Sure, meta-conversation does seem like an apt name for what’s going on right now across various social media, including at live events like meetups.

I feel the same way as you about Twitter, but I tend to watch it out of the corner of my eye pretty much all the time now, whether that be by computer or mobile web. Call it an addiction if you will, but I think of it as a need for a connection to a community of like-minded people. People who ‘get’ this new state of consciousness, from many parts of the world. I’m not averse to introducing others to the benefits either.

The longer I use these new tools, the bigger my various networks grow and the more connected I feel. The larger the network, the more powerful it seems as a community. It becomes very easy to reach out to people whenever and wherever you like (unless the network goes down) – whether than be through blogging, on Twitter, Facebook, Second Life, in real life, or wherever.

I get the distinct feeling that young people who are starting to use these social tools now will not think this whole concept is such a big deal. It will be second nature. It will be a normal state of connectedness. That’s why I’m really not sure we need a label for it. It is just becoming part of who we are and what we do.

As you say, it’s the pulse of the new society. I like that very much. Let the beat go on, and may it get stronger.

jj

And being cut-off from that is almost painful, init..
It’s like phantom-limb syndrome or something.

That’s why I setup Twitter via SMS, until I finally upgrade to 3G land.

It’ll be interesting to see how these meta-conversations evolve beyond text – especially if the plans for payloads for Twitter get implemented…

To have any true conversation you have to connect at some level emotionally, at least a bit. Then you start to see patterns in others and form bonds. Traditionally we call this a friendship. When we form bonds we have community. It may be minute and fleeting but it’s still there.

When we are disconnected from our community we feel loss and the emotions that come with it. That’s what I think you felt Cam. You simply missed your community, your tribe, your family. It happens in all forms of socialising. This is what is the most exciting thing about these new forms of interconnectivity, they are bringing people together who would never normally connect. And that has to be good for all.

So yes this is a “meta-conversation” within our “meta-community”

Bring it on…

Twitter on 3 SMS went down for me Saturday morning (around 1am) and didn’t come back online until 430pm(ish) Monday where it proceeded to “cough” up 40+ text messages.

I have noticed this is not the first time that 3 “blocks” SMS from Twitter. I think it is around once a month. I don’t know if it is a network problem, perhaps I have broken some sort of SMS “limit”, however, on previous occasions I have called 3 Customer “Care” and am told rather directly it must be the international number (even though I tell them that number is works on Optus).

I would be interested to see if it is a network problem or if 3 is “shaping” my text messages.

In this context, the hive-mind I mean in a non-perjorative manner. The digital-conciousness.

I have found myself un-following people who are part of other conversations, and do not respond to my main conversation stream. Yet inviting and involving new people is easy. One-way is out, two-way is in.