Yes, it’s cool that you use your Twitter feed like an RSS feed, and just post links to your blog posts. And yeah, you’re probably just automating it with a WordPress plugin, so it’s all nice and simple and stuff like that. But Twitter is not an RSS feed. It’s a communication and networking platform, something RSS can never be.
Most of the fun with Twitter is carrying on non-linear conversations. It’s like one big chat room taking place in large expenses of time. Which at first might seem odd and strange. But it’s not- it’s wonderful. The internet works its best when it doesn’t do things in real time, and allows people to read and write when it’s convenient for them to do so.
I was just thinking today that a lot of writers I see on Twitter just use it to re-post their own blog postings. Which is handy, but a tad bit abusive of the Twitter platform. And also counter-productive. On the other hand, a lot of writers fully embrace Twitter and Tweeting, and this is awesome. Since you can talk to some people that you probably wouldn’t be able to talk to otherwise, due to time constraints and etc.
And, since it’s only 140 characters, the conversations feel oddly more personable. Which is a great thing. I’m completely and utterly addicted to Twitter myself, and follow quite a few writers (as well as friends and etc) and find it the best medium for connecting and conversing with others. My day job keeps my busy, my freelance writing keeps me busy, my kids keep me busy. But with Twitter I can stay connected and it only takes a few seconds of my time. That is awesome.
If you want to follow me on twitter, go ahead-> http://twitter.com/pauljessup. I’ll probably follow you back, but be warned- I tend to cut down my twitter follows to stay within the 40-50 range just to keep my daily twitter feed to a decent size. Anything larger than that and it completely gets rid of the benefit of having twitter- that of saving time while still talking and conversing with awesomely cool people.
Hmm… yeah, I syndicate but I don’t use a bot. Picked up the idea from Wil Wheaton who was the reason I started twittering in the first place–and I definitely see your point. I don’t know how “pure” it is with the concept of Twitter.. But that’s just a fraction of what I do on Twitter. I must say it’s the best way I’ve learned so far to make connections to writers and readers, hands down. In fact, I don’t think I’d have known about YOU if it weren’t for the Twitter!
Oh I’ve got nothing against doing that- I have a bot on my site that does it as well. I just don’t like it don’t do ANYTHING else. I mean, please, tell me about your blog posts, but don’t just use it as an RSS feed, communicate as well!
Yeah, definitely. And it’s not just writers. People so often miss the point of Twitter, that it’s a conversation like you said. But alas, such is the curse of new media.