Twitter, anyone?

Three days ago, the unthinkable happened.

I got a Twitter.

Yep... you read that right. I signed up for my very own Twitter.

So why is that unthinkable? For the last couple of months, I've been bashing Twitter and saying why it was absolutely ridiculous and pointless. And then I actually went to the Twitter website. Obviously, that visit to their homepage changed my perspective on Twitter, so much so that I am the proud owner of a Twitter myself.

So why exactly did I get a Twitter? Because it helps keep me connected. And anybody that knows me knows that I like to stay connected. Now, Twitter doesn't have all the added features of Facebook. It doesn't have all of the pictures you've taken, the videos you've recorded, or the random applications you've added to your page to make it look more "fly." And it doesn't have the collegiate feel of Facebook either... even though that last part is going away very quickly; it's scaring me how many Facebook friends I have over the age of 40.

But that's exactly what makes Twitter great. As much as I love Facebook, it gets way too unnecessarily cluttered at times. Sure, I'd love to hear about your amazing summer vacation in the Bahamas, but do I really need to see a whole photo album from your trip on my homepage? I think not.

Well, maybe I want to see the 5 billion quizzes you've taken on Facebook about your personality, what your name means, what your birth month means, what your... wait... I really don't care about that either.

What do I care about then? The same thing that Twitter does. All I do is tell Twitter what I'm up to, in 140 characters or less, and everybody following my Twitter will know what I'm up to as well.

Let me just put it this way: KISS... "Keep It Simple, Stupid."

Intrusive? Maybe.

Nosy? Probably.

Fun (to me)? Definitely.

Now not everybody's going to like Twitter. There will still be those that view this as an unnecessary invasion of privacy that allows everyone to see what you're doing at all times. And that's exactly why those people don't have to sign up for it.

For the rest of us, it's a very clean, effortless, and useful tool to keep abreast of what's going on with your favorite people. For example, when I was embarking on an all-nighter in the library yesterday, my dad, who wants to stay up-to-date on my academic happenings, got an update as soon as I changed my Twitter status. He sent me a message later that night, telling me not to work too hard... and that he had just enjoyed a "thrilling episode of 24." Thanks, Dad... not only did I miss out on sleep, but I missed my favorite show on television. Great.

(Just kidding Dad... you know I appreciate the advice.)

That's why I like Twitter, though. From either my computer or my phone, I can update anybody that wants to know what I'm up to.

And that's all.

Twitter keeps it simple. So don't be stupid. Get a Twitter, and Tweet away. You'll be glad you did.