I joined the Twitter revolution this summer when I got sick of seeing lesser sites use social networking more effectively than we do. I don’t know if Twitter has actually made as much of a difference as I would like it to have done when it comes to traffic on the site, but it has become a part of my daily life. I love updating my friends and readers with everything from the mundane to the profound, and there are a lot of very cool people out there whose Twitters I follow.
There are already some celebrities on Twitter – I follow James Gunn and I love reading Bryan Lee O’Malley’s occasionally grouchy updates (plus I get to know just how the latest Scott Pilgrim book is doing – ie, I know when he’s playing Xbox all day). Warren Ellis has his own Twitter cult. And then there are my colleagues in the film journalism/review world, who often get to be a little looser on Twitter than they are on their own sites.
But until now none of these people have been high profile enough to really launch Twitter to the next level. Until recently, when Shaquille O’Neal joined the service. And it would be one thing if Shaq was Twittering and it sucked, but since his stuff approaches the level of genius – sometimes Dada genius – I feel like he alone is reason enough for hold outs to join the service.
Here are some recent greatest hits from Shaq (and it’s really him. While Twitter is littered with fake celeb Twitters and with phony Twitters from fictional characters, Shaq has been verified):
Im at a italian restaraunt, the fettucini was fabuloso 6:52 PM Nov 18th from txt
what do u call a guy wit 4 rings , i know THE REAL SUPERMAN Aka 9:01 PM Nov 18th from txt
SHAQ 9:01 PM Nov 18th from txt
Just got off the phone witha new york times reporter, howard beck, he used to cover me in LA i’ve always liked him, he’s one of the go … … 2:10 PM Nov 19th from txt [Shaq seems to have run afoul of the 140 character limit here]
ABOUT TO EAT DINNER, I PASSED UP 20 MCDONALDS TODAY. I COULDNT DO IT I’M ON A DIET,BUT MCDONALDS FRIES R THE BEST UM UM UM 4:51 PM Nov 19th from web
Why does shane battier always were that golf masters jacket on the bench, lol 7:33 PM Nov 19th from txt
The giant has awoken lets get ready to rumble 4:13 PM Nov 20th from txt
On my way 2 da arena. I feel like the main charachter n da movie 300 5:39 PM Nov 20th from txt
THOSE R NOT TYPOS, JUST SAVN MONEY, MORE U TYPE MORE U PAY, LOL 3:37 AM Nov 21st from web
@phoenixsunsgirl i’m a vampire i neva sleep shaqula 11:46 PM Nov 21st from txt in reply to PhoenixSunsGirl
Did mrs clinton really take da job 11:44 PM Nov 21st from txt
“Some leaders r born, most are made. If u wanna b sucessful, act like a leader” Shaquille o’neal about 21 hours ago from txt
Ok i couldnt take it, i had to get a double cheeseburger from whataburger, pls 4give me lol about 6 hours ago from txt
I don’t know what else you need to see to decide that this is one of the most momentous pop culture events of the year. Get on Twitter and follow Shaq! And follow me while you’re at it.