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C'mon, Admit It. Twitter Is Useless
Townhall.com ^ | November 13, 2009 | David Harsanyi

Posted on 11/13/2009 6:10:24 AM PST by Kaslin

Not long ago, Meghan McCain, maverick progeny and rising media star (because, no doubt, of her impressive intellectual gifts), posted a cleavage-intense picture of herself on her Twitter account. "For years," the 25-year-old would lament later, "I have struggled to accept the fact that the way I look in a tank top comes off more 'sexual' than a flat-chested woman."

First, let's all agree on the obvious: A nation that fails to deal with the deep-seated struggles of busty young blondes is a nation that fails us all.

Then feel free to wonder why an intelligent young woman feigns astonishment when her candid shot creates a hubbub online after she disseminates the shot to 76,000 followers. Isn't that the point of posting on Twitter? Highlighting everything? Even your socio-political thoughts on cup sizes?

who is too dense to recognize the miracle of letting "followers" know he hates raisins or that he loved the finale of "Mad Men."

Now not only am I expected to transmit this minutiae mere seconds after I think it but also some 20-year-old in California has decreed that I must do it within the brevity of 140 characters. This need for conciseness, in fact, induces normally articulate friends of mine to write in Prince lyrics -- recklessly using "2" and "4" and "U" as words.

To this point, I've found Twitter so aggressively worthless that I was forced to research exactly what I am missing. In the process, I stumbled across a useful New York Times tech column penned by David Pogue that clarified all. The headline read, "Twitter? It's What You Make It."

In summation, like your beloved pet rock, Twitter is useful only in your imagination.

Despite this, I can't begin to add up how many times, as a member of the media, I've been instructed that I need to tweet by people who have absolutely no clue what tweeting means. How Twitter helps journalism is yet to be determined.

But the deepest mystery of Twitter is why celebrities and elected officials take part. After all, we all know they can't write their own lines.

Now, admittedly, Twitter can be entertaining on occasion, as it turns out that 140 characters offers a great chance to be misunderstood -- and an even greater chance one will expose his inner troglodyte.

In these past few weeks alone, a clueless Colorado state Sen. Dave Schultheis tweeted, "Don't for a second, think Obama wants what is best for U.S. He is flying the U.S. Plane right into the ground at full speed. Let's Roll." NFL running back Larry Johnson took time out from his busy day of stinking at his job to ridicule his coach and question the heterosexuality (crudely) of a critical tweeter. He lost his job.

So you see, though only a reported 11 percent of Twitter's users are actually teenagers, nearly everyone who participates may end up sounding like one. (Young people have the good sense to head to MySpace, where they freely can post sexually provocative pictures -- with music!) I certainly have no cleavage to ratchet up my "follower" numbers.

As a blogging, Facebooking, texting American who values the explosion of democratic user-generated Internet content and its contribution to intellectual debate, political activism, government transparency, entertainment, access to data and community, I can safely say I still see no reason to tweet.

Naturally, this phenomenon is growing by approximately 1 million percent yearly. Maybe this is just where I get left behind by technology. Still, I'm sticking with Google's CEO, Eric Schmidt, who called Twitter the "poor man's e-mail system" -- and considering e-mail is completely free and allows you to form complete sentences, that's not exactly a ringing endorsement.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: newmedia; twitter; useless
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Meghan McCain is a twit
1 posted on 11/13/2009 6:10:25 AM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin
In these past few weeks alone, a clueless Colorado state Sen. Dave Schultheis tweeted, "Don't for a second, think Obama wants what is best for U.S. He is flying the U.S. Plane right into the ground at full speed. Let's Roll."

Is there a problem with this statement?

2 posted on 11/13/2009 6:13:52 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (Play the Race Card -- lose the game.)
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To: Kaslin

Picture, please. I know, I’m a sick twisted pervert.


3 posted on 11/13/2009 6:14:37 AM PST by Daveinyork
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To: Kaslin

I think twitter is fun. But MmC is a nut, don’t like her don’t follow her.


4 posted on 11/13/2009 6:15:11 AM PST by svcw (The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves. GW)
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To: Daveinyork

5 posted on 11/13/2009 6:16:17 AM PST by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: Kaslin

Tweety bird brain?


6 posted on 11/13/2009 6:16:27 AM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: Kaslin

I have to admit that I don’t get Twitter at all. What’s the point? Why would anyone want to know when someone else is watching TV, petting their cat or clipping their toenails? Are we that bored with our lives?


7 posted on 11/13/2009 6:17:53 AM PST by reagan_fanatic (Hope....Change...Soup Kitchens!)
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To: Kaslin

Never been on Twitter. No Facebook account. No Myspace, either. I feel deprived. Is this less than 140 characters?


8 posted on 11/13/2009 6:20:01 AM PST by Oshkalaboomboom
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To: Kaslin
Meghan McCain is a twit

Well, that makes her perfect for 'twit'ter, doesn't it? Personally, I signed up last Spring. I visited a few times, and haven't been back since. I agree, it's absolutely worthless, mostly populated by people who mistakenly believe they have something to say, yet can't even state their swill coherently.

Facebook is the same, IMO. I signed up there also and haven't been to it in months. The only redeeming value it provides is a way to keep in touch with friends and relatives, yet many use it for mundane, trivial chat. No one knows how to communicate any more.

9 posted on 11/13/2009 6:20:20 AM PST by bcsco (Hey, GOP: The American Indians found out what happens when you don't control immigration...)
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To: Kaslin

My twitter is strictly political. Well, and sports.


10 posted on 11/13/2009 6:21:01 AM PST by rintense (You do not advance conservatism by becoming more liberal. ~ rintense, 2006)
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To: Kaslin

she is one thick dumb idiot and one who loves herself too much.


11 posted on 11/13/2009 6:21:44 AM PST by manc (Marriage is between a man and a woman, end of. -end racism end affirmative action)
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To: Kaslin
Meghan McCain is a twit

Finally. My tagline has relevance.
12 posted on 11/13/2009 6:22:44 AM PST by chrisser (Tweet not, lest ye a twit be.)
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To: Puppage

Thank God she shaves. Anyone know what after shave she uses???


13 posted on 11/13/2009 6:22:54 AM PST by Doc Savage (SOBAMP!)
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To: Daveinyork
Well, OK.... Although I have no idea why anyone would want it.

I hope that helped...

14 posted on 11/13/2009 6:23:24 AM PST by GulfBreeze (Palin 2012 - For The Change You Wanted!!!)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

No twitter, no MySpace, and Facebook deactivated thanks to virus issues.

It’s enough to get my news and information from FR and newsbusters.


15 posted on 11/13/2009 6:24:57 AM PST by Carley (Pray for Obama, Psalm:109:8)
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To: Kaslin

I think you experienced a VE (vowel error).


16 posted on 11/13/2009 6:25:13 AM PST by AmericanInTokyo (Major Hasan: The kind of American "clinging bitterly to religion and guns" FBI/DHS WON'T go after!)
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To: GulfBreeze

good lord almighty. STOP that!! ;-(


17 posted on 11/13/2009 6:25:50 AM PST by AmericanInTokyo (Major Hasan: The kind of American "clinging bitterly to religion and guns" FBI/DHS WON'T go after!)
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To: Doc Savage

Hi Karate’


18 posted on 11/13/2009 6:25:51 AM PST by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: Puppage

19 posted on 11/13/2009 6:26:41 AM PST by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: Puppage

Useless?
20 posted on 11/13/2009 6:27:05 AM PST by Scythian
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