I will Twitter

In class last week, I asked Garrett, “Who cares?” when he was talking to us about a relatively new microblogging technology that’s available called Twitter. The ability to tell people what I’m doing at any given moment in my life using 120 characters or less seems like overinforming an underinterested audience.

However, as I was walking into my house and thinking about class, I realized that my tactless question might put me into a particularly undesirable group in, say, a year when this technology takes off. Almost like clockwork, when a new capability is created, someone is around to say, “Who cares?” We can look back now and see all the fools who said “Who cares?” to automobiles, television, the Web and probably just about every other wonderful invention that has made life easier. I wish I hadn’t ranked myself among them, especially since I’m a “try anything once” person. But what’s done is done.

To make retribution for my lack of imagination — and because I’ve since read several strong arguments by Web strategists for its use — I will sign up for Twitter tomorrow. For those who I know have Twitter accounts now (Garrett, Kristen, Becky and Colleen), I will find you and begin following your every activity.

For those who may not have Twitter accounts, either because, like me, you ruled it out as useless, or just because you haven’t gotten around to it yet, why not give a new tool a chance.

Please let my shame of having spoken too soon be a lesson for you.