Not only are tweets discreet chunks of information, but they have an amazing ability to spread. When there’s an earthquake in California, I usually know within one minute (a few months ago I found out 14 seconds after it happened; it took about 15 min for it to appear on usgs.org ).
My favorite feature of twitter is my ability to be passively aware of what my social network is up to. I might only spend a few days a year in person with someone, but through twitter I can keep up with them – and the reverse is true as well. When I go to Boulder, or SF, or DC… I can meet up with people I’ve only met or talked with a few times and have great conversations, know what they’ve been up to, and know what to do when I get there.
By the way, here’s the TED talk I told you about in regards to genes, memes, and temes: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/susan_blackmore_on_memes_and_temes.html
Bill Erickson is a WordPress Consultant who builds custom websites using WordPress as a CMS and Thesis or Genesis as a framework. He’s a cofounder and resident of The Creative Space, and a cofounder of the BIL Conference (the open analog to the TED Conference).
