Twitter is coming of age. Iran's election is proof positive.

[sellitman]

Learning from Iran's Twitter Revolution you can explain why universal, consistent connectivity equals democracy.

If there was no Twitter and connectivity we wouldn't know what is actually going on in Iran.

[tekisui]

1. Even with Twitter, I don't thnk we know what is actually going on in Iran.

[sellitman]

2. Maybe I painted with a broad brush but....

There are things not being reported on our TV's and News outlets that are coming to light because of Twitter and the Internet.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. And Ashton just took a dump.

Praise Twitter.

[arcadian]

4. No it isn't and no it's not.

[grannie4peace]

5. k&r , support iran

[ThomWV]

6. As did the Hula-hoop

[The2ndWheel]

7. Why do we need to know what's going on there for them to have democracy?

[NashVegas]

17. So We Can Feel Good About Ourselves While We Show Solidarity With Iran's Freedom Fighters

It's better than having them march on Washington and demand an end to corporate bailouts, I guess.

[ThomWV]

18. "Show Solidarity", is that like "Support the Troops"?

Meaningless tripe.

[NashVegas]

20. No, More Like

'Help the victims of the Pismo Beach disaster.'

[Posteritatis]

25. I'd question the democraciness of any society whose borders are sealed against communications. (nt)

[Billy Burnett]

27. Then Obama's admin should be questioned too.

The Obama's admin shut down MS's, Yahoo's, Google's, AIM's, IM services in Iran a few weeks ago should cause one to ask a couple of questions. Why would this admin shut down the primary organizing methodology (IM-ing) of the opposition, limiting them to 140 characters? Why would the Obama admin aggressively go after the IM services after 10 years of non enforcement right before these elections?

After doing this, NOW the admin is asking Twitter to stay online because it is now the primary communication methodology to the West.

I don't know the answers, but something reeks about the move shutting IM-ing down in Iran by our government at this time.

Why this is going unreported is beyond me. :shrug:


-Do you know that the Obama admin shut down MS, Yahoo, Google, Messenger to Iran last month?-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5863428

[The2ndWheel]

28. But we still don't need to know

Our knowledge of what's going on doesn't validate their actions in the streets.

[Posteritatis]

29. Their right to spread that knowledge does. (nt)

[NYC_SKP]

8. I agree. The naysayers, I don't understand them.

Having followed the Iran situation and a couple domestic events on Twitter I can say with some confidence that you are right that it is making a difference in Iran AND that it scoops the local, national, and international coverage of events.

Of course its filled with static and spam, but the accurate tweets are real time and coming from people in places where traditional media cannot go or has not yet arrived.

Much less your "editorial" filtering...

[zipplewrath]

11. Electronic Paul Revere

Twitter and the other tools allow quicker communciation with a shorter "distance" between origin and ultimate consumer. In fast moving situations, that is extremely useful. The quality of the information doesn't necessarily "improve" and the old rule of thumb that "a lie travels around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes" still applies. But I don't think there is any doubt that these kinds of tools "benefit" the body politic more than the power brokers.

[sellitman]

22. Folks just love a good argument.

They will disagree with common sense if it occupies their time.

I guess I am just as guilty of that.

[EFerrari]

32. Why do you think that news bureaus have editors?

[billyoc]

9. We DON'T know what's going on in Iran.

Anonymous tweets don't mean shit.

[rocktivity]

13. Versus anonymously-sourced corporate-filtered "real" journalism, you mean?

Look at how much we're finding out about what's been going on in OUR OWN country--and consider what we wouldn't know if it weren't for our own blogosphere!

:headbang:
rocktivity

[NYC_SKP]

14. Bingo. I'll take 5% accurate citizen based reporting over MSM centralized corporate spin...

Well, probably more than 5% accurate.

Also, the infinite number of possible feeds puts twitter and the net waaaaaaay above cable.

150 channels and nothing on. sigh.

[billyoc]

19. No, EQUAL to anonymously-sourced corporate-filtered "real" journalism.

Both are 100% unreliable.

[NashVegas]

16. 100% Correct

FWIW, Robert Fisk's reports are worth following, but you have to be able to read more than 140 chars at a time, at the Independent.

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/

[EFerrari]

31. Thank you. n/t

[dipsydoodle]

10. I think you could really only judge that accurately

if the whole of Iran had access to twitter whatever. The fact is they most probably don't have access given that the vast majority of their population live below the poverty line. The twittering is coming from their minority - the middle class and some of their students.

[MGKrebs]

12. Must be time to move on to The Next Big Thing then.

Maybe this:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/05/28/google-wave-drips-with-ambition-can-it-fulfill-googles-grand-web-vision/

[sellitman]

38. Yeah, that could be it.

It's going to change everything I think.

Google doesn't succeed in everything it does but this "Wave" invention looks great.

[NashVegas]

15. Twitter Is an Echo Chamber of Idiots. Sorry

People on Twitter have no clue what's happening in Iran. All they're doing is repeating what the next guy on their list has just put out.

[sellitman]

21. So is the whole Internet if you want to paint in broad brush strokes.

Obviously it makes little sense to do so but don't let me stop you.

[NashVegas]

23. If ... Yeah. But I Wasn't

[bstender]

24. it's worse on DU!

Seriously, i'm not trolling. I'm an occassional visitor and progressive liberal hoping to make the world a better place like most everyone else i see here. I keep hoping to find "my people", but what routinely happens here is that 99% of the posters follow one POV and deride any critique of that position, no matter the issue. Reasoned debate or even reasonable responses are disappointingly rare. This issue went exactly the same as many i've participated in in the past.

I think the similarity is that both 'techs' are easily accessible and the fact of life is that the majority of people are not critical thinkers, most if not all default to follow one's herd and it doesnt matter if your herd is to the right or to the left, they are easily led wherever certain forces decide to lead them.

this 'color revolution' was/is a classic herd-savvy manipulation, both of the mainstream media by the rafsanjani alliances as well as this amazingly effective twitter exploit...exploiting the inherent psychology of the economically dominant Western masses, that their values are the aspiration of all people. (when in fact the opposite is true)

and these forces really want to bring down Iran, something that the western herd are quick to agree is "in the best interests of their people", when the result will be the exploitation of those people, another conquest notched onto the belt of Western economic and cultural imperialism.

[Kaleko]

30. Your basic message here is

that you're looking for people who agree with your opinions and that anyone who doesn't is an easily manipulated herd-animal.

[bstender]

34. funny

way to spin that. thanks for the great example!

no, i would be satisfied with just a higher quality of debate. so many here are like yourself, given to off-handed quips and summary dismissals of people who don't follow the gospel of the moment.

no matter, it is what it is.

[Kaleko]

35. Casting yourself in the role of the unappreciated genius,

surrounded by nitwits who can't recognize you as a purveyor of the ultimate truth will make DU an unsatisfying experience, that much is guaranteed.

IMO, DUers on the whole are very astute in sussing out who is posturing and for what reasons, even if they don't always bother to spell out at length what they perceive.

If you're frustrated with the responses you get, you might want to take a harder look at what you put out.

[bstender]

36. no, it's an echo chamber

you gotta admit. any thread, any time. i'm talking about _anyone_ taking a dissident position on an issue. but ymmv.

[Posteritatis]

26. Funny, I've heard that said before around here a lot. (nt)

[NashVegas]

33. If You Feel the Need to Mention It, Why Stick Around?

[A1Sauce]

37. thank God for twitter