Comments on: Stop Twittering and Go Solve a Problem

By: Novella Yang

Novella Yang — Sun, 20 May 2007 21:54:27 +0000

Scott thanks for a great rant. Although I do use twitter from time to time, I agree with your message about entrepreneurs needing to focus on solving problems.

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 17 May 2007 04:44:23 +0000

Hi Scott:

Your response was spot on to the young, would-be entrepreneur who wanted to create a Twitter clone. He doesn’t have a vision of the problem he wants to solve and without that he will fail.

Twitter may someday be very successful but for now its value proposition is weak. More information isn’t necessarily better as you pointed out, and it’s not unique—there are many ways of connecting with people during the day whether you have something important to say or just want to share what you had for breakfast.

By: Stephen Hay

Stephen Hay — Wed, 16 May 2007 19:42:14 +0000

The way I understand it, Twitter was created in-house at Odeo for their own use, and it’s gradually evolved into something popular. It’s popular because it was the *first*, and it’s popular because it just happened that way. The problem is for the clone-makers, who won’t stand much of a chance of doing anything except wasting their time. I tend to agree with the post. Twitter’s made it’s mark; leave them to it and go make something else.

By: sherry heyl

sherry heyl — Wed, 16 May 2007 14:04:02 +0000

There seems to be a lot of lack of understanding about the purpose of social media tools, such as Twitter, from people who do not use Social Media Tools. There have been a few references here to email. I have gotten to the point where I get frustrated when someone emails me an article or some silly junk. For me, email says “this is urgent please respond.” The arguments about Twitter are very similar to what I heard about blogs a couple of years ago, yet here we are having a conversation on a blog. Regarding time/practical uses and practical business, I can and do make a great case of how this new technology not only make business more efficient, but reduces turnover and enhances team work. No this is not my theory but my business concept with paying clients reaping the benefits.

By: marla64

marla64 — Wed, 16 May 2007 05:09:34 +0000

I see two points to the post. The first complains about the usefulness of Twitter. Twitter seems to be a very polarizing tool so to each his own there.

The second point about the business model and how some young entrepreneurs may be falling into a trap is a very valid point and I think people should stop with the twitter bashing and focus on that instead.

We should push our young entrepreneurs to solve problems as scott says rather than to create a bunch of fads or apps that dont serve much more than a novelty purpose.

By: Rob Cantrell

Rob Cantrell — Wed, 16 May 2007 05:04:45 +0000

I agree with the email angle.

If I find one my employees plugging in their “Twitter update” so that people they work with can see what they are doing, I’m bouncing them out on their ass. They can then “twitter” in the bread line with their fellow “twitterers.” They have better things to do.

Twitter may be fun fo’ the kiddies, but practical uses (sherry) does not equal a practical business, which is what Scott’s post was all about to begin with.

RobC

By: sherry heyl

sherry heyl — Wed, 16 May 2007 03:44:38 +0000

There are some practical uses I have seen written up about twitter. Mostly I have gotten information and links from those that I follow – similar to following blogs. What I find most valuable is the human connection ingredient, which is what all social media is centered around anyway. I am predicting more and more people will become independent contractors and people with the ability to work remotely in the very near future. What twitter offers is a virtual peak around someone’s “cube” to say, “hey, what are you doing?” It is literally a way to stay connected to people you like.

I did not ‘get it’ right away either, but now I log in at least twice a day to see how my friends are doing and provide input on what is going on in my day.

By: Oren Thulmarr

Oren Thulmarr — Wed, 16 May 2007 00:38:21 +0000

All of this talk about “staying in contact” with others is a ridiculous notion to explain the perceived value of Twitter. Can you say “email?” if you want to stay in touch with your friends, use email. The rest of the world does. It is still the killer app to end all killer apps.

By: Ben Koppler

Ben Koppler — Wed, 16 May 2007 00:30:01 +0000

i agree scott. twitter is probably the biggest waste of time i’ve ever seen. i wish some of these entrepreneurs would focus on creating some real value for a change.

By: Chris Messina

Chris Messina — Wed, 16 May 2007 00:10:06 +0000

Hey Scott, interesting comments. I don’t share your sentiments, but I get where you’re coming from.

I guess, as a fellow omnivore, I’ve primarily given up blogs in exchange for Twitter — mostly because I care deeply about the people that I’m subscribed to on Twitter and it’s easier for me to stay in touch with and with the real issues they’re going through than if I tried to stay up on 800 blogs. Now, it’s certainly not a substitute for genuine human interaction, but it is a useful way to get a sense for “ambient intimacy” while I’m not sharing a beer or cup of tea with my Twitter friends.

I can’t say how long it will last or if it’s just another trend that will go out of fashion, but I really appreciate the 140 character limit as a design constraint, and one that really force you to be concise while still being meaningful.

Anyway, Twitter does solve a real problem for me, which is keeping up to date with hundreds of friends that I was falling out of touch with. It certainly isn’t a be-all, end-all, but for me, it helps.