My Response: John Stewart on Twitter

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So I've broken my blogging silence, and what life and death topic could possibly have caused that you might be wondering. Yup, you guessed it, Twitter!! Yeah yeah hate if you want but I couldn't let John Stewart and the Daily Show's take on Twitter go unanswered.  You can watch the piece for yourself but basically it read like a list of the same tired old anti-Twitter talking points we've been hearing since almost the day the service launched. "Twitter is full of meaningless dribble, is a distraction, blah, blah." 

What is interesting to me is this idea that has sprung up recently around the idea that it is some how wrong for our elected representatives to be Twittering. Frankly I'll never understand that kind of sentiment.  One would think that as a result of our government being one "of the people, by the people, and for the people" we would welcome openly attempts by our elected officials to communicate with us, those who they represent, in more direct ways.  Are some attempts at this ill conceived and comical, certainly, but to suggest that some how representatives are sacrificing the quality of their work because they are Twittering is purely absurd. Anything that opens the lines of communication into our democracy is a good thing, it's that simple.

Moreover I actually take offense at the assertion that some how you can't be on Twitter and paying attention. Typically when I watch these kinds of events I have at least one IM conversation going, two or ore three Twitter searches running, and I'm also monitoring my regular Twitter feed.  I'm sorry if that makes Mr. Stewart's "middle aged" (hey his words) brain hurt but this is the reality of how news is consumed, digested, and discussed in 2009.  A Twitter hashtag like #obama during a State of the Union is today's equivlent of the townsquare. This is infact exactly why the media and governments have begun to take note not because, as Mr. Stewart would imply, they are mindless drones that try anything new but because they have recognized this fact.

To me the segment shows just how little Mr. Stewart understands about Twitter to some how imply that nothing meaningless can be said in 140 characters makes it clear to me that Mr. Stewart hasn't spent much, if any, time actually on the site himself.  It also amazes me how little people understand the concept of a hashtag and the conversations that can occur there in real time.  I've witnessed debates happen, and a real dialogue develop. It is something to behold frankly and I welcome the day when Twitter elevates this functionality to the level it deserves and gets it infront of more users.

Samantha Bee was right about one thing Mr. Stewart is not immune from the effects of the new media and social revolution, increasingly the conversation is moving to forums line Facebook, Twitter and Youtube, and away from forums like Mr. Stewart's.  Mr. Stewart is a comedian and his job is to mock things and people but he normally manages to accomplish said feat without looking completely ignorant and demeaning his core demographic in the process. "Grunter?"  What because we "young people" can't formulate coherent thoughts? Really...hu...interesting I suppose that explains the unprecedented number of young people who became involved in their democracy over the course of the 2008 election.

I'm consistently mocked for my devotion and belief in the power of Twitter.  Most people trot out the same tired talking points that Mr. Stewart himself used.  There is power in Twitter however, it is an equalizer in a world of increasing class disparity.  The ability to "@ reply" anyone from the likes of a U.S. Senator, the President, Kevin Rose, Levar Burton, or Shaq is a powerful force.  The naysayers call me naive like they have all through my life "They don't really read that you know."  True in some cases perhaps not but someone does and the feedback does filter back I am convinced of that.  I was once able to @NASA and get a reply back to a question, now how would I have done that just a few years ago? I would probably have needed to be a credentialed reporter in a press room somewhere.  Say what you will but that is the power of Twitter.