I love the way it can be used to campaign for change and as a force for good. I love the way it introduces us to people we'd otherwise probably never have cause to interact with. I love the quick wit and the humour - like a good bunch of mates in a pub on a Friday night. From my own business's perspective I love the way I can network online - has to be better than walking into a room of unknown men in grey suits and striking up a conversation at 7.00 o'clock in the morning.
I love the discipline of 140 characters - forcing me to focus on what I'm really trying to say.
Yes it can be one hell of a time-waster, but generally it's fun, it's good for business and it's an easy way to keep up to speed with what's going on in the world.
But sometimes it seems to be like the malicious gossip I'm sure we can all recall from school days - the girl with the inside knowledge she would quietly share, with anyone who'd listen. Poisonous, evil, unpleasant stirring. And just like that girl it can bring out the worst in us all. It can be all too easy to jump on the bandwagon and join in the name calling. Sometimes it can be quite tempting to join the gossip because it's done in a witty, funny way. But it's still malicious, still potentially ruining someone's life and reputation and dragging them through the dirt. Or worse - what is it about an online environment which encourages people to say things behind the veil of anonymity, or sometimes not even that, which they'd never dream of saying to someone's face - vile, vitriolic and abusive ranting? So I'm all for Lord McAlpine's efforts to bring his detractors to book - and to do it in a sensible and sensitive way with a donation to charity for those with less than 500 followers.
Let's hope it causes people to stop and think twice before they tweet.
