Great post Laura. I really appreciate the “village” concept. I do find that my friends in Twitter-land are quickly becoming “F”riends (see C.C.: http://www.managingthegray.com/2007/12/05/friends-vs-friends/)

Looking forward to connecting on the conference circuit in ‘08.

Cheers,
Dave
http://www.twitter.com/davedelaney

I’m so happy to be in your village. What a wonderful analogy to use for this community that has become such an integral part of my life. For me Twitter is the place where business, technology and really smart, interesting new friends intersect. As someone who knows the isolation of working from home, my Twitter village is a portal to the world that keeps me inspired and informed every day.

So, if I see you in the coffee shop, the next one’s on me.

@adelemcalear

Now, describe it in 140 characters!

Oh wait. You did.

“a critical mass of interesting people.”

Thanks for being one of them.

Well done. Must forward this post to my many colleagues who ‘don’t get it.’

Twitter is my village too.

Having been active in online communities for nearly 13 years I’ve developed the attitude that my online friends and “family” are often closer to my heart than the so-called “real world” friends and family.

The people we are fondest of in our online circles are people we choose to have part of our lives. Real world people are often there because they are friends by proximity rather than truly kindred spirits. We can’t block & delete in the real world.

Things like the death of Ashley and the cancer diagnosis of Susan bring us all closer together and really put a lens on the people that matter to us despite their A/S/L.

My online “family” have helped and supported me through some of the darkest days in my life in ways that my real world friends & family never could.

When the call came through to me the other night about Ashley I really fell apart, as did most of the people I talked to that night on the phone. Reading 140 characters at a time about someone’s life doesn’t seem like a way to get to know a person, but somehow over time it happens.

I followed Ashley’s pregnancy, played the birth date guessing game and after the baby was born sent a handmade quilt. I could identify with her having two small children and trying to cope (I wore those house slippers a very long time ago.)I encouraged her when I could–in 140 characters or less.

PreppyDude used the term *tribe* to me last week when talking about our connected circle of Twitter friends. It is a community with different tribes that merge and ripple off in different directions, and then ripple back again.

I’m not sure Twitter is something that can be explained, it has to be experienced. Some people never get it, instead focusing on raising their number of followers even higher. For me, it’s about the people, the sharing, the caring and the love.

I have to think that Ashley would be so proud of all of us coming together to do our part to help her family. I know I’m quite proud of all of us.

:o)

That was fantastic. You put words to what I’ve been thinking about Twitter too. And I love “twecosystems.” Great work.

Great Post!

It is amazing to not only share with people ON Twitter, but to hear how the community has shaped their lives, careers, and even families.

@Ninety7

Well written. I think you captured the essence of Twitter. It can be a valuable social tool.

Profound. Simple. Honest. Insightful.

The power of Twitter, and the value it holds, unfolds uniquely for each of it’s impassioned users. From enhancing existing relationships with even those we interact with frequently IRL (like w/ my roommate) to connecting with new individuals and ideas, both alike and unalike, but nevertheless intriguing.

As someone who is shy to make friends of people online that are not first known IRL, I find myself much more open to, even highly interested in, the idea of going to meetups and social media events organized around Twitter when I would not venture to do the same with any other platform. I have found this perplexing, but attribute it to the authenticity enabled by Twitter. It seems the best platform for letting our professional, personal, virtual, fanatic, and every other category of self interweave as it does IRL. Thus, our personalities suffer less from censorship. We express our attributes and faults, our aspirations and fears, in more equal measure, and our dimensionality as humans is exposed. We are more quickly able to discern those aspects of another that may form a basis for meaningful interaction. And we engage them more readily because they are less unknown to us.

An intriguing phenomena indeed.

(Also, a thank you to @gapingvoid for Twittering a link to this post.)

I don’t think I’m going to be able to think of Twitter as anything other than a weird, ethereal village now. Thanks, I think.

It’s a bit like a real-world family too - there are still the relations who you love-to-hate…

Twitter is awesome. Tyring to get hubbie on but he lives at Wikipedia right now. He may be getting smarter, but I will have more friends!

Yeah, this is what most people who don’t get Twitter fail to understand. Most human interaction is not of the “deep and meaningful” kind. Most human interaction is just saying “Nice day, huh?” to the mailman or “How about them Red Sox” to the woman who runs the newsstand. But the latter is SO IMPORTANT.

90-percent-plus of human communication is NOT about the content.

Great post!

You’re right, at first it seems so wierd on twitter, but it’s so easy to follow people around and be part of conversations (albeit from sidelines). Some threads you get, some you don’t, I can totally relate to the village mind concept.

Great post! It really explains the usefulness and value of the Twitter community. I will share it with my friends who still don’t get it.

@warrenss

Great post about Twitter! Connecting with the brains and hearts is completely true. I’ve learned so much from the village.

Excellent way to discribe Twitter, and more importantly the relationships being developed there. I too had that “aha” moment when Twitter started to make sense. I’ve had some great discussions, and have continued learning more about people and the interactions than I would normally not have had a chance at. Your post addresses a lot of what Twitter means to me and, like several people, I’ll be pointing Twitcurious friends here, in hopes that it helps them understand what Twitter can be.

Regards,
@RickMahn

Nicely put. Twitter is the spark plug for my imagination and in the process, I’ve grown to the personalities that I’m loosely connected with.

I’m amazed at the speed of adoption and how fast twitter has killed my other worlds (RSS, FB, and search). I don’t live in them anymore, I now reference them.

And the creativity of uses has just begun.

Oh, and for news feeds, Twitter hits it way out of the park. U can cpy jhaggardnews 2 get started.

Rest in peace Ashley.

I do a lot of social networking via my desktop at my office (it’s part of my job), but not so much via handheld or phone — which, I think, is what is needed to really make Twitter MY village.

Well done! I love from idiotic to brilliant, how funny! And yes, when you see the trends en masse, it can be quite enjoyable.

touching, sad, captures the moment, such a unique view on a topic that is covered usually in a banal way.

What could I add to that but, “Preach it, sister!”

@revtriste

Laura - love it! as with friends, you walk down the street with, on those walks you naturally meet and get to know friends of your friends through bursts of conversations.

twitter is the best
http://www.twitter.com/mufan96

I tell many people in my “physical world” which is made up of “workplaces of the future,” “reverse hoteling,” “conference calls,” and very little face-t-face meetings that I feel more connected to my Twitter network than I do with my work networks.

True:

I don’t agree with everyone.
I’m not a sports fan.
I’m not a programmer.

The avatars the right hand side of my screen show diversity in many ways - of opinion, of background, of identify; however, the one thing we all have in common (which is on a spectrum) is that we communicate in the Twitterverse - some reply more broadly than others; some are A-Listers; some are jumping up and down begging to be heard - to be comforted - to be cheered on - to be included (and are!).

I don’t know what I would have done without Twitter - I’ve had some tough times myself but use Twitter as a way to get the laughs and connections going.

Laura, thanks for being part of my little Twitter village.

Ami’s Twitter village - where folks say “Good Morning!”

http://twitter.com/achitwood

I agree- Twitter is a village, a way to stay connected over time and space, and a way to get answers to questions from a personally vetted audience that cares. And I can talk about the mundane or the profound, and it’s fun either way.

Twitter lets me catch up with everyone simultaneous without a phone call or full email which seems to take for attention cycles- it’s ambient company, and I can go catch up with friends if I feel a little isolated or lonely, too.

And then there’s the fact I am meeting a twitter buddy tommorrow for a walk around Longwood Gardens, to meet face to face and chat- what could be better- real world, virtual world, all connecting and sharing.

I think you’re spot on about the [tweco]-village analogy.

@cat_laine

This is a great post, and a wonderful explanation for the newbie of why Twitter is good. I had someone call me yesterday and ask “Have you heard of Twitter.” I replied with a cautious “Yes” - they wanted to know if it was worth it. I said yes, but felt like I hadn’t explained it well. Now when someone asks I’ll just email them the link to this post.

I’m currently being moderately offensive about a slaughtered lamb and asking the community for good lounge music recommendations. I LOVE TWITTER!

p.s. I’m so glad there was a fund, it felt good to donate.

Simply eloquent. Yes. “Village” is so hard to come by as an entrepreneur. Twitter has made it easier. “Tweeting” for me has become like comfort food - a place I turn for a quick break to pick me up and keep on keeping on with my entrepreneurial productivity. Thanks for sai g it well.

http://twitter.com/wellnesscoach

I recently wrote a post on my blog about my love affair with and my use of twitter. It definitely doesn’t get fun and interesting until you join and be very active in participating on conversations.

Brava!!

You’ve eloquently put into words what so many of us feel about Twitter, and our friends and “village”mates thereon.

Thank you!

Laura –
Thank you so much for this!
And sometime this spring, when you see a bunch of pageviews from IPs in Vegas, you will know that my students are reading this in class as they learn about Twitter

Laura -

I don’t know that anyone could have said it better. I am sharing this with many of my friends who keep looking at me like I have 2 heads when I rave about Twitter.
Thank you!

This is an amazing post.And you were the person to say it. I’m going to send this around to my senior management (the people who always ask me - “Why?”).

I didn’t know about Ashley - That puts so much in perspective. Thank you for the links.

Twitter has opened me up in so many ways and brought so many new friends and experiences i my life. One of which is you.

Take care.

That’s probably the best, most insightful post about Twitter that I’ve ever read, Jeremiah Owyang notwithstanding. You’ve truly cracked the nut to reveal the meat of the role Twitter truly serves and explained the “why” we use it.

I especially love what you had to say about tribe-finding. I’m pretty much a misfit and, yet, Twitter is a place where I find I belong. It’s my village too.

Great post. Thank you.

Laura - you summed up the “village’s” sentiments perfectly in your eloquent post. I have to say, I’m sitting here writing this comment with tears in my eyes as I read your note about @AshPEAMama - I had no idea.

I have a tough time explaining to non-twitter folks (like my wife) why Twitter is such a valuable and relationship oriented tool. Intellectually, I think people understand but they can’t fathom the “experience” of the village.

I’ve only been on Twitter for about four months but already I’ve created friendships with dozens of online friends (many of which I met offline an then followed or vice versa.) Viva Twitter!

Thank you for taking the time to frame this conversation.

@astrout

I love your post. I found Twitter at the end of 2007 when reading Beth Kanter’s Blog about Susan Reynolds. I was moved and immediately got the feeling of community that we all need and is sometimes hard to find. Explaining it to friends has proven very difficult to me, you have done the job beautifully.
Have you read the post @Tindle wrote in November about ashPEAmama ? Its another powerful Twitter testament.
please read http://tindle.wordpress.com/2007/11/20/above-and-beyondreality-twitter/
with love and gratitude,
@Bernie63

Great post - I’ve tried to explain Twitter to my friends and family who aren’t currently on it. They don’t get it and my advice to them is always go check it out and start using it. It’s amazing the information, advice and experiences you learn about through this “village”.

oops, forgot to add my Twitter account to my comment: @melgallant

Wonderful post! Micro media is one of social media’s most powerful vehicles for bringing disparate people together to create relationships, form a virtual village, and eventually friendships. To paraphrase Aristotle - true friends are two people (or several Twitter followers) that share a soul. @crbrowning

Great post! Going to send a link to it to a ton of people.

Love this! I’m going to link it from my blog for friends who don’t “get” Twitter, this is the best explanation I’ve read yet.

This is great. I think you are absolutely right. With the number of ways to interact with people growing so rapidly these days, its nice to have insight to how you (others and we can use) tools like Twitter.

super post, the layers are what is important!

You’ve nailed it on several points here Laura and I have been working on a related post myself. So many people I talk to want to know more. I will link to you and we’ll keep the convo going!

Twitter brings out the heart in people, I think because we feel safe within the confines of 140 characters and the speed with which things come and go. The good vibes are evergreen though and that is part of why “we” cherish it I think.

So glad you’re in my village.

I read about Twitter when Googling Todd Mundt who is now at Iowa Public Broadcasting, with whom I worked at Michigan Radio back when he hosted NPR’s national show “The Todd Mundt” show. I wanted to reconnect with him. I think I was travelling through Oklahoma or somewhere (follow me on Twitter and you’ll see I move around just a bit) and found an article about him with Todd (@toddmundt) discussing Twitter. I immediately signed up. Wow, what a change in my life.

First it was Ann Miller (@annohio). What wonderful woman. And then there was @brendajos, @newmediajim, @pistachio (that’s You!) and many others leading me to @ashpreggo.

I actually met Ann in person. My five year thinks every Cracker Barrel restaurant is in Ohio and now he’s a hopeless Skittles addict (thanks @annohio and Twitter!) all from “tweeting” up with her in real life. I’ve since met @livingfrisbee and @kelly_scribner. I’ve had countless phone conversations with many including breaking the bad news to @annohio about @ashpeamama’s passing. So, this is just a little bit more than typing 140 characters. All it takes is a DM with folks you develop trust in, which leads to e-mail and phone number exchanges. Voila - you have some great friends.

I really enjoy Twitter. I am proud to be a part of it. I’m honored to have been paired up with Laura in a dancing picture by Susan Reynolds! It is fun and it does develop tight bonds with between many. Excellent post.

Thank you Laura for a wonderful post.

http://www.twitter.com/mosqueda

As a single woman and somewhat reclusive writer (or a writer going through a reclusive phase, rather …) I find my Twitter village to be a warm, wonderful and welcoming extended family. It helps me stay in touch with my “real” friends as well, although the distinction is sometimes blurry. I’ve never met AnnOhio, yet she sent me a little “knitty ditty …” I’ve never met Critt, but we write poetry together. I’ve never met YOU, and we sing on New Year’s Eve. And of the way we’ve helped people with illness, hardship and grieving, I don’t even have words.

What’s really beautiful about all this (in a yoga sort of way) is that it develops little by little, organically. There is no drastic measure. Nothing ever feels forced — it’s not like we’re awkward socialites forced to make fake conversation at a high-brow tea party. We’re here because we want to be, not because we have to. That feels *really* good all the time.

I feel very strongly that these are “tribes” that were just waiting to be born. People (energetically speaking) who were just waiting for the right medium to bring them together.

Thank you for this post, Laura.

Late to this stream, but early to the Twitter conversation, I just wanna say that the “Twitter is my Village” is awesome..

My take is that “Twitter is my pub”, “Social Media is my village”… In “The Pub”, I have my personal conversations, those truthful chats, the casual “buy a stranger a pint” moments (equivalent of giving a “stranger” some “value” from a Tweet?)

The fun stuff, the emotional stuff, the “I need advice” and getting value from aquaintances… that’s the key-point..

Twitter is a Pub, the focal point to a lot of conversations and gestures between you and your Aquaintances.. The Village is wider, more “consumption” places… the shop, post-office, library, school etc…blogs, video etc.

Where do we focus our time, well just like life, you go for a walk, got to the library, spend time in the pub… it’s all relevant..

Twitter just fits beautifully as staying-in-and-having-pub-conversations tool.

Follow me @ http://www.twitter.com/soulsailor

I’ll buy you a pint Laura…!

Nice post Laura. Thanks.

I find twitter a great place just to hang out. I am still a bit shy and retiring but i will i am sure get used to the 140 characters. It IS a village without a doubt. Thanks for getting me to contribute here

Laura,

Came to know about this article through your discussion on Pulver.tv. I have a take on Twitter as a modern day Agora. Please check it out here http://www.krishworld.com/blog/social-platform/twitter-as-the-modern-day-agora/

I liked this post so much that i even wrote a post about it in my blog. I would feel very honored if could read it.

http://www.poertas.com/2008/01/twitter-como-un-barrio.html

It

this is such an awsome post..i came to it through glokay.vox.com who posted this post crediting you..i must say that this is the reason i joined twitter..don’t have other social networks than my vox and my twitter..freaking awesome!!

Thank you for everything you’ve said so beautifully and so true! We feel proud of our Village.

This post made me realize that twitter is more than it seems, and now that i´ve got some visitors because of it i think it´s time to add my twitter to this great post.

If you want to practice your spanish and help me with my english your are very welcome

http://twitter.com/bonzopoe

You have captured the essence of my “aha” moment for Twitter. Thanks for putting it eloquently so I didn’t have to.

Started using Twitter a few months back and I’m loving it. At first it was kinda weird, but once you get the hang of it, its awesome. Random conversations with strangers was never this fun.

Happy to be a part of your village.

http://twitter.com/devakishor

Tweeple, would love to connect with you all and expand my village.

Brilliant Post.

Wow. That was perfect.