Twitter as a Writing Space (3/12)

What I really think of Twitter as a writing space is that it promotes brevity above all else, which can be a very useful tool. Whether you're making a joke or asking a question or aimlessly sharing inane thoughts, Twitter forces  the author's hand in terms of making him "get on with it" and make a point. Twitter is an extremely informal and narcissistic writing space. It's personal and unmoderated, which is beneficial in terms of self-expression but does not lend itself to the most technically skilled or conventionally insightful writings. I can't imagine Tweeting a formal essay or reading something life changing in 140 characters or less (although I won't deny it's possible. Hemingway's 6 word story comes to mind. But I digress...). As I mentioned before, Twitter is narcissistic, and indulgently so. There is no room to expound upon the mysteries of life or delve into the thoughts of others: it is a singular moment, a lone thought, and that can be nothing but personal.