My Twitter "Fix"

I still don’t know exactly why Twitter was developed. After dropping my first account (Twitter/VenitaPeyton), I've found a different way to use my second.

I'm not an addict. But it was interesting to see the number of followers jump to 145 and then suddenly drop to 96 on my first account. Did a bout of honesty suddenly turn many people off?

Then I learned early one Saturday morning that I may not want to be associated with certain ‘followers’. Like porn websites. Just like I learned that spammers from all over the WORLD are following this blog.

With my first Twitter account, I could dump on anyone, anytime, and feel better. I dropped the account because I’m told that ‘nothing’ gets erased on the Internet.

With the new Twitter account, I’ve arranged it to be my regular news fix. I’m following people who bring me information. This eliminates my having to visit the 12-20 websites that I usually visit each morning. Now, with one click, I can see stories that interest me.

Yes, I care that Hyatt hotel workers in Boston were duped into training workers who were used to replace them. And, that over 200 of their colleagues in Chicago protested until Hyatt offered the dumped workers new jobs. Yes, I care that posting it on one of my Facebook sites didn't generate any conversation.

Yes, I care that a pregnant teenager was murdered in the Charlotte area and, to date, no one has been charged. And I care about the horrible home mortgage nightmares and whole families who have been evicted after being turned down for loan modifications.

So, I get to feed my thirst for news rather than re-read a local story that has already been reported ad nauseum.

I like my new Twitter moniker: www.twitter.com/RaleighNCBroker and the new professional networking opportunities it has opened. I expect it to release me from my ‘go it alone’ approach to business.

And, I get the satisfaction of being as selective as the news channels. I read about life in small towns, big cities, foreign countries AND know the location of local traffic incidents are before I leave home or work!

In some instances an incident is reported before a news crew arrives. Just by a local 'tweet'.

I may not need to buy a police scanner.