to not understand Twitter ..............

[BeCool]

I can do FB - no problem. I use a computer all day - I'm go genius on it but I get along.

But Twitter is a total mystery to me. I opened an account years ago but never got my head around it. I've asked people to explain it but I still don't get it.

Now I just had a look at the MN Bounty Twitter feed (I believe it is the correct terminology) and my head is hurting - it's like text speak but with lots of @#@~####:'s all thrown in. And all these links - WTF is going on?

I once entered a photo comp on Twitter - or at least I think I did. I have no idea if my photo got to where it was ment to go, or how indeed I would find out.

I thought at least the MN Twitter I'd be able to manage

It makes me feel out of touch and (gasp) old ! Most of the time I don't really care, but really is it that tricky? Is FB destined to be my social media limit? Does anyone else not get it? Am I being a Luddite?

I don't get it either!

YANBU

It's not compulsory to understand Twitter.

Did that answer your question?

Yes, it's not compulsory.

Just from time to time I get drawn in there (like today via MN link) and I get totally puzzled by it. Which is annoying.

Even though I have no desire to Tweet, I don't like feeling excluded. I would like, at least, to be able to understand what people are talking about when they discuss it etc.

the whole Hashtag thing - how does that work?

Hashtags are what you put in front of a word so that others can find your tweet, and group same subject tweets together.
They're also handy for having Twitter 'parties' and get togethers as they keep conversations all in one place.
For example, Mumsnet has a #mumsnetlocal one - if you click on the hashtagged word it takes you to the entire conversation going on.
Just remember to add it to the end of your tweet so that it gets included in the conversation and everyone can see it.

I don't get it or understand the attraction. I would far rather have a conversation with someone I know in RL - or post on here

whizzer your mouth is moving but my mind is in a whirl!

That's the point whizzer - they make up words like hashtag.

YANBU. I don't get it either, really, I know how to use it but just don't gel with it at all, and I have to use it for work. It makes me feel like I've crossed a line into the older generation :)

I don't understand twitter either. And I have no idea what the hashtags mean when they're put on Fb. I know someone who puts up to 10 hashtags on the end of every single Fb status. I am completely at a loss as to why!

YANBU

DD turned 13 yesterday, and so far I have resisted all calls for FB (until she was 13). Same with Twitter, she's not on it. I know she could have a secret account, but I track her pc usage and I know she's not been deceitful yet.

But I have allowed her FB and now she'll want Twitter. I have a Twitter account as well , and I really need to be able to understand it so I can track what DD does, at least until I know I can trust her to be safe online.

I think it could be useful to be able to point people in the direction of an idiot's guide .

People's names begin with @
eg @mumsnet @joebloggs

You can mention people in your update by putting their name within it

You only have 140 characters for an update. This makes it hard to write something witty.

You add a # (hashtag) to an update to link updates together.
eg I love Pom poms #mumsnetclassics
You can then search that hashtag and see the conversations taking place. For hashtags that attract a lot of people using them (eg #bgt when Britains Got Talent was on) it would 'trend'. The idea being that it trends in the UK or worldwide for maximum publicity

You follow people who you want to read updates from.

People may follow you (if you write interesting updates)

A lot of celbs and businesses use for marketing as part of their social marketing strategy.

That's my take on it

Fad that almost makes sense. I might be slowly getting the theory (not sure I'll ever get over the eyeball horror though).

Can I ask you questions please?

To see updates from other t's I have to "follow" them?
Where are these 'conversations'? And are they only linked by #'s?

Got to leave now - back later.

Thanks Euphemia - a book on how to tweet seems a little excessive.
If it's THAT hard then I really can't be arsed.

Oh annoyed. My post didn't post.

You search for hashtags. They may not be conversations, just random hashtags like #havingashitday

You need to follow people to see their updates. Some people may have privacy settings so you can't follow them. Also, you won't be able to direct message people unless they are following you (normally celebs!)

I work in HR and tend to use twitter for business so if I tweet about business or hr I would add the hashtag #HR

I use Twitter mainly for business, marketing, publicity etc. There's really nothing like it for speed and immediacy.

I follow people I like and who I find interesting and make me laugh. My favourite is a tweeter who live tweets during well known TV programmes. His observations are absolutely hilarious. They make the whole programme even more enjoyable.

I like FB, but I'm very careful who I accept on there. Its not business. I'm more likely to write something really personal about my life.

I do agree though, most of twitter is utter rubbish. I speed through my 'timeline' to find any good stuff. It's great for bring up to date though.

nah i have tried and failed to get twitter I just dont, DD uses it and has started setting a network I suppose you would call it for when she finishes her degree next year, she is going into creative industries music people use twitter apparently,

I have tried and failed. Mind you I CBA with Facebook either. I have a FB account but never post. I only opened one because DD will be 13 in a few weeks and she has been nattering on about getting FB. So I thought I should try and understand what it is all about.

None of my RL friends bother much with either - we must be old dinosaurs

I love FB but can't get on with Twitter - it's like reading one half of a telephone conversation (or being stuck on a train with masses of people talking on their mobiles....!!). Doesn't engage me at all

Euphemia beat me to it. The author is known...

It really is that easy:

Want to talk to someone? @tee2072 will get their attention.

Want to join a conversation? #MNLocal will get you included in our chat this coming Tuesday, and every Tuesday, from 8-9pm. This week we are talking about Classes for our children. ::shameless plug::

Have a hobby? Search for it with a #Tag as well. Knit? #Knitting will probably find you some people to talk to.

can also be used like strikeout on MN : I so want to go to work today. #SoDon't

Follow people. Talk to them. Retweet them when thye're clever. Ignore them when they aren't.

FB has also just announced that #Tags will work on there. #FB2013EqualsTwitter2000

Forgot one thing: Use Tweetdeck or Hootsuite and you can organize your Twitter much better than using Twitters website.

so let me get this right

if i tweeted to a celeb they might see it, obv they have loads.

will it only be public/on their page if they actually reply. and therefore i would see that convo/reply/my initial question on my page and also theirs?

if i tweet a question to someone, and they don't reply, it just shows up on my version of their page. iyswim?

just tried a few questions on an online Q&A, and none of my questions were answered, and on that persons page they only actually replied to about 6 lol. I don't think they knew quite what they were doing.

the 'person' also just retweeted a question without answering it. i don't get that bit either. Unless they didn't mean to, and had thought they'd answered it.
this person is deffo new to twitter.

I didn't really "get" the point of Twitter until I attended the Papal Mass in Glasgow. Using the hashtag #papalmass I was able to join the chatter and excitement of others in the crowd as well as people watching on telly all over the world.

It also helps to be mutually following some friends. Being stuck next to a weirdo on the bus is more fun when you can snark about it in real time.

Following celebs can be fun. Some of them are surprisingly chatty and will reply to you.

Some people have become famous as tweeters because they're so funny.

You can "retweet" a tweet by someone else, sort of like sharing someone's funny picture on Facebook. I once had a tweet go viral and got retweeted hundreds of times. That was sort of exciting.