Love the silliness of Twitter

One of the things I love about Twitter is the opportunity it offers for some spontaneous silliness.

Those who aren’t fans of the social network can click off to something else at this point – go, before the involuntary eye-rolling heavenwards starts.

OK, sudden outbreaks of jokes which quickly gather momentum into running gags might not be everyone’s cup of tea but come on – a bit of light relief’s not going to hurt anyone.

We all know know social media can be used to track important news events, make contacts, promote issues and research heavy topics.

But as fellow fans know – it can also be fun.

The best-known, and supported, example was probably the cartoon avatar day held on Paul Bradshaw’s Online Journalism Blog back in April.

And while not as widespread, today’s rash of nonsense about suitable names for new imaginary social networking services shows why such services will engage people – even when it isn’t important.

Kicked off by @charlesarthur (for the non-Twitter initiated, the @ denotes the person’s twittername) it started simply enough with a tweet “Have an idea of a version of Twitter for an old folks home – will call it Mutter”.

Since then we’ve had;

A Twitter for the untidy ( @louisebolotin ): Clutter

A Twitter for coach potatos ( @craigmcginty): Sitter

I suggested a suitably foodie inspired one for the lardy-arsed obese – Butter and since we’ve had suggestions including microblogging for moths who’ve just discovered a light in the ceiling: Flitter,  a network for particle physicists: Splitter and, my favourite, one for curmudgeons in pubs: Bitter.

What does that all say about the state of the nation? Absolutely nothing. What a relief.

And long may it last.

(btw, any tutt tutting bosses reading this – I am off work today).