Craft Beer Radio

Okay, I usually regret posting on message boards, but here we go.

I disagree with Greg's assertion that Twitter decreases social interaction. I've found the opposite. I work mostly by myself in my home studio, so there are times when I want some social contact with another human being to avoid going stir crazy. Listening to podcasts only goes so far. At the same time, I don't long for the random ping of my e-mail client or SMS on my phone. When I'm working, I generally like to have my focus on the task at hand.

I've found a balance in using Twitter to satisfy both sides of the equation.

I don't have Twitter hooked up to send messages to my phone. That would drive me crazy. When I'm out and about, I periodically check Twitter via my phone's Web browser at about the same rate as I check my e-mail. I choose to go to it. It doesn't bother me at random times. When I'm at my desk, I can check Twitter on the Web or via Twhirl, if my workflow accommodates it.

I only choose to follow people who post content I'm interested in - mostly beer stuff. For instance, Jeff Bearer and JeffreyT (from The Good Beer Show) generally post tasting notes or other beer-related info that I find interesting. Also, since I've been listening to them for years and have corresponded with them via e-mail, I feel I know them.

There were a couple of people that I followed for a short time that I've chosen to stop following. Here's a sample of the kinds of things I was getting:

-About to leave for the airport
-At the airport, about to go through security
-Just went through security, no strip search this time LOL
-Enjoying a SN Pale Ale
-Boarding my flight
-Landed - where's my bag?

You get the picture. If it were my wife, I'd want to know all those things, especially the strip search info, but not from a guy I hardly know.

From my side of things, I try to post Tweets (still sounds funny to say) that are either beneficial or interesting to the people who have chosen to follow me. For instance, if I'm soliciting questions for a person I'm scheduled to interview I'll post a Tweet. Also, when I post new episodes, I can tell people when they can download the show. I've even posted links to shows that I've posted early and haven't put on the site or the RSS feed yet.

I've also done running Tweets from a weekend brew session and have given my recipe as I've gone along.

The other night, I tasted a Firestone Double Barrel Pale Ale for the first time. I noted a kind of funky smell that reminded me greatly of Fat Tire. I posted this info to Twitter, and I got a couple of responses that led me to believe that I got a bad bottle.

Using the "@" and "D" functions of Twitter can help manage the flow of messages, I think. Someone that I'm not following can still send me a message using "@basicbrewing", and I can respond with a message back to them. Those "@" messages are still visible to my followers, and they can comment if they like. I can also send "D" (direct) messages to people without their showing up at all on the public timelines.

Using Twitter, I have found a few brewers with whom I've struck up conversations. Sure, they're short, but I don't always have time to read or write a lengthy tome such as this one. Most of the e-mail I receive is lengthy and requiring a detailed, thoughtful answer. As a result, I sometimes don't have time to answer e-mail messages for days. It's refreshing to have a quick, immediate exchange.

A year ago, I was at SXSW when Twitter was introduced. I had the same reaction as Greg: "Great - another thing to tie me to my computer!" Even this year, my buddy, Kelly, told me I needed to start Twittering. When he couldn't explain why, I was even more convinced it wasn't for me.

However, like water wearing away the Stone (get the reference?), I broke down and tried it. So far, I like it.

Just my two cents.

Cheers,
James

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