Key observations, messages, and takeaways from a night of Twitter talk at the Berkman Center with my co-presenter Jack Hodgson.

  • There are certainly plenty of new-media enthusiasts who aren’t yet using Twitter, if our small sample size lf eight was any indication. Only only or two of the participants, in fact, had actually tried the service prior to last night.

  • The “what is Twitter?” question remains an intriguing one. The four answers I like to give (none of which is perfect):
    1. (Micro)blogging
    2. Instant messaging
    3. Chat
    4. Virtual water cooler

  • Twitter’s open API has unquestionably helped to fuel its growth, empowering developers to creative imaginative applications and plugins

  • Some call Twitter and other social networking sites a haven for the “lonely”; Jack and I say they reinforce the notion that humans need to connect with others who share similar interests.

  • I Twitter because a majority of the online company I keep is Twittering. If the community migrates elsewhere, I probably will, too.

  • The quick-hit nature of Twitter brings out my natural sarcasm much more naturally than my blogging here does

  • The need to cement and strengthen relationships/friendships started and developed online with face-to-face events is apparent through the skyrocketing popularity of unconferences and other Web 2.0-centric in-person meetups.

  • The Cambridge Common is a great place to go for food, drink, and lively discussion after the meetup proper.

Thanks to Janet Lee, Mike Walsh, Alex Sherman, Jesse Baer, Critt Jarvis, Deb Block-Schwenk, Hurry, and Bill for making sure our presentation became a true and meaningful dialogue.

I look forward to returning to a Berkman Thursdsays event soon — as a participant.

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