Twitter, what and why?

[Hishan]

Having been a member of the online community for a few years now (and joining the escapist a few months ago), Ive learned enough about it to shy away from handing my personal details over to everyone with a bandwidth. This has left me with a bit of an ignorance as far as social networking goes, so to broaden my horizons, I ask you (the brilliant people of the escapist) to enlighten me on the subject of twitter.

Namely, what is it?
how does it differ from other sites?
and should I get one?(if at all)

 

[cas]

Twitter is for quickly publishing short messages and announcements. It's like a slower version of IRC.

or a faster version of facebook

 

[megapenguinx]

Twitter is for quickly publishing short messages and announcements. It's like a slower version of IRC.

Twitter is for quickly publishing short messages and announcements. It's like a slower version of IRC.

or a faster version of facebook

These are both true. It lets you put out a status message to all your followers. However, most of the people who have one here tend to use it as a universal chat application. I wouldn't recommend getting one unless you want to chat up some 'pits.

 

[cas]

Twitter is for quickly publishing short messages and announcements. It's like a slower version of IRC.

or a faster version of facebook

LOL, i was just going to say that.

that makes you a slower version of me!

 

[Proteus214]

I had a web technology professor who was absolutely gushing about Twitter when it first came out telling everyone that they needed to get an account ASAP. I honestly thought it was just an online ego booster no different than leaving a witty away message on AIM, but the real interesting developments come from the analysis of mass tweeting. Again, I don't really see much special about it, but all the major web companies have a hard on for it, so good luck to them.

 

[Hishan]

Thank you very much for your fast and useful replies!

Feel free to use this thread for twitter discussion now that my questions are answered (or simply voice more opinions on my questions)

EDIT: also cas, your hilarious