Twitter – More Than Just Internet Social Networking
February 16, 2010
There are some great things about Twitter. It contains a plethora of information on just about anything you are interested in. And, it’s a great place to meet people – in the flesh! It’s called a “Tweet-up“ and it has been a fun way to meet and socialize with interesting local people that you may never have been able to meet anywhere else.
So, is Twitter – or Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. – this generation’s social club? My parents belonged to a bunch of “social networking” clubs: American Legion; Moose Lodge; Mason’s; Eastern Star; Shriner’s; Swedish Club… and there were probably others. These weren’t professional business networking organizations, or church, or their kid’s school associations. They joined a variety of organizations to meet other people to have fun, and, well – socialize.
Where do people socialize outside the business world? I’m realizing my “social” activities are mostly business networking. My husband and I are members of the Harley Owner’s Group and have made some great friends there. I’ve met people through my work that are now friends. We live in a world where we are all so “busy” and don’t find time for socializing. And, a lot of the social clubs my parents belonged don’t appeal to me.
I’ve heard lots of people (including myself!) cringing when they think of some of the on-line social networking - “it takes too much time”, “it’s too hard”, “it’s just too overwhelming”… Then, I think of my parents and all the clubs they belonged to. They looked at it as fun and a way to meet interesting people “outside of the street on which they lived”.
At one time I was in the perspective of thinking of Twitter as this nebulous on-line cumbersome “thing” that would take up a lot of time. One of the perspectives I’m taking now is that it’s a way to meet fun, interesting people. Also, it’s a way to learn great information about things I am passionate about from people all around the world that I would not normally run into in my daily life.
And the biggest, greatest thing about Twitter – if I need help with something, and send out a tweet about it, I can instantly get between 1 and 100 responses back from people who are truly wanting to help or have the answer.
The tweet-ups are a lot of fun, and I’ve met some very cool people. So, what do you think? Is Twitter/Facebook/etc. “the next generation” of our parent’s/grandparent’s social clubs?
Norma Dompier, Business Consultant/Coach, RedBike International