1432 Twit II

Ah new technology, it becomes the norm so quickly.
The Boy Scouts actually have a video game merit badge now. We’ve come so far from Pong and Space Invaders. Interestingly, the Scout merit badge isn’t about playing or mastering video games. Although quest games seem a natural for a Scout over-treatment.
No, the badge is about managing time.
A Scout has to set and follow his own video game limits. Master himself rather than the technology. Sounds like a merit badge we all could use.
When you see folks endlessly dithering with their smartphones you know why. Twitterers are like potato chip eaters, or anyone who gets addicted to mindless repetition.
Then again, I suppose it won’t be long ‘til we see a positive social outcome for them too. The army has found a place for videogame masters. The interface for piloting robot spy aircraft is not much different from running a vehicle in Grand Theft Auto. Except so far, Predator Drones can’t yank people out of cars and slap them around.
And now big companies are seduced by the idea of using social marketing to peddle their products. And the only effective social media is when you’re constantly updating your posts or tweets so you perk to the top. Like Craigslist, where you sell the most if you stay at the top of the list, Tweets and Facebook posts only stay effective as long as they’re above the “right now” horizon.
So we’ll be seeing full-time paid professional social-networkers soon. Along with professional designations.
I can see the conversation at the WiFi bar now.
“What do you do?”
“I used to be a Clerk-Textist I, but now I’m a Facebooker II.”
“No kidding, I’m a Level IV Twitterer. And I just got a merit raise.”
America, ya gotta love it.