Comments on: Twitter vs IM from my (Introverted) Perspective http://peter.upfold.org.uk/blog/2009/01/08/twitter-vs-im-from-my-introverted-perspective/ My personal site and blog Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:56:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Nick Charlton http://peter.upfold.org.uk/blog/2009/01/08/twitter-vs-im-from-my-introverted-perspective/comment-page-1/#comment-130895 Nick Charlton Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:53:43 +0000 http://peter.upfold.org.uk/blog/?p=644#comment-130895 I find it quite ironic that you posted this around this time. I have been starting to think the same for quite a while, IM is far more of a burden than it used to be. Unfortunately, non of my close friends use Twitter so I cannot move entirely off IM. I find now that I fail to login deliberately to be left alone. Very anti-social, but at the same time, if you see me daily, you have my phone number and you have my email address I am still around. Regarding Sam's comment about the IM etiquette; I'm finding this more true now than ever. Just yesterday a friend was online, but "busy". My opinion is that if you are that busy, then why are you staying online? And why don't you adjust your status? I find that Twitter is a far more convenient medium and email fills the gap for longer conversations. The permanence of messages is also quite useful, and somewhat fills the gap with not many using it. I find it quite ironic that you posted this around this time. I have been starting to think the same for quite a while, IM is far more of a burden than it used to be.

Unfortunately, non of my close friends use Twitter so I cannot move entirely off IM. I find now that I fail to login deliberately to be left alone. Very anti-social, but at the same time, if you see me daily, you have my phone number and you have my email address I am still around.

Regarding Sam’s comment about the IM etiquette; I’m finding this more true now than ever. Just yesterday a friend was online, but “busy”. My opinion is that if you are that busy, then why are you staying online? And why don’t you adjust your status?

I find that Twitter is a far more convenient medium and email fills the gap for longer conversations. The permanence of messages is also quite useful, and somewhat fills the gap with not many using it.

]]> By: Hidama http://peter.upfold.org.uk/blog/2009/01/08/twitter-vs-im-from-my-introverted-perspective/comment-page-1/#comment-130892 Hidama Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:27:35 +0000 http://peter.upfold.org.uk/blog/?p=644#comment-130892 This is exactly how I've explained Twitter to my friends - and this is why I love Twitter. I dislike IMs and stay offline for a long periods of time. Twitter, on the other hand, appeals to me; I can communicate with many people on my own time. It especially works well with international communication - you don't have to set up awkward late night/early morning "meetings." This is exactly how I’ve explained Twitter to my friends – and this is why I love Twitter. I dislike IMs and stay offline for a long periods of time. Twitter, on the other hand, appeals to me; I can communicate with many people on my own time. It especially works well with international communication – you don’t have to set up awkward late night/early morning “meetings.”

]]> By: Sam http://peter.upfold.org.uk/blog/2009/01/08/twitter-vs-im-from-my-introverted-perspective/comment-page-1/#comment-130890 Sam Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:22:48 +0000 http://peter.upfold.org.uk/blog/?p=644#comment-130890 Brilliant post - and echoes my exact same feelings. As someone who's riddled with shyness, I've struggled with IM for years while all my mates were doing it and trying to encourage me. Peer pressure ;) The whole 'online', 'away' and especially the 'do not disturb' labels on IM just unsettle me. If I hop online and someone is set to 'away' then I'm not sure whether I should say hello or just go offline without saying a word. I have done the latter and later that 'away' friend said "Why didn't you say hello?!". There seems to be such an etiquette with IM and it's easy to upset people with these statuses. And I just find general chatter to be such a drain on my brain. Once you've got past the "Hi, how are you today?" then it's all a bit awkward. It has it's uses, for tech help for example as it's easier to talk someone through something over IM, but for me that's the only time I use it. Twitter is the happy medium. Quicker than e-mail, much less awkward and intrusive than IM. It's almost real-time but no pressure as it's not one-on-one the way IM is. I honestly don't know how I communicated with people before Twitter. I'm glad to see another Twitterer who feels the same way and sees the service the way I do :) Brilliant post – and echoes my exact same feelings.

As someone who’s riddled with shyness, I’ve struggled with IM for years while all my mates were doing it and trying to encourage me. Peer pressure ;) The whole ‘online’, ‘away’ and especially the ‘do not disturb’ labels on IM just unsettle me. If I hop online and someone is set to ‘away’ then I’m not sure whether I should say hello or just go offline without saying a word. I have done the latter and later that ‘away’ friend said “Why didn’t you say hello?!”. There seems to be such an etiquette with IM and it’s easy to upset people with these statuses. And I just find general chatter to be such a drain on my brain. Once you’ve got past the “Hi, how are you today?” then it’s all a bit awkward. It has it’s uses, for tech help for example as it’s easier to talk someone through something over IM, but for me that’s the only time I use it.

Twitter is the happy medium. Quicker than e-mail, much less awkward and intrusive than IM. It’s almost real-time but no pressure as it’s not one-on-one the way IM is. I honestly don’t know how I communicated with people before Twitter.

I’m glad to see another Twitterer who feels the same way and sees the service the way I do :)

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