EXAMPLE CONVERSATION

A – I’m thinking about getting a new phone.
B – Oh yeah?
A – Yeah, it is riddled with features. It’s crazy what they can do with phones now.
B – I agree. A friend of mine has a phone that’s waterproof.
A – That’s neat.
B – Yeah, it even has a voice filter, so you can’t tell when the person is under water.

See, this is where many would catch-on to the joke. But if they don’t, it’s one of those things that causes you to lose a little respect for them. You can liken this to how relationships end on Seinfeld.

What’s interesting  is that the person has fooled you, and sometimes it makes you question yourself. How did this person get this far without you noticing their lack of sense of humor and wit? Or, how did I not notice this person picks their teeth with business cards? Or, how is that after all of this, this person finds it acceptable to clip their toenails at the dinner table?

Can you recall any instances similar to this? While getting to know someone, what tipped you off that they were “one of those” kind of people- whatever that might mean.

Photo by flickr user, TheoJunior

You’re eating a dish for the first time.  It’s one of the best meals you’ve ever had.  In between each bite that you’re shoveling into your mouth, you praise the cook over and over.  ”Please stop.  You’re flattering me.  Also, chew with your mouth closed,” the cook says.  Anyway, you start to pace yourself and actually eat a little like a civilized person.  You start to inquire about what ingredients make up this fraction of heaven.  “Mushrooms?!” you exclaim, “I have never liked mushrooms.  I don’t want this anymore.  I don’t like it.” You wipe your mouth, and excuse yourself from the table.

I’ve encountered this on more than one occasion.  Someone will tell me that they would like to either pursue a Ph.D, write a book, or start an interesting business.  There is nothing wrong with that, however, what confuses me is the followup to stating these desires:

More and more, I notice people saying things like, “I want be a rock star, pro athlete, american idol, actor, politician, etc… you know, live the American Dream!” It’s astonishing how many average, boring, and mostly talentless people are out there hoping to one day win the social lottery and claim their fame and fortune.

Let’s say you did stumble upon the holy grail. There are only so many uninteresting celebrities that to whom people will pay attention. And, most people that quicky inherit financial success end up squandering it.

I’ve always been blown away by Ted talks.  Think of a place where the greatest thinkers, speakers, and innovators of our time gather and share their ideas with one another; that’s TED.  It’s like Justice League, but instead of Flash, Superman, Batman, and Wonderwoman putting their heads together, it’s some of the smartest and most interesting people on the planet.

Well, twitter is this function alone. You can subscribe or “follow” any user’s updates.

Q: I understand what twitter is, but if these other sites already have a twitter function, why should I use twitter?