“What’s this Twitter thing all about?” is a question I’m often asked by the mystified. Trying to explain in terms of ‘follows’, ‘tweets’ and ‘#hashtags’ often produces a glazed look and a visible thought bubble appears …
I then tend to explain using the analogy of a social forum we all know – or, should that be, we all knew? If you pop into a local pub now, if it still exists, it is quite likely to be virtually empty. This wasn’t always the case of course and going back not too many years ago the ‘local’ was the centre of the social community for many people.
Back in the day, the local was a hive of activity and in the small pub I used to frequent everybody knew everybody else; it was in essence a family. I started going because it was my Dad’s local but soon it was as much mine and the same was true for every other regular.
So, Twitter is my new local, I explain to whoever wants to understand the world of Twitter. You’re sat in a room with strangers (people you follow or follow you) who, over time, you get to know. Some you’ll tend to agree with while others will have different opinions to yours, this is real life, if virtually.
At times you may just listen into a conversation on the next table because it’s interesting. You could just raise a hand and say (tweet) ‘hi’ to the guy in the corner – sometimes you enjoy a chat with him but you’re not in the mood tonight. Just like in the pub that’s fine. The difference being that the guy in the corner could be in another continent in the ‘Twitter Arms’ and that ‘hi’ travels through cyberspace.
On the other hand when a conversation starts on a topic (#hashtag) that takes your interest then you can, politely, join in and have your say. Some don’t bother about the politely bit but hey, that’s life!
Then, just like in any good local there’s the banter, but when the ‘local’ is worldwide the banter is much richer. In fact some would say it’s boss!!
Just like in my old local, sometimes I would pop in for quick one but end up staying for a full session, often resulting in a ‘stay behind’! That’s how enjoyable it can be; a place to share joys and gripes, have a laugh or a serious chat and generally look out for one another.
When I first entered the Twitter Arms, just to say thank you to Kylie Minogue as it happens, I was spooked by the heads turning and looking towards the door! This was their pub after all I thought uncomfortably, but then one by one they said hi, introduced me to the others and just like with my Dad’s local the Twitter Arms was now mine. Feel free to pop in and say hello …
Editor ~ You can follow Ian on Twitter here. We love reading Ian’s work and this is in particular a great read. Many of my friends are perplexed at the amount of time I manage to spend in the ‘Twitter Arms’, and the particularly special friendships that I have derived from it. This perfectly summarises everything that I have unsuccessfully attempted to explain!!
