“I just don’t get why people want to sit on the computer or walk around with their mobile phones telling the world what they are doing, why don’t they go and make real friends?”… is what I hear being said by people who have not been on twitter, used it enough or understand the different ways that there are to build relationships.
Connecting in “Real Life” isn’t the only way to have a relationship, ever had a long heart felt telephone conversation or a pen pal?
More than that though is with twitter as the most recent new development in human interaction, once connections are made online that friendship can be taken offline. When you do get to meet each other for real you already know some aspects of each other and have an instant ice breaker. You already know each other and there are instant discussion points from what’s been happening online.
The thing is the people that you meet aren’t just the Nigel No-Friends but the full cross section of the community that you would find in any social group.
Slowly these online relationships are developing into real life social, personal, business and professional relationships. Yet again it’s the market square relationship that is moving elsewhere.
Its so good to see the Brisbane Twitter community growing! Looks like it was a great night! 🙂
…and on this twelve month anniversary of BTUB we have you to thank Catherine for visiting Brisbane and motivating us to organise the first BTUB. Look what you started 🙂
Hi Ian! Good article!
Was fantastic to meet you last night. I can vouch for the great time had meeting all those new people – and all because of Twitter 🙂
Of course people will always feel comfortable connecting in different ways. Some people are going to be happy writing a letter or email others will crave actually having the other party in front of them.
I think as people are realising that Twitter is a similar thing to what they might be already doing on Facebook or MySpace – interacting with other people – they will more easily understand the value.
Nice one Ian! The real power of the internet is that it can connect people offline.
That was probably the most exciting BTUB yet…and coming from someone who has been out 4 nights in a row.
I like going to BTUB’s – it has a right mix of people. I can talk to someone about topics/issues that I’m interested in yet at the same time BTUB isn’t ‘networking drinks’.
Since I first encountered Twitter I have been facinated by the varied and diverse conversations to be had and to behold.
I have found people that I click with from all walks of life many of whom I would have never crossed paths with, or who would never have entered my Monkeysphere .
It feels like chit chat at a party, opening opportunities to venture into deeper conversations, some which need to be taken outside to disscuss in bursts longer than 140 characters, often there are slides or photos or article for them to show you, and sometimes these conversations become face to face if you like.
This party is huge, spanning the known populated universe and a great diversity of guests are there.
Some can be downright ordinary and boring because thats how they are in their normal function but there is no awkward feelings of I dont want to be here talking to this clown because you just move on. You can even just drop a cone of silence over them so they dissapear from your environment. Thats something day to day life doesn’t offer. {Legally}
I love using Twitter its is high octane geograhically equalising highly condensed social interaction.
See you there.
AnthonyVoevodin
I so wish I had the energy to go out last night! I will go to the next one though.
It’s awesome to see the people of Brisbane connecting through Twitter. Anything that introduces you to new people and aids the formation of friendships is a good thing.
Excellent blog post sir.
Hey Ian, nice to meet you IRL at last! #btub even had it’s Sydney ring-ins 😉
Excellent article, I even showed up in the video! Was such a fun and unpredictable night.
Can’t wait for the next.
It used to be that offline activities drove the push online, but this now seems to have reversed. The people that we meet online now make us want to in the real world. Makes for fascinating times 😉