So this - as the title suggests - is a blog entry about Twitter. Not really a rant as such, but more of a comment on the idiosynchrasies of the general public - of which I am a member.

I've been a "twitterer" for quite some time now - since around June 2009 and I have to say that I do enjoy using and reading tweets quite a lot!

For those that aren't familiar - Twitter is what is known as a "microblogging" environment. In other words, you get 140 characters to comment on anything (and possibly nothing in particular). So it could be anything from advertising something, informing people of something, or even what you're going to have for tea.

The nice thing about Twitter is that it's open for anyone to use. Absolutely anyone. From people like me - the general public (a.k.a. The Great Unwashed) to celebrities, companies and even American Presidents.

The premis is that you have an account and that you "follow" people. Not follow in the stalking sense, but follow as in you subscribe to whatever they're tweeting. Conversely, you have followers - people that foll0w you and therefore subscribe to your tweets (and possibly ramblings).

The brilliant thing about Twitter is that there are millions of people that use it worldwide - including celebrities, American Presidents and yes, The Great Unwashed. So you can follow President Obama, Lauren Bacall or your mate Dave from down the road. Similarily, President Obama, Lauren Bacall and Dave from down the road can follow you too - so "The Prez" can know exactly what you had for tea. There are also "comedy characters" to follow. These are (talented) people that masquerade as a fictional character and tweet in the style of that character. A good example of this is the account for Gene Hunt (Life On Mars, Ashes To Ashes). No idea who is behind it, but is very amusing as the character tweets in the style of Gene Hunt. It's my cup of tea, so to speak.

Brilliant!! It gets you closer to normally inaccessible celebrities and you can stay up to date with companies, updates, weather etc etc. You can (should you choose to do so) interact both ways, so if a celebrity tweets, you can reply, regardless of whether or not they follow you (called an @reply or a mention). As my blog about Jill Wagner - some will indeed reply!!

I absolutely love it! I have "spoken" via Twitter to people that I never would have expected to have contact with ever - and this is the brilliant part about Twitter - as long as it's handled with courtesy and respect for the people you are @reply-ing to, or indeed, you may be tweeting about.

And this is where some of it all falls down.....for some people!

Take me as an example. I am, of course, one of The Great Unwashed. I am also a Doctor Who fan. I have a Twitter account and I follow 96 people (currently!). Of those 96 people, some of these are fan website accounts, some are actual celebrities (as in actors, actresses etc), some are people that work behind the scenes of programmes, writers, artists and the like. Some are people I actually know (and have met) too! So generally speaking these are well known people that I've never met, have never spoken to (verbally, as in on the phone) have had no contact with whatsoever, other than on Twitter. I follow these people because I find them interesting, I am interested in what they are tweeting, I am interested in the person, or I am interested in what they, or it, do or does. Some of these people I follow are involved with Doctor Who in some way or other - writers, artists, reviewers, musicians - the point here - the main point - is that I find them interesting. Someone else may not! However, personally I do. Of course it's lovely (and somewhat of an honour) to have them follow you too (as I have - and am indeed duly honoured!).

So, one assumes from this that your followers find you interesting? Possibly, possibly not. Unless you know your follower in person (and it isn't a spambot) or you've asked your follower, perhaps you'll never know. I personally have 29 followers. I know some of them, others I don't. However the ones that do follow, I guess they are putting up with my ramblings because they want to!

Which leads me onto unfollowing. Unfollowing is where you follow a particular account, find that the person, company or character doesn't interest you and you therefore unsubscribe to their tweets - or unfollow - as it's called. I've done this on more than one occasion with some celebrities. There are various reasons, but it mainly boils down to the fact that I'm personally not interested in their tweets. This is not meant to be a nasty or vindictive, or even damaging thing, it's just that the person or companies' twitter messages hold no appeal for me and therefore I unfollow. There's certainly no malice and it certainly doesn't put me off the person or company I've unfollowed.

However - as per normal (*sigh*) - there are people around that are "upset" by people unfollowing, or being unfollowed.  Why? I just find it incredible! If I had a celebrity or high profile person following me I'd be very pleased indeed and view it as a bonus. Indeed (as above) I do have several high profile people following me and for that I am honoured. But if any one of them decided not to follow me, then I'm not going to be upset, enraged or flail them with vitriol. It's their choice whether they follow you or not and if they unfollow, they must have a reason - which, to be fair, is their business and certainly not mine!

I enjoy Twitter for what it is and I am grateful for the interaction that I've had with people I would never have dreamed that I could have. That's good enough for me Chief.