The Twitter Stream

I got this message from James, a new Twitter follower, this morning:

Now, between my personal Twitter account and my account for my blog, The New Civil Rights Movement, I have close to 3000 followers, so it’s not about losing a follower. But it is about someone leaving me, or worse, Twitter, without knowing that the Twitter stream ebbs and flows. Some days, I post a lot of great links to awesome stories. Some days, I’m chatty and like to hang out with my Twitter buddies. Some days, I’m hawking new blog posts I really want folks to read. And some days, I’m not on Twitter at all. 

Twitter ebbs and flows. It’s the water cooler. Your local diner. The hallway at work. Your town square. The conversation is different every day. It sounds different in the morning than it does at night, despite that, given it’s international popularity, it’s morning for some and night for others. But, unlike the streets you travel, there’s always someone you know. And more you want to.

I learn something new every day when I’m on Twitter. Others tell me they learn a lot from me too. Last night I was able to put the CEO of a startup in touch with an iPhone app developer. Took me about 20 seconds. A friend on Twitter wrote an amazing story of his life in the Navy as a gay sailor, detailing why “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is so destructive. I was glad I was able to get some folks to read it. Another friend, a very talented artist, shared some of his music with me the other day, and I’ve been listening to it ever since. (One song, I think, well over a dozen times!) I shared the link to his Last.FM account on Twitter. I hope others got to enjoy his talent also. 

A month ago, sheepishly, I might add, I posted, “So, how does one write a book?” I’ve been wanting to for a while now, based on the work I’ve been doing on my blog, and I just had no idea where to start. I got many responses, including a few who offered to put me in touch with their agents, and a few offers to coach me. Amazing. 

Sunday, debating a Blu-Ray disc player, I asked if I should buy one, or a Play Station 3. Nine foks responded. (Answers went both ways, in case you’re wondering.)

Many folks new to Twitter think, as I first did, that they have to read every tweet from everyone they follow and from everyone who follows them. You don’t. I stick my toe in the water, get a little wet, and get out without drowning. I make it a point to read as many of the tweets as I can from my close Twitter friends,  and those of some I call the “Twitter Elite”. People like Andrew Sullivan, Dave Winer, and Jay Rosen. 

I introduced a good friend to Twitter a few months ago. He tried it, got frustrated, and quit. A few days ago, for no apparent reason, he checked in again, and found he had gained a good number of interesting followers. He’s been Twittering like mad every day since. I got this message from him just this morning:

So, James, and anyone else debating their investment in Twitter, (or, for that matter, in following me!) in answer to your question, Twitter is for following as many, or as few, conversations as you want. There’s no obigation to follow them all. Or any. If you think unfollowing me is right for you, by all means, go for it. But if you think there’s value by hanging around a bit, I hope you’ll consider it. Dangle your toe. Then come in, the water’s fine.