Monday, November 28, 2011

Social Media Meets History

You might think of Twitter as a bizarre mix of social interaction and advertising.

You'd be right, of course, but there are those who use Twitter in clever ways that end up creating a story arc.

Chicagoans recall the fake Rahm Emanuel tweets that were a study in brilliant parody and political commentary during the recent mayoral election.

On a serious note, we can now follow along with events leading up to a conflict that became known as the Second World War ( The Emergency for those of you in Ireland).

As a history fanatic, I'll be following @RealTimeWWII.

The premise is intriguing, given that we all know what eventually happened, but we don't know what it was like before that outcome was anywhere on the horizon. In short burst of 140 characters, those who follow the twitter stream will be able to put themselves in the shoes of their ancestors.

Read each installment and you'll find yourself wondering what they must have thought, as the world teetered on the brink. You might find that you're thinking the same thoughts yourself as you watch the protests against government austerity budgets, the long lines at job fairs and the high unemployment figures.

Is history repeating? Go back into that history and judge for yourself.

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