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February 4, 2012

Tag: Twitter

January 7, 2011

It’s Not Just About Toilet Tweets Anymore

by Frank — Categories: Internet, Social Geekery — Tags: , , , — Leave a comment

Today’s post is about not just the meteoric rise of social media and its association applications, but about a curious, and particularly awesome thing that I noticed while reading over my friends’ feeds this morning.

There’s so much less toilet tweeting.

Now I’m not trying to be crass or disgusting by using this sort of terminology. If you wanted that, you’d know me through Facebook or through MSN and I could give you plenty of that, since I’m a 12-year old on those services. No, when I say “toilet tweets” I mean to say that there’s much less of the obsessive personal minutiae that people tend to tweet about on Twitter. I use the term “toilet tweets” because, well, anyone who’s used Twitter for any extended amount of time probably has encountered at least one person on their followed list that’s thought it  appropriate to share with the world that they’re visiting the porcelain goddess. It doesn’t get much more personally detailed than that, to be honest.

The fact is, social media these days has in my estimation began a process of growing up and maturing into the kind of thing that a lot of the internet apps tend to do – they have fun, personal uses but they also have practical business and in some respects, money-making applications as well. Heck, I just talked about how social media stuff managed to take a homeless guy with a talent and get him job offers. That’s some powerful and amazing stuff – well beyond the use that Twitter first got when people were more concerned with posting about what side their toast was buttered on than about sharing a really neat link.

Even the personal use of social media and things like Twitter has changed for the better. When I first got into Twitter after resisting the initial fad, many more people were using it more as a way to tell people about the details of their day, in the context of how they felt at that very moment. While this use still persists today, most of the people on my list that I follow (and who follow me) use Twitter as a way to share links, get causes going, raise money, or increase awareness of issues and ideas that they might have or get behind. Tweets have moved from “I’m doing my makeup” to “I’m buying this makeup in support of breast cancer research”. People have moved from posting about how mexican food gives them the runs to how Mexican immigration to America is a serious issue to be looked at (with an accompanying research link). Twitter still sees the personal stuff, but the noise of it has become more in tune with not just how people feel at the moment, but how they feel in general and strikes their fancy.

Sure, some of us might miss the days when all Twitter was, was a feed of personal thoughts and randomness – but that can still be found, if you look hard enough or know which of your friends is the type to tweet while throwing their game controller through the TV. I’m just glad it’s becoming something so much more than that, and that it’s practicality will ensure its longevity moreso than its fun purposes.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to tweet about how delicious and wrong having Pepsi for breakfast is.

January 15, 2010

The Geekery Legion of Team Conan

by Frank — Categories: Internet, TV and Movies — Tags: , , , , , , — 3 Comments

If you keep up with late night TV at all, then by now you’ve heard about the great NBC entertainment messup that starts just after prime-time and lasts until 1. In response to affiliate concerns, NBC has decided to move former Tonight Show host Jay Leno’s new show to the slot currently occupied by old standby The Tonight Show, currently hosted by Conan O’Brien. Jimmy Fallon, who took over Late Night from Conan, would move to after midnight. The odd man out here has been determined to be the red-haired Conan, who obviously can’t take back his old show and is losing his current slot to his predecessor. If you’re curious about a video summary of the field day all the Late Night hosts are having, check out this video compilation of the Late Night debacle.

The whole craziness of the situation has created the usual sides and factions in the matter, with some folks siding with Conan as the underdog while others think Jay’s return is best for a show that didn’t do so well under a new host. But my little note of positivity today goes to geekery in general, which has created a significant presence in public opinion using the tools in front of it – that being the Internet and its new social media.

Within hours and days of the news breaking, support from the Internet poured out, heavily in favor of Conan. Twitter has a ton of related posts under the hashtag #teamconan, with tons of real-time updaters coming out in support of what they feel is a screwy situation for the late night host. Facebook commands a Team Conan group, 100,000 members strong and going, and talented Photoshoppers are passing around a politically hilarious “I’m With Coco” pic.

Yes, online technology has spoken, and apparently, its younger, geekier audience is squarely behind Conan, with Jay’s supporters few and far between. Supposedly this is because Leno’s audience is older. Perhaps they’re still stuck trying to adjust their VCR’s to record Leno’s new time slot, let alone use Twitter to talk about it. If things pan out how they seem to be reported today, however, with Conan leaving with a big buyout and Leno returning to his former show, they might not have to do anything at all.

There are a few folks who’ve opined about the backlash against Leno, with some that were quoted for the article saying it will eventually blow over. But the Internet, and the geeks who inhabit it, have proven to be a bit long in the tooth when it comes to remembering things, and the power of online opinion is immense. Any major site who recognizes the power of bloggers and has them, is basically acknowledging that very fact. I don’t know that the outpouring of online support will hurt Leno, but it will certainly help Conan.

I’m proud of what funny little events can do to highlight the technology that people use the communicate, so regardless of what side you’re on, it’s another testament that geek media is here to stay, and have an impact. And me? Well, let’s just say I’ve been on Team Conan for a long time (since the year 2000, honestly), and have always loved his comedy over Leno’s. Here’s to hoping he ends up in a better place than he is now – because Team Conan will be right there to support him:

September 23, 2009

TwitterHated

by Frank — Categories: Computers, Internet — Tags: , — 3 Comments
twitter logo map 09
Image by Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten via Flickr

Lots of people know about social networking’s rising star Twitter. It’s become somewhat of a phenomenon since it got around to getting more prevalent in the last year or so. Twitter’s rise to fame has been so sudden that in one year, the company behind it has been thought to have been worth at least a billion. And it doesn’t seem to be going down anytime soon.

But Twitter isn’t without its share of detractors and haters. I know plenty of people who look at bits of Twitter news and immediately come to the conclusion, somewhat fearfully, that were they to try Twitter they would be bombarded by all means of mindless minutiae, from someone’s bowel movements to a boring 140-character treatise on cleaning dirt from under fingernails. Others simply don’t see the point of a service that further increases the gap between actually talking to a person and using technology to achieve the same thing, at the price of a loss of personal contact. All in all, though there are perhaps millions using Twitter these days, there are plenty of people that just aren’t sold – or worse yet, might even hate those of us who use it.

I get how some of these people feel about Twitter. I mean, I’ve followed people who have met every Twitter stereotype under the sun. When I hear about someone having a hangover in great and disgusting detail, I wonder where some people’s priorities lie when it comes to themselves. There are people like Perez Hilton, for example, who would rather tweet about something terrible that happened to them rather than actually get help for themselves right away. These are the people I immediately unfollow. It’s safe to say that if you want to tweet about the fact that you poked your own eye out with a pen and that you are desperately trying to see, that I’ll probably not be interested.

But Twitter haters should see that Twitter isn’t all about whoring the details of your life. Twitter’s appeal in more practical matters lies in the fact that it’s a real-time marketing tool, able to send coverage of an event instantly, such as breaking news bits. It’s a great way to find others with the same interests by examining trending topics and trading quick messages. It’s an immediate way to get individuals together for outreach causes, such as those who are currently using Twitter for raising funds for charity. Twitter isn’t worth what it is because of the fact that your friends can tell you about how they failed to hit on their 5th person for the night. It’s worth what it is because of the real-time nature of its technology and its practical Swiss Army knife of uses to employ it.

Really, like with any piece of technology, it’s all about how you use it. Trust me on this one – I used to dislike the idea of Twitter, too, until I took a pass at it and used it strictly for keeping up with a few close friends, networking with other websites and people I know in the gaming industry, and working with it to drive traffic, to here and other places. It’s become an invaluable tool in my daily online life, so just like with anything – don’t hate on it til you try it. You might be pleasantly surprised.

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September 21, 2009

Case of the Mondays Cure – Fakers, Cooldowns, and Ninja Cars

by Frank — Categories: Case Of The Mondays Cure, Computers, Gaming — Tags: , , , — Leave a comment
A very sad, sad panda :(
Image via Wikipedia

Do you really think I could keep doing these weekly pick-me-ups without posting a picture of a sad panda at some point? Come on now, it’s just way too easy to pass up.

The daily grind may be getting to you, the classes and homework might be torching your productivity, but not to worry – there’s still plenty to be happy about around the Internet. Check out these articles for some feel-good action:

Twitter to Put Smackdown on Fakers (via The Escapist): Twitter’s probably the fastest rising star in the social networking crew of applications, but with no real way to verify identity, it’s been plagued with a variety of fake accounts that in some cases have resulted in unpleasant legal action. So now, Twitter’s got to act, and they’re working on a way to verify identity to prevent people that like to impersonate Kim Kardashian from cluttering up the service.

Global Cooldown on Global Warming (via Fark): That crazy stuff you might be hearing about global warming might not be in the spotlight for a while. Scientists have pulled a 180, saying that the world is instead in a global cooldown that will last a little while. Good news for anyone annoyed by terribly obsessed environment folks everywhere – at least until 2020, when warming should pick up yet again.

Video Games to be Taught as Part of Curriculum in NYC School (via Gamepolitics): Ever get caught playing your PSP or Nintendo DS in class, students? Well, things are looking up for you, because at least one New York school is trying to put games into its education. The class will integrate games such as Spore and Little Big Planet while also employing traditional board games in order to teach children about the digital experience and get them into technology early. Oh, the lure of tech is a siren’s call, so anything anyone can do to put the needle in early is fine by me.

And finally…

Blade Runner Sound to be Added to Electric Vehicles (via The Escapist): Remember that cool futuristic sound that the flying Spinner cars made in Blade Runner (and if you haven’t seen the movie, I’m now aghast)? Well, to alleviate safety concerns that hybrid vehicles make less noise due to engine turn-offs, Nissan is integrating the sweet-sounding Spinner call into its design. I drive a Prius, and while I do delight in its ninja-like capacity for silence, I definitely wouldn’t mind having sound as long as it’s cool. Blade Runner counts as cool.

So there you go, folks – have fun with your Monday!

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August 28, 2009

Can’t Stop The (Twitter) Signal

by Frank — Categories: Internet — Tags: , — Leave a comment
It's Me Again album cover
Image via Wikipedia

An interesting bit of news floated up to me today regarding a bit about everyone’s favorite social whori-er I mean social networking tool, Twitter. Seems that folks in charge of regulation at the U.S. Open are warning players against using Twitter, claiming that certain tweets may actually violate anti-corruption policies. The scope of examples apparently includes “information about the likely participation or likely performance of a player in an event or concerning the weather, court conditions, status, outcome or any other aspect of an event which is known by a Covered Person and is not information in the public domain.”

Now look here – I get where these folks are coming from. I mean, even though tennis probably ranks nowhere for making a buck gambling in comparison to football, baseball, and the like, they’ve gotta protect the integrity of the sport. I could be ignorant, though – the only tennis I’m really familiar with besides Wii Tennis, of course, is all those times that firecracker player John McEnroe went off on a referee, his opponent, the ball person, and anyone else within reach.

But trying to stem the tide of Twitter, where updates can be made from practically anywhere that has cellphone signal, is like trying to plug a dam that’s springing leaks. You can only really stick your finger in so many holes, after all. The real-time, instant connection appeal of Twitter is a godsend to some athletes who want to keep in contact with their fans, talk about some of their daily routine, and share the emotions they are feeling on the field. Restricting their communications over this medium is somewhat crazy – especially when you consider that more than just athletes use the service. That, and a few organizations and folks have tried to restrict Twitter communications, but none have really been successful yet. That ship’s sailed, hit an iceberg, and sunk into the ocean, guys and gals.

Just like it was with mp3′s, organizations like the ones responsible for maintaining integrity in the U.S. Open probably need to be a bit more adaptive rather than reactive to the new digital age. Minimizing the impact and effect of some player who tweets “in a LOT OF FUCKING PAIN” as they lie writhing on the ground from a twisted ankle, mobile device in hand, is probably a better path to go then trying to stop the practice altogether. Twitter in and of itself might be able to be utilized for good PR as well – real time feeds and reports using the service to report the latest and greatest in US Open coverage might not be such a bad idea, rather than worrying about some tennis addict making a buck or two.

So while I do have to say, props to the Tennis Integrity Unit of the U.S. Open for taking on such a challenge, I’ll also say to them “Good Luck!”….because they’re going to need every bit of it to stop the noise of thousands of people tweeting about their match results. Have fun with that.

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August 15, 2009

The Geek Networking Evolution

by Frank — Categories: Internet, Social Geekery — Tags: , , , — 2 Comments
Image representing Twitter as depicted in Crun...
Image via CrunchBase

You know, it used to be hard for us geek folks to do this crazy thing called “networking”, or, as I like to call it, playing mental chess at social gatherings. Before there was any internet at all to speak of, were were correspondences over letter mail, by carrier pigeon, or by publication. Rare was the feasibility of gathering  like-minded geekery in one place, and those that did somehow organize such meetups (such as those running conventions when I was but an infant) were only able to create fleeting, short-term collaboration.

Even when the internet was young, geeks found it difficult to connect with one another. Not everyone had email, and public chatrooms run by software that a 6 year old could hack to their own amusement were an insecure, yet real time method of doing things. Old BBS boards (the kind you used a modem to access) were clunky, and mailing lists in general were a rarity.

Oh yes – those were hard times for geeks looking to make a connection to other geeks. This is why these days, we should really be counting our blessings. The advent of instant messaging allows for real-time communication with friends all over the world at the click of a mouse. Anyone can run a mailing list or group if they have the inclination or desire, and forums have replaced BBS’s as the premiere method of archived, threaded discussion. In the last year or two alone, the rise of social networking and real-time updating via sites like Facebook and Twitter not only connects geeks with geeks, but geeks with old friends and nemeses that stuffed them into a locker in high school. It’s a new, massive, explosion of geekery-fueled connections.

Now, some technophobes and Luddites out there will decry this kind of online-exclusive communication and connection as the death of actual face-to-face communiques and society going down a road of amoral anonymity. They think it’s an overall bad thing. Not so, says this blogger with the handful of readers. For one thing, communications of most any sort that you would expect face-to-face can be simulated to great effect. Webcams and calling software like Skype can make an online conference call as personable as an actual one, without the danger of your neighbor’s coffee spilling into your lap. Desktop sharing software like WebEx and LogmeIn allow geeks to see what their compatriots are doing on the screen, so that embarrassing moments of hiding porn on one’s laptop in the middle of a business meeting are simulated quite nicely. Footage and media for geek gatherings, once hampered by one or two people’s ability to get up out of bed and do hours of scanning and editing, are now as instant as being up right after you turn away from taking pics of a creepy crossdressing cosplayer.

Yep, everything that a real networking effort can do, technology can as well – and in some cases, better. The real trump card for this new age of geek networking is the ease. Anyone can network. Anyone can connect with people without having to worry about what they look like, or what they’re wearing, or whether or not they’ve rambled on too long about their Transformers collection. And to be perfectly honest, this kind of networking is just a means to an end, for those that know how to use it. Smart geeks know that even they have to get up, get dressed normally, and go out and talk with people. But the geek networking evolution makes it infinitely easier to do that due to the nature of sharing information.

Here are just some of the people I have access to, because of my tech-crazy networking:

-Game developers in at least three different studios

-Five different lawyers in varying areas of law (copyright, real estate, media, etc.)

-One of the best .lua modders around, for all my stupid user interface issues in MMOs.

-Two people who work for US government agencies

-A linguistics student in Europe who knows more about English than most English speakers

-Six musicians

-Four teachers on the elementary, high school, and college level

-A pilot

-Multitudes of parents

-Three police officers

I could go on. The point is, having access to that many resources is a powerful thing. Something that would be infinitely harder for me, if I didn’t have the tools that we had today to network. So enjoy the networking tools, and get yourself out there, geeks – you never know what connections you’ll make!

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