This message was self-deleted by its author

[haele]

2. Twitter was useful for scientists and journalists to make quick notifications

Especially the "hey, look what I found/just did" or "WTF is this?"type of crowd-sourcing for comments or information dissemination. Then they added the ability to upload pics and video, and that's when it really took off. In 2008/2009 sometime, I actually participated semi-professionally as part of a crowdsourced info/feedback thread on someone's field findings. It could be useful. After that, I'll admit to only providing the occasional snark drop once every couple years. But that participation in crowd-sourcing, even at 144 characters, was pretty cool.

The people actually using Twitter is what initially made it interesting as a spectator sport.

Otherwise, it would have been just another chat program competing with AOL or MS Messenger, or comment sites like 4chan.

Haele