It has to be said. You don’t know what you’re talking about. Yes, you! I mean it!

Fact is, I don’t either. We need to understand this fact!

I have been using Twitter for a while now and am finding it quite rewarding. I’ve spoken about it on my podcast, in online forums and in general to people around me. Almost without exception, those who don’t use it are scathing of it. The only comparison I can draw is that it is as ‘unfashionable’ (to non-users) as Abba was when they were at the height of their fame.

Bruce Simpson had a go in his Daily Aardvark column recently and I had a few words to say there. Yesterday, my own mother asked me if I used it and when I said yes, the look on her face was “why do you get caught up in this crazy stuff?” Her view of it has been formed by hearing about it in mainstream media. Therein lies the problem.

Back to you, dear reader. If you actually know about Twitter from personal experience or by objective and substantive study, you can sit back and agree with me (I bet you do!) while I chastise the others.

I bet your view of Twitter is that it is filled with celebrities and nobodys and that everyone is saying what they’re eating for lunch, right? Why would anyone want to know what I’m having for lunch, or that I’m standing in a queue at the supermarket? Who cares what Britney Spears is saying today? Right?

Well, that’s like not buying the daily newspaper because you’re not a sports fan. Or not going into supermarkets because you hate packaged and processed foods. Or not eating at KFC because it’s greasy. Or, not eating at KFC because someone told you they don’t treat the chickens well.

What do you know? I mean what do you know? The answer, admit it, is very, very little. Have you actually seen all of KFC’s source chicken farms yourself? Have you seen their menu lately? (Hint, it’s not all greasy, deep fired chicken.) Have you seen fresh produce in the supermarket? You have? Really? With your own eyes?  Of course you have, so my statement above about supermarkets is silly, right?

The fact is that you know so little about Twitter that you’re prepared to take whatever anyone tells you as the complete and total truth, but you’re not prepared to put any time in finding out the real story. Now I’m sure you know not to trust everyone who tells you stuff, but you trust the 6 o’clock news, right? It’s the source of authoritative information, right? You trust them, don’t you?

I’m telling you now. DON’T! The mainstream media economises with the truth, sensationalises and sometimes just lies.

Now, a quick lesson for you. Do you believe everything I just said about the mainstream media? You shouldn’t. There’s no reason to take my word any more than another’s.  Find out for yourself. Find multiple, credible sources for your information and make up your mind based on a reasonable amount of information. The ‘net is at your finger tips. If you want, leave a comment and I can point you to examples of shockingly poor journalism that misleads the public.

Oh, and Twitter? It’s a great tool for some people. I’m happy to accept it’s not for everyone. But in your research, look for objective discussion. Hint: Anyone who says it’s going to take over the world, or who uses insulting language is probably not objective.

There. I said it!