I see crazy people! They're everywhere!

[mugaliens]

Stand by, I have to let others know what I'm doing before I discuss that...

[NEOWatcher]

Now, the next thing is, Twitter. Let's talk about that for a bit.

We have been.

[Gigabyte]

Science and technology section? Oh no. Say it ain't so Joe.

[DonM435]

Twits.

[Scamp]

I see them all the time! They don't know they are crazy ....

It used to be a rare thing, people walking, or driving, talking to themselves. Arguing sometimes, other times pleading, sometimes ranting, to the thin air, not another soul around, and in a crowd, everybody gave them a wide berth, especially the shouters, loud voices raised to no on in particular. Sort of creepy/scary the first few times you saw it.

Change is always hard on some members of the species. I expect that when Homo erectus came along getting all up in Homo habilis face with his fancy words and that fire stuff he seemed a bit crazy too.

[DonM435]

I'm not sure that this isn't so much "change" as it is carrying over old habits.

Because phone calls used to require planning, they were a big deal. You paid extra for "long distance," and everybody in the house was expected to be quiet.

Now, we find that some people still think that they have special responsibilities (and that they incur special privileges) because they're "on the phone," even on a public street. The exalted phone call makes courtesy, attention and safety secondary to them.

If you can reach anybody, anytime it means that you can wait for a better time. But this concept is lost. The new technology yields less freedom when applied this way.

[Gigabyte]

I've been is situations where calling somebody on the phone is better than talking to them in person, even when they are in the same room. That way, nobody interrupts either of us, and nobody interrupts by calling on the phone.

[NEOWatcher]

I'm not sure that this isn't so much "change" as it is carrying over old habits.

I would say continuation of bad habits, and I don't disagree with...

Because phone calls used to require planning, they were a big deal. You paid extra for "long distance," and everybody in the house was expected to be quiet.

... but I do think that it's less of a factor than just plain rudeness and self centeredness...

Now, we find that some people still think that they have special responsibilities (and that they incur special privileges) because they're "on the phone," even on a public street. The exalted phone call makes courtesy, attention and safety secondary to them.

I see this all the time without the phone. Two people in line at a counter or wherever, and the clerk has a difficult time because the two are more concerned over taking care of thier conversation.

Or the groups of people that continue to stand in doorways to talk to each other, even though they keep getting interupted as people walk by.

[Salty]

Now, the next thing is, Twitter. Let's talk about that for a bit.

What's twitter?

[Gigabyte]

Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent messages. People write short updates, often called "tweets" of 140 characters or fewer. These messages are posted to your profile or your blog, sent to your followers, and are searchable on Twitter search.

[Gigabyte]

Or, as I like to think of it, a great way for a web based service to get your mobile phone number!!

[HenrikOlsen]

Or to say it another way, it's yet another way to make other people spend your money.

[Gigabyte]

I will admit I follow Phil around on twitter.