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> wouldn't you prefer to actually get it direct from the source and not via twitter? Unless you can meet the source in person every time you need a medium to g

by hk__2 10y ago

> wouldn't you prefer to actually get it direct from the source and not via twitter? Unless you can meet the source in person every time you need a medium to get information, and Twitter serves that purpose.

tedunangst 10y ago
Is it absolutely essential that the medium be twitter?
- Roarosaur 10y ago
  No, but we currently do not know of/have any other medium that serves that particular niche purpose.
  - chris_wot 10y ago
    Goodness, what did we ever do before Twitter?
    - GrinningFool 10y ago
      We went whole hours without receiving our critical stream of data. Frankly I'm amazed that we survived those dark days as a species.
    - roninb 10y ago
      I don't think anyone in this subthread is suggesting Twitter can't be replaced (some are actually just arguing that it's the only current way to get direct, first-hand information about current events). What are you adding to the conversation here? What did we actually do before Twitter? There was a shooting at my university's library late at night a few years back and I only found out about it because of Twitter. I know about 50 people that were actually physically in the library at the time and a handful of them were live-tweeting. I not only knew what was going on, and that they were safe, I was warned not to go about 200m south at the moment (which happened to be the plan, the bar my SO and I were going to was on the opposite side of campus). When I looked the next morning, there was one (1) article about it on a local website and nothing in national or regional media. Later that afternoon a ton of info came out and hit the media, but until then, there really wasn't anything. That showed me the power of Twitter (however stupid and cliche I sound saying that [look typing?]). Just because something isn't necessary to survive as a human being, or to allow society to function properly, doesn't mean it shouldn't be fought for (again, not necessarily saying Twitter as a company, but the idea of a social network that allows for immediate sharing of ideas and news) or at the very least appreciated. Do you not see the utility or are you just being a cynic?
- rtpg 10y ago
  Twitter is a great medium for it, since it's public by default. It's the easiest way for a random person to hold their own press conference. People can easily ask short questions, and get short answers. All from their phone
- yoz-y 10y ago
  No but Twitter is already there, is unprecedented and it works.
- leereeves 10y ago
  It's absolutely essential that the medium of public communication not be controlled by a small group of people. Twitter doesn't meet that standard.
mrweasel 10y ago
>Twitter serves that purpose The Internet serves that purpose. You don't need Twitter, there's a ton of other ways to get news directly from the source. If you're arguing that "Twitter makes it visible", then yes, if you follow the right people or other share you interests, but in that case even Facebook would work.

by hk__2 10y ago

tedunangst 10y ago

Is it absolutely essential that the medium be twitter?

Roarosaur 10y ago
No, but we currently do not know of/have any other medium that serves that particular niche purpose.
- chris_wot 10y ago
  Goodness, what did we ever do before Twitter?
  - GrinningFool 10y ago
    We went whole hours without receiving our critical stream of data. Frankly I'm amazed that we survived those dark days as a species.
  - roninb 10y ago
    I don't think anyone in this subthread is suggesting Twitter can't be replaced (some are actually just arguing that it's the only current way to get direct, first-hand information about current events). What are you adding to the conversation here? What did we actually do before Twitter? There was a shooting at my university's library late at night a few years back and I only found out about it because of Twitter. I know about 50 people that were actually physically in the library at the time and a handful of them were live-tweeting. I not only knew what was going on, and that they were safe, I was warned not to go about 200m south at the moment (which happened to be the plan, the bar my SO and I were going to was on the opposite side of campus). When I looked the next morning, there was one (1) article about it on a local website and nothing in national or regional media. Later that afternoon a ton of info came out and hit the media, but until then, there really wasn't anything. That showed me the power of Twitter (however stupid and cliche I sound saying that [look typing?]). Just because something isn't necessary to survive as a human being, or to allow society to function properly, doesn't mean it shouldn't be fought for (again, not necessarily saying Twitter as a company, but the idea of a social network that allows for immediate sharing of ideas and news) or at the very least appreciated. Do you not see the utility or are you just being a cynic?
rtpg 10y ago
Twitter is a great medium for it, since it's public by default. It's the easiest way for a random person to hold their own press conference. People can easily ask short questions, and get short answers. All from their phone
yoz-y 10y ago
No but Twitter is already there, is unprecedented and it works.
leereeves 10y ago
It's absolutely essential that the medium of public communication not be controlled by a small group of people. Twitter doesn't meet that standard.

mrweasel 10y ago

>Twitter serves that purpose The Internet serves that purpose. You don't need Twitter, there's a ton of other ways to get news directly from the source. If you're arguing that "Twitter makes it visible", then yes, if you follow the right people or other share you interests, but in that case even Facebook would work.