I describe Twitter as a web-based app that's somewhere between a blog and a public instant messenger client. (Blog can also be anything contextually relevant to the person I'm talking to, myspacer, etc). It's public with some private messaging abilities. We converse to our buddy list in the public view. In response to those that don't use it like that (and use it as designed: a status poster) I simply compare it to the status or mood message that's part of many IM programs. - Eric Rice
I tend to steer clear of 'chat room' only cuz of old-school 'seedy' implications. IMs are much more normal and acceptable. Anyway, I've had a higher level of success wrt: comprehension of it. People who might not 'get' it are generally not interested in interacting with the world, one of the most annoying assumptions in social media, that everyone *wants* to be social. Hence my year long prediction on the rise of anti-social media. - Eric Rice
When I explain it I try to make it relevant to the listener in their terms. So for example, like CB radio, you can ask for information from many listening and many may answer. Or like a mailing list, many people choosing to participate in multithreaded conversations. - Shamir Katsu
Not having time for this kinda thing is the same as not having time for a social life. "I'm too busy to talk" scales between lots of people and one-on-one. In fact, the more people, the more work. Just like at parties. Ever blow off a party cuz you just aren't in the mood to deal with it? Kinda like that. Besides, sometimes we want to meet someone and talk offline. Share wisdom in private w/o the peanut gallery. - Eric Rice
How I describe Twitter depends a lot on who I'm talking to. However, when talking to GenX/Yers, I'll often describe watching Twitter as similar to watching your minifeed in Facebook, but with conversation/interaction. Generally young(ish) people get that. - Dan Patterson
I try to go for it in terms of facebook: status update + wall + link list. Also general junk drawer for your brain, way to interact with incredibly interesting people on a low-key way, being in California at the beginning of the Gold Rush panning for goodies. - Cat Laine
“Emergent behavior: In GTA 4 today, a bunch of us inventing a new game helped a dude who rolled his car, turn it right-side UP. Isn't this where we should be killing people, not towing 'em out of the mud? Discuss. :)”
emergent or genetic? Humans are hard wired to collaborate and share just as we are hardwired for violence and aggression. the argument could be made that "helping" behaviours, so common to reciprocation structures in MMOs are just migrating to GTA because GTA now allows for multiplayer social interactions. - melmcbride
I think it's fascinating because of the context. When I brought up about having access to the mini games and more 'spaces' (a la virtual worlds), it seemed to be kinda well received. Look how close Rockstar Games can be to making an amazing virtual world. It's not that hard. The issue is (and always will be) how MUCH user freedom do you allow wrt: user made content? - Eric Rice
that's funny you should mention that Rockstar came close to making an amazing virtual world. that's precisely how I played GTA - I just drove around and explored. Granted, it wasn't enormous but it was a lot bigger than any other console environment I'd inhabited. Nobody gets this sort of exploratory "play" ... but that's what I like to do. speaking of which, I'm going into PMOG so I can get myself an alpha badge ha ha :) - melmcbride
