Reasons Why I Hate Twitter

Of all the exciting websites to emerge in 2008, I find that I enjoy Twitter the least.

The site itself seems to cause me some extra loss of time every single day. I check to see which one of my friends has twittered, and I place a small message with the characters available. However, I think I could use this time for something creative or productive.

The main benefit of Twitter is that I can reach a large number of people with a real-time update. The downside is that there are not many characters available to post that Twitter. I suppose if I had a more exiciting life, I would have more interesting things to Twitter. My updates are typically written when I am bored. One of my typical things to post: "Ate dinner, now back to studying global politics. Sudan and Darfur still in crisis."

I still have a blog. I find my blog competing for attention with my Twitter account. What's the point of keeping a blog if Twitter is a faster option? At least with a blog, I can post pictures and links and added content. With Twitter, there's not enough space to post a link without using a "tiny-url". And there's no way to post a picture.

I suppose with celebrities who want to provide a minute-by-minute account of their lives, Twitter provides an outlet for narcissism. There's no logical need to post your daily minutiae. Posting an update about your likes or dislikes in an immediate fashion provides no great benefit to society. At least most celebrities are famous for their contributions to media - movies, music and television at least provide entertainment.

At some point in the future, it may be conceivable that a Twitter could be used in a courtroom. People who Twitter about their crimes, or admit their guilt using Twitter, could be prosecuted using their Twitter posts. In some litigation, all media posts made by a defendant can be used against that person. Twitter provides yet another outlet for imbecilic thoughts - it is essentially public information. Newly-graduated law students may find that their Twitter accounts are subject to vetting by their prospective employers.

A satirical website, www.cursebird.com, has a live-feed of any curses posted on Twitter.com. It's hilarious to see people ranting and raving in the span of so few characters. Any relevant curse word is posted in real time.

Recently, Mark Cuban was fined by the NBA for making comments on his Twitter. It seems like a private space to emote your private opinions, but because anyone can view a Twitter post, these private thoughts are open to censorship and scrutiny. Who cares what Mark Cuban was Twittering? He has a right to an opinion - there was no defamation of character in that Twitter, merely an expression of frustration. So what?

When a politician Twitters, their personal preferences and aspirations can be revealed. Sadly, during the recent Presidential Address, professional politicians were Twittering like high schoolers. Despite their elected position and power, it seems that the issues that the President was addressing were mere scribbles during an uninteresting lecture.

According to Twitter's Terms of Service, Twitter does not exert any claim on an individual's posting. Twitter does not technically own your Twittered information.

Twitter, while a fun distraction from mundane life, causes our society to withdraw into narcissistic ramblings. We're posting for no reason other than to see our own writing published. Our lives really aren't that exciting, there's nothing to prove with Twitter.

One thing I will admit is that Twitter has captured our collective attention. Human beings are by nature inquisitive, and the price of novelty is immense.