Comments on: Edwardians Discovered “Twitter” First

By: Lafayette

Lafayette — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 08:40:20 +0000

Added to that was the business-card-sized “acquaintance cards” that were meant as an informal means of introduction when out on the pull in the late nineteenth century. They featured messages that were often cryptically put, such as “May ICU home?” offering something that could be viewed as a forerunner of txtspk.

By: Ms G

Ms G — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:05:21 +0000

And how much more it still meant back then … Everything becomes quite fast shallow and kinda worthless nowadays, with all that speed. Fun, more, at times as well, but still .. it’s like a snowflake .. or like a breeze …
With Valentine .. most stil prefer a postcard/letter (handwritten) above a tweeted message, or other texting.
At least those who were used to that style. It triggers more intensity inside of a person. If coming from the one you had hoped for ofcourse .. ehehehe …

Tons of people nowadays only write their name on the back of a postcard .. which makes it already less valuable. Comes with age quite often as well. A lot of stuff seems to fake if you would have written it , not that you would not have meant it but you can already picture the receipient’s thoughts

By: Roj

Roj — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:59:23 +0000

@Si I take your point but I still maintain that e-mails introduced a new informality that replaced the previous formality of letters or office memos.

By: Kieran

Kieran — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:21:42 +0000

If you did not tweet I would not come here, i only come here when you tweet a blog post. Twitter therefore doesn’t suck. Do you hate me coming here and having FREE publicity?

By: Sally

Sally — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:43:50 +0000

@emma doran Have you noticed the postal strike?! Oh my god, just imagined what would happen if twitter, or facebook, or google striked. Struck. Whatever. We’d all be doomed!

By: Tash

Tash — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:42:07 +0000

i still don’t get twitter, but i think that’s so cool it dates back that far.

By: Si

Si — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:24:35 +0000

@Roj, I think the essence of the point is the similarity in the limited space with which to express your thoughts or opinions – and its informality – not the cheapness or efficiency in which they are sent.

The efficiency is regarding the punchiness of the message, not the time in which it was received (I doubt Edwardian postal times were that impressive!)

By: emma doran

emma doran — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:03:57 +0000

Hey all, i think we shoulde go back to pen an d paper ok i may be sad but i do. A time of reflection and emotion expressed well:)ok befor i go on and on.just want to say hi,em

By: jacqui

jacqui — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:49:59 +0000

i love postcards

By: Roj

Roj — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:34:02 +0000

I would have said that the introduction of email rather than Twitter was the equal for cheapness and efficiency, and that was a 20th century invention.