My apologies for laughing at Facebook and Twitter

I initially thought that Facebook and Twitter were among the dumbest, biggest waste of time humanity had ever come up with. But I was wrong and here’s why.

A recent article, (can’t remember where I read it), reported that Facebook and Twitter are regularly used by young people in Iran (and who knows how many other totalitarian countries).

The Mullahs can’t stop the young from using them and are completely clueless as to the technology that is helping to undermine their rule. Facebook and Twitter just might contribute to the total destruction of the Mullah’s power within the next few years.

Such is the nature of unforeseen consequences. I apologize to everyone for having snickered at the existence of Facebook and Twitter – especially to the youth of Iran and I wish them the best of everything for the future.

Superficial people who feel the need to tweet when they go to the bathroom deserve the derision. Fortunately, most find more appropriate and far less narcissistic uses.

When the election in Iran happened. Then I was glued to it, observing the people in Iran fighting for their democracy. It was amazing.

Facebook I like. It's nice to have even superficial connection to people and relatives who you wouldn't ordinarily be in touch with very often.

Iran woke me up re: Twitter. Without it, what would we really have known about the events that transpired? I too am thankful they embraced the technology and reported from the front lines. I applaud their bravery and smarts in thinking so quickly to report what was really happening.

Less important, perhaps, but relevant to my corner of the world: Facebook has been invaluable in getting the word out about non-profit events I am associated with, and attendance at most events is up 15% - 20% since last year.

Like another reply said, it's how (and what) it is used for. They can be a very powerful means to reach a large, diverse and motivated audience quickly.

for the masses. If we did not have a relatively neutral Net, Darth Cheney would be in the White House, and every other new road would be named for George Dubya*.

The founding fathers envisioned the media--in their day, the newspaper--as a quasi-official entity, required to keep the branches of American government in balance. The assumption was that an educated populace with good sources of accurate information would be able to keep lawmakers in check, and guide government as a true servant of the people. Little did the founders realize that the corporate scourge would end up circumventing the watch-dog element of the mass media by buying and thus controlling the mass media. Very similar to what the corporate scourge has done with Congress.

I am for any device that allows good people to bypass the bonds that hold them, whether in the Middle East or Middle America.
:kick:

:banghead:

Welcome to the light.

Me, I follow those messes there, but I no longer bother bringing here what I learn, as people laugh at twitter.