Yesterday I was invited to sit in on a “Twitter 101” session.  I’ve read countless articles about the “Art of Twitter” and the impact of Twitter on the world.  I know why it’s important and why it’s SUCH a big deal.  However, I do not have a Twitter account, nor do I want to take the time to create one.  As a communications major, of course this is an issue.  How could I not be up-to-date with the latest way the world communicates?

At this Twitter session, I was taught how to harness Twitter to my benefits.  I already knew all this; Twitter can get me a job, it can boost my business, it can make me more personable.  I am not one of those people who claims they don’t use Twitter because they “don’t have the time.”  In fact, I don’t have a Twitter because I think it’s damaging.

The Library of Congress is now archiving every Tweet that is sent.  Years from now, sociologists will be able to search #Lost and find out how our culture was obsessed with the show all from the “real time” tweets that were posted.

As I sat there for a half hour, I was taught how to convey my emotions and thoughts in 140 characters. Characters?  I am now supposed to measure everything I do in characters, and make sure I don’t go over the limit.  In fact, there is a science on how to do this effectively.  Though I do not care for it much.  There used to be a purpose to a cover letter and resume. Now, if I am a good “tweeter” I can sell myself to an employer at any time of the day in, 140 characters.

A girl sitting next to me was thrilled because she could now “follow” MSNBC, ABC, CNN and other news outlets because she “just wants the news, not read the articles.”

As a writer, I feel that Twitter is taking us in an entirely different direction.  Sitting in countless webinars, panel discussions and national conferences learning how to tweet has been surreal.  Instead of forming concrete thoughts and explaining them, people are now praised for how they shorten them.  Instead of reading articles, people are now allotting enough time to read 140 characters.

If anything, I think sociologists should be studying the deterioration of our vocabulary as it’s happening…in “real time.”