Twitter, Sometimes You Suck

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Twitter – is it an earth-moving game-changing unstoppable force, or a complete waste of time? It goes back and forth, and just can’t seem to pull itself out of its schizophrenic spiral.Why is that?

When the Iranians started protesting their government’s handling of elections, Twitter-folk lept to the challenge providing a platform to get the word out. (#FTW) But, just when you think Twitter’s an OK-guy to have around, it follows that up with the “Jeff Goldblum is dead!” rumor that spread like wildfire. (#FAIL)

Sometimes it’s the wonderful online reputation management tool people like Lisa Barone are trumpeting, and other times it’s how we can find out what our far-flung acquaintances are having for brunch.

Is Twitter the sales juggernaut that Dell says it is? Or is it the realm of SEO scammers?

I won’t even mention the balloon boy fiasco… (Oh wait, I mentioned it. OK, I won’t get into it. There.)

Yesterday’s breaking news about the earthquake in Haiti was followed quickly by calls for financial and emotional support. (#FTW) That has quickly been followed today by scam postings about free flights to Haiti for medical personnel – a false rumor giving airlines a hard time.

(Think, people, with the situation on the ground as it is, do you really think what Haiti needs most is more individuals running around with no idea what to do and no coordinated plan on how to help?

You want to help? Send money to the folks who know how to handle this sort of thing, like the Red Cross. Alternately, go donate blood – it probably won’t help them, but it could help the next big disaster just by being there beforehand.)

Where was I? Oh yeah, Twitter. I’ve been using it for a while now, initially just to “see what it was about.” After all this time, I’m still not entirely sure. Sometimes Twitter can be a powerful force, a channel that can enable change on a massive scale.

And sometimes it can really suck.