Does anyone on ETS use Twitter? What is the draw, what does Twitter provide that plain old texting doesn't?

I subscribe to a couple of twitter feeds using their SMS notifications (Calfire, Red Cross). The advantage is that I can get information in an emergency before it percolates out to the general public through the news stations. The delay from twitter publication to news broadcast can range from 1/2 hour to several hours.

I have a twitter account, but I don't post. I use my account to follow individuals and organizations to keep up on news in the fire service and other industries. The benefit of Twitter to many of these organizations is the ability to get mass messages out quickly

As for personal use? I don't see the benefit to an individual not trying to sell themselves (like authors, politicians, etc.)

I don't have an account but it would be faster to reach multiple people with a tweet vs sending a bunch of individual texts.

Thanks for that info. A good reason to join the twitter generation....

Thanks for the comments. I've been considering getting an account for the reasons Alan Romania mentioned -- to receive but not post. I don't have a need for "followers", but there may be some good information available that a Twitter account could bring to me more efficiently. No hurry, will continue thinking. Maybe as we get into fire season and I find myself loading the truck for a possible evacuation, I'll feel compelled -- but not yet.

You should try the new, combined, app that just came out for YouTube, Twitter, and FaceBook that lets people waste all their time in one place ... "YouTwitFace"!

E-mom shows the advantages of being a Facebooker and a Twit in the Twitsphere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu4zMvE6FH4

A number of organizations will 'post' offers on twitter (or facebook) that 'aren't available' to anyone else. Some organizations or companies also put out offers ahead of the 'public' release. As was said...could be 30 min to several hours. We mostly follow but do post some. Has come in handy.

Complains on twitter seems to be pretty effective, compared to the regular customer service...