@pocalypse now

A cat named Andrew Goodman actually led a blog item this way:

Guy Kawasaki gave a controversial keynote talk about his legendary Twitter tactics at SES New York last week.

Sitting a few chairs from @LisaBarone and like Lisa, tweeting my response to the session, I couldn't help but wonder if we were watching the same presentation. While I was unsettled by some of what I was hearing, I also felt like the presenter was self-deprecating and self-aware ... and like he said, transparent about his sometimes aggressive tactics. @LisaBarone, on the other hand, "threw up a bit in her mouth," (OK those were words put in her mouth by @dannysullivan), thought Kawasaki was "making an ass of himself," etc. I just didn't see the evidence. I thought @LisaBarone was overreacting.

After digesting the entire talk for the rest of the day, Lisa's position grew on me ....

What efficient communication!

First, you tell every asshole on Twitter what you're hearing as you hear it.

Then, you think about what you've heard.

Then, you tell everybody how you and @LisaBarone (and don't forget @dannysullivan) experienced the original session.

And only then do you get around to giving us your considered opinion, which, by this point, I'd rather die than digest.

@andrewgoodman: Get your @ss to a store and buy a notebook.

@lisabarone: Let me guess: You came around to @andrewgoodman's original point of view after all.

Comments

[Joan H.]

Good lord, you stumbled onto a whole BAG of tools in that one, David. Ewww.

I finally saw Twitter put to good use (and you know I'm hard to convince when it comes to Twitter).

I'm sure you've heard that we have a volcano up here that spews at random intervals, and its ash cloud wanders with the winds. The ferocity of the eruption (especially how high into the atmosphere the ash is blown) and the direction of the winds at different altitudes determines which parts of the state are going to get spewed upon and how much ash we should expect.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory people have set up a Twitter feed that sends out brief status updates every little while letting those who are interested know what's going on. As far as I can tell, its following ranges from vulcanologists to travelers (the airport here in Anchorage has been shut down a lot lately) to those just interested.

Now that's useful. @alaska_avo, if you're interested. (Their website also has all kinds of great photos and other information. http://www.avo.alaska.edu/ )

[David Murray]

Yes, an example of how Twitter can be useful-- even beyond its core function, as a repository for subjects of derision!

[Kristen]

I'm following your experience with Twitter avidly David. I have set myself up there as you know (Thanks to Ron Shewchuk "outing" me right here on your blog!) but so far I feel like I'm just not "getting it".

It may be because I am only following a few people that I actually know, and a smaller handful of people who I know of and respect their work, but aside from a few good tips on articles or sites that are of interest, I just don't feel like I'm getting much from Twitter.

I'm not sure what I'm missing that all these other people are seeing. I feel like the little kid in the Emperor's New Clothes who hollered: "Hey! That Guy's NAKED!!!"

[Joan H.]

I'm with you, Kristen.

[Tyler Hayes]

This is almost as bad as the guy that Twittered about the man having a heart attack.