For one thing, they’re so short and pithy, you can wind up seeming to mean something you didn’t intend. Or if you say something you do intend it might be understandable in context but look very unwise standing alone. For instance.
Now I think the Duncanville, Texas teacher at the link went too far. Her words look pretty stupid. But I also think she ought to have a right to say such things without being fired. The problem is saying them in public. So fired she is and all because of a Tweet. Not for me, thanks. Not for me.
Via Instapundit.
THE TEXAS SCRIBBLER 
Well, her comments are pretty understandable, and no amount of context can alter her clear intent.
I can applaud the courage of someone who takes a stand, though in a responsible manner, but courage involves risking the consequences of your actions. I’m weary of people making outrageous comments and then complaining that the backlash is impeding their freedom of speech, considering that they made those comments in the media.
And yes, at my age I limit myself to Facebook. I don’t have time to tweet.
I don’t do Facebook, either, which, far as I can see, is mainly for people too lazy to set up a blog. Ms. Duncanville definitely got what she deserved for the format she chose. But I would not equate her “crackers” to “niggers” though “crackers” got her accused of racism.
I absolutely agree re Twitter – a crutch for communication – challenged century. And firing a person for a tweet is indeed reaching.
As for FB – I am using it more and more lately. There are no practical limitations on the size of what you write and there is more sense of immediacy of your contact with your group of people, so I do understand the attraction. Still, it is not a blog.
But blogs are dying out anyway, I am afraid…
Naw, political blogs are doing fine. It’s the what-I-did-yesterday blogs that are dying out. The ones where people talk about their pets. They get no hits and eventually quit. Trouble with FB, for me, is all my links go to relatives and former co-workers. I just don’t see the point in regaling them with my opinions. They can come to the blog if they care. Most of them exchange cheerful howdies and pix of their kids and the occasional stupid, flag-waving forwarding, but nothing otherwise.