140 Characters or Less

I haven't joined the site, but it seems to me that out of no where Twitter has become one of the most popular websites.  Celebrity blogs have even been buzzing that Jennifer Aniston and John Meyer ended their relationship because he seemed to favor updating his Twitter page over spending time with Aniston.

Frankly, I don't really understand it.  It's cool to be able to see what your favorite celebrity is doing at any give moment, but for the non-celebrity why is it so important?  

At the request of her boss, my Aunt must use a Twitter in her job as a Marketing Director of an e-marketing firm.  140 characters is not technically a lot, but she says she finds herself staring at the computer wondering what she should write.  She says that she can't think of anything interesting enough to write.  Furthermore, she only has a handful of friends on the site so why would this small group want to know when what stage she's in during the planning of a conference or who she's talking to on the phone.

I guess I cannot wrap my head around the idea that someone would want to take time out of there day to post their almost hourly activities to a website.  Can't you just call someone on the phone? Send and email?  

I understand to a certain extent the appeal to following a celebrity's Twitter feed.  As a society we have this need to know how the other half lives and to follow what they do.  I think it is to reinforce the idea in our minds that they are no different from us--the only thing that differs is their occupation and wealth.  With that being said, I understand why someone would want to follow Solange Knowles Twitter about her passing out after taking too much Ny-Quil, or read M.I.A.'s constant updates as she's giving birth to her son.  One would feel a personal connection and and ability to relate to someone who once was considered totally unreachable.  Even so, isn't this what fansites are dedicated to?