm outside your bus!" or something very silly along those lines. But what makes fans feel closer, makes them purchase tickets to shows and records and that's good for business. I could also understand the need to maybe update people who own a stock in a company about how that specific business is doing through their twittering updates. Tweets are short, simple and to the point.
I didn't look much more into Twitter until I had the opportunity to read the article here. I took this chance to get a better understanding of the all around package of Twitter. I can see the pros to this connective service, but can also see many cons. I do not feel the author investigated these cons very thoroughly. It almost seemed he got swept up by the whole Twitter explosion himself. And while he does have research and supporting facts to back his case, I didn't leave the article running to go sign up for Twitter account either. I mean, I don't even like to carry around my cell phone at all times. I personally believe there is such a thing as being "too" attainable. One of my girlfriends will call me and be almost annoyed with me when I have not replied to here texts right away. She forgets that sometimes I do things like... take a shower, go to a movie, make out on my couch and I don't have my phone next to me. I guess maybe if I twittered about these things she'd understand (...heh just kidding.) And I really do like actually calling and seeing my friends... I don't need to know what they do all day, everyday. I mean, I love my friends... but you keep looking at that computer or your phone for too many hours and you are missing a lot of great things actually happening in the world around you.
The author spoke about how we enhance twitter, helping it do more things we thought possible and make it possible to take over the world. We did that before... with the internet remember? I would have loved if the author touched upon Y2K. There were some people so dependent of computers and the internet, they thought the world was about to go into complete chaos if not end because it was soon to be the year 2000, ahhh! If someone like, let's say a large corporation became too dependent of their Twitter account as their main way of marketing and reaching their clients... what would happen if they lost Twitter service for even one full 24 hour day? Would there be CEO's ready to fire someone over the "Twitter Crisis?" Would stocks in the company go down because no one got there minute by minute updates?
I can see how some might find Twitter easy and accessible, but there is a fine line between something that helps enhance your life and something that becomes almost addictive and compulsive. Everything is good, but in moderation, correct?
So, I chose this article to help me learn more about something I really didn't know much about and put together my ultimate conclusions. It was very interesting to read and it turned me from indifferent to opposed to ever having an account or recommending one to others.
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