"Tweeter" is a social networking site. It lets you tell your "network" exactly what you are doing at any particular time. So, for example, if you are getting a haircut you can use Twitter to send out a message that tells your network that you are getting a hair cut. Not that anyone would care.
But "Twitter" is a rage among the younger set. Apparently, they like making everything "public."
Twitter aficionados were alerted to the checkpoint by receiving a "Twitter" notice on their phones telling them about the checkpoint. So, they could avert the checkpoint. Or better yet, maybe not drink and drive!
29 comments:
Before we dismiss Twitter as something that's the "rage among the younger set" (them darn whippersnappers), consider the following:
Many on this blog have been frustrated or unhappy with Council decisions, discussions or questions during meetings. You sit at home and listen, or you sit in the audience and you ask, "Why doesn't Council member so-and-so ask him/her about X?"
Now we have the opportunity to send those brief thoughts via Twitter to the Council members while they are on the dais. Virtually all cell phones have text capabilities, and while it may be initially disruptive to have "tweets" coming in during discussion, it might also be a valuable way for community members to communicate with their elected representatives immediately.
I do not recommend blogging at a computer during a meeting (as Fred Ronstadt did in Tucson some years ago), but Twitter can provide a useful device to increase two-way communication.
To condone Twittering during a meeting may require the Mayor to call for more frequent recesses, if only for the opportunity for the Council members to review their tweets.
For the unititated, Twitter allows 140-character text e-mails between cell-phones and/or computers or Blackberry-type devices.
Yes, it's used to alert people to speed traps, but if it causes drivers to slow down, then that's a good thing, no?
How about posting a separate topic here so that we can discuss using Twitter and other new media to communicate with our elected leaders?
BB,
That's a great idea. We actually already have the capability of sending text messages to cell phones without the use of Twitter. I think that Twitter is designed so that a large number of people can simultaneously get a text message from a single source. So it would work for a council member, say, to send out a timely message to a large group of constituents. But for a constituent to communicate instantly with a council member, that constituent would need only to send a text message or e-mail to that council member. Of course, for council members to receive the text message or e-mail, they would have to be paying attention to their cell phones or laptops during the meeting. I understand that on the floor of the Arizona legislature, all representatives have laptops and can receive e-mails as they come in. It couldn't hurt to ask a few council members if they're open to receiving text messages during meetings. I think they all have cell phones.
Yes, OVM, you GET it. Why not take advantage of every means at our disposal to communicate?
Like I said, as a matter of courtesy to fellow Council members or presenters, it might be necessary for the Mayor to call more frequent but shorter recesses. That way, the Council members' attention would not be drawn away from the matter at hand when they receive tweets during a discussion. They could review their tweets and respond, if they chose, during the recess. Because of the 140 character limit, their responses would have to be short (something new for an elected official!).
I think that OV could break new ground here--at virtually no cost to anyone.
That's just what we need. Something that might make the meetings even longer. Remember, the longer in session, the more harm they can do.
I can see it now. All those in favor signify by saying "Aye". "Just a moment Mayor I need to check my tweets."
Stop the madness.
I wonder if "tweeting" during meetings wouldn't be yet another distraction from those council members, like Council-Person Abbott, who are already in "over their heads."
Imagine them trying to understand an issue, think about it, and look a their "tweets."
Talk about long meetings!
And uninformed votes.
OVOT and ZM--
Your concerns are well-taken. No one wants to make the meetings any longer than they are.
I was only suggesting that there are alternative ways to express your opinion about an issue or, more importantly, to see that a question gets asked during discussion. Tweets would not become a town-hall type referendum on every issue, any more than the number of people at the podium supposedly represents the entire population.
Again, we should embrace and take advantage of new media; we should work to find a way to make it something that ADDS to the discourse. (I cannot account for how Council member Abbott might respond to such multi-tasking, however).
Are you telling me that the council members have their phones on during a formal meeting?
I don't think so.
-NW
Twittering, texting, et al - I believe that for the
purpose of maintaining a semblance of sanity relative to public meetings, this would be a disaster. I recently read that this type of 'multitasking' diminishes results not vice-versa (sorry, I cannot cite the source as I forgot it due to an attempt to multi-task while reading or hearing of it). Yes, b-b, I believe that we do need to find a way to enhance and increase public involvement in our presentations and debates. I have advocated for this in the past by avidly pointing out that by APPROPRIATE and widely publicized public notifications and INTERESTED discussion and debate, putting issues at the forefront
rather than hiding or skimming over them, this could be a start. Unfortunately some of Council don't listen and don't care. Would twittering and tweeting change that attitude?
It appears that almost everywhere I go 'twittering' and 'tweeting' hold up 'the works'. I've seen drivers weave all over the road, I've had dinners in restaurants held up because some can't get off the damned phone to place their order, I've waited in line at grocery stores because a person in front of me was trying to text at the same time trying to utilize a credit card checkout screen, and recently at a concert, distractions were overwhelming because of audible phone conversations, texting, AND some persons holding their phone cameras high, blocking others' views, and sending the concert to their friends - etc, etc., etc.!
Are we a society gone electronics communications mad? Sum o thos peeps out ther sem to thnk so (or whatever). OVOT, b-b , OV MOM, ZMAN - LOL.
I agree with Thinker (Oh no! It's happened again!) and Zev on this one.
The tweets would just take up more time at the meeting and half the tweets would probably be non-constructive anyway. I'm thinking of how many e-mails I get that are a complete waste of my time. I suspect that tweeting is no different.
I hope no one is equating driving while texting to sending an occasional tweet.
I honestly don't know if the Council members have their phones on during meetings. Certainly, past member Parish did as part of his job.
Again, the suggestion is made in order for citizens who may be watching (in person) or via the internet to weigh in on a particular issue, and to ensure that certain questions are asked.
A 6-month trial run might be in order. If it works--great. If it doesn't, it won't be for lack of trying.
Whole can o' worms, b-b! In a public hearing is it not IMPERATIVE that comments or questions be heard by ALL in attendance whether it be from the audience, Staff, or Council? 'Texting' opens an opportunity for 'secret' communications to be conveyed to one member, selected members, or all members but NOT the citizens in attendance, unless ALL communications of this nature be posted on screen IMMEDIATELY AS THEY MIGHT COME IN. B-b, there are enough shenanigans that have reared their ugly heads in the past and present; this will only open up room for more and, as OVOT and VC stated, the lengths of some of these meetings are getting out of hand and this type of communication can only add to that. More openness, more transparency, more attendance, and more INTERACTION between attendees, Council, and Staff - these are the MUSTS that should be emphasized and addressed.
The bottom line is that regardless which who you support on the current Town Council all of you will probably agree we have enough twits at the dais now. Therefore allowing multiple tweets to be sent to the individual twits will only result in mass twitipation.
Have a great weekend!!!
The council would have to appoint a Twitmeister to log all incoming Twiters, emails, and facebook updates. The Twitmeister would then post the comments, screening out the pornographic and Vestar commericals, on a large screen in the chamber. Kind of a running commentary on the proceedings. I nominate OVOT as Twit or is it tweet Meister. -NW
Nombe,
I love your sense of humor! However, putting "pornographic" and "Vestar" in the same sentence is probably insulting to the porn industry.
Now Playing:
Century Plaza Cinemas,
Oro Valley Marketplace
"DEVELOPERS GONE WILD"
(XXX)
Starring: Wally, Tilly, Dick and a few other 'high-end' stars
"A true porn experience"
'Valleywood Today'
"Twitmeister"
LOL
Gotta love you guys!
OK--I know when I'm outnumbered.
Has anyone used Twitter to send a brief e-mail to an individual Council member OUTSIDE of the normal meetings?
It is said that tweets get faster attention than e-mails do. I wonder what everyone's experience is.
B-b, I've used E-mail, regular mail, personal drop-off mail, AND believe it or not, a rare phone call (the BEST method of communication!). Utilizing the 3 first methods I get my messages disseminated to ALL Councilpersons AND, in many instances, selected Staff persons. Yes, I realize that 'twitter' can be utilized for a 'mass' approach, but, that's even more impersonal than e-mail. Sorry, b-b, there are some things that should be left to 'the personal touch' to be effective and I believe that 'twittering' is the LEAST (and besides, are we going to have new generations evolve with curled thumbs?).
bb...Here is my experience.
I have never sent a tweet and never will. I have never received a tweet and hope I don't. I have a cell phone, although I really would like to live my life without one. My 'meet you half way' position is call me, don't text or tweet me.
One of the problems we face in this country, in my opinion, is that too many folks are more interested in playing with technology and less interested is sitting down face to face and resolving issues. There are some excellent applications for fast communications but we are developing into a 'gotta have it now' society. We are losing sight of substance and accuracy because it is being clouded with quickness. Technology is killing folks every day while they are tweeting, texting, sexting, etc instead of driving, talking, meeting and exercising.
Technology is great in it's proper place. I believe we are becoming slaves to technology and that's not good.
Oh, crap! I agree with Thinker again! I never thought I'd see the day that he would express my sentiments EXACTLY, but he just did.
I'm sick of people who can't get off their damn cell phones and blackberries. I had lunch with a friend last year whom I hadn't seen in 6 months. He lives 3 hours away. Prior to him getting the blackberry, we used to have great conversations over lunch. This time he spent the whole time looking at his blackberry.
I've had to listen to people's obnoxious cell phone conversations while I'm at the grocery store or in the waiting room at my doctor's office. My favorite story comes from my husband. He was sitting in a roomful of job applicants waiting to be called into the back office for an interview when the female job applicant sitting next to him received a call on her cell from her boyfriend who proceeded to break up with her over the phone. She began crying hysterically and begging him to not to break up. All this in front of the other job applicants. Our society is nuts!
OVOT - Great post! VC - super follow-up!
I'm getting worried that I keep agreeing with Thinker. Isn't that one of the signs of the apocalypse?
You all make terrific comments about communication in general. As someone who has taught graduate classes in the subject, I could not agree with you more about the way that electronic devices have invaded our lives.
However, we can rage against the storm, or we can work it to our advantage. If short e-mail messages via our phones are, in fact, the current wave, then we should hop on rather than cursing them. Remember, if you don't, then someone else will.
So, while we can sit on the sidelines and use blogs, e-mails, phone calls and letters to communicate with elected officials, Twitter is just another method that is available to us. Do I like it? No. Do I think that there might be a time and place to use it? Yes.
(Remember when none of us wanted to buy a personal computer or a cell phone because we felt that they were unnecessary in our lives?)
ALL THAT 'TWITTERS' IS NOT GOLD.
This has been a great thread. I haven't had this many laughs in weeks.
Next step - 'virtual governance'? Perhaps Oro Valley can meet with Sony and have an internet game set up where all of us OV residents become 'avatars' and can play our version of 'Stepford' in perpetuity.
There goes the LOVE neighborhood!
Ignore new media at your own peril.
If you continue to do what you've always done, you'll continue to get what you've always got.
OR, JUST GRAB ON AND LET IT TAKE YOU FOR A RIDE. B-b, everything has it's time and place. We are amidst a media proliferation blitz. Let it settle and then perhaps we can sort out the applications as are appropriate and STABLE rather than create the potential for creating havoc and a bandwagon effect. I do not agree with your last statement that [just because we may shy away from plunging ahead with the 'new', than it stands to reason that we will continue to get what we have always gotten]; this is NOT a good example of 'cause and effect' as it really doesn't have any basis in fact. EVOLUTION NOT REVOLUTION.
Now, I can see areas where technology might improve realistically certain instances
of conduct. Example: at Council meetings, 'blue cards' are many times taken to the Town Clerk during discussion when, if we had an inner communications system to said Staff Member, the necessary information could be submitted electronically. That IS and HAS BEEN a tested type of audience to 'frontline' communication. Also, that is SELECTIVE, PROVEN, AND A PROVEN EFFICIENCY but it also has no relationship to 'twittering' and the like. Just throwing out a new type of indiscriminate and miss-utilized form of 'new' age' technology is just not a refined application as of yet.
Zev,
I understand your points, and they're well-made.
However, if we wait for perfection, or significant improvement in social media communications (however that is measured), we run the risk of being left behind.
Studies show that, for whatever reason, people are more likely to read and respond quickly to text messages, which is what Twitter really is. If 20 people all sent brief messages to a Council person regarding an issue (as opposed to 20 letters, 20 e-mails, or 20 phone calls), the impact would be much more immediate.
Now, we can wring our hands and despair about what the world is coming to. Or we can jump in and be part of it, even if it is imperfect in your eyes.
Whether it's with a staff member or an elected official, I suggest that Twittering will have significant impact, more so that even this blog or repeated e-mails.
LOVE blog readers--you can Twitter from your computers--you don't have to pay the extra charges to use texting on your cell phones. I suggest that you try it for a few months and report your experience back to all of us.
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