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twitter logoI’ve written a very short piece for first magazine on my use of Twitter.  They are doing a feature on councillors using social media and asked me for a short contribution on Twitter, which I’ve pasted below.

(If you want to follow me on Twitter just go to my Twitter page and click follow.  It really is worthwhile, and if you want a helping hand just send me a message.)

Twitter is often portrayed in the media as a festival of celebrity banality but it is a valuable medium, where diverse people congregate, contribute and discuss.  I first became aware of its power through Twitter conversations about local government engagement, and from there is was an obvious step to use it as a councillor.

My approach, in short, has been to ‘be human’.  I use my personal account and try to avoid too much about the Town Hall, which I suspect even I would find dull.  Instead I try to make my Tweets either encourage discussion or be informative, but that doesn’t stop me discussing TV or celebrating my team’s rare wins.

What is surprising is not just how many local people were Tweeting, but how many were eager to engage and use Twitter to communicate with their councillor.  While I often sit in a draughty library with no-one attending my surgery it is quite the reverse in the Twitterverse where people are keen to ask questions or air local issues with me.  In the past week alone parks, parking, traffic, policing and business issues have all been raised with me via Twitter.

Like any dialogue, you get out what you put in.  For me, Twitter has been incredibly rewarding.

 

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  • Why are M&S leaving Balham? http://bit.ly/MSwtd #
  • I’m returning to Facebook to join @mysociety in their campaign to stop MPs’ keeping their expenses secret. Join at http://bit.ly/Z3Zp #
  • It feels a bit like when I realised Father Christmas wasn’t real… The Stig has been outed http://tinyurl.com/8h2hp3 (via @Timforchange) #
  • I’ve just been told my Stig link was wrong. Sorry, it should be http://bit.ly/ABCOc Ken Clarke isn’t the Stig, and wasn’t Black Stig either #
  • My productive day has been brought to an end by the discovery my email server is down and has been queuing emails all weekend. #
  • About to begin a long long meeting at the town hall. Why did Sky move 24 from Sundays? Mondays are so bad for me and TV. #
  • Another day of solid achievement beckons. #
  • Today’s a good day to follow @usembassylondon (future Wandsworth residents) if you don’t already, they’re flagging up some interesting reads #
  • My house is very quiet today – too quiet – can anyone recommend some good internet listening for some background noise while I work? #
  • My old iMac G5 is crawling, will it be snappier after the inauguration, or are my expectations of the President-elect a little too high? #
  • Right, time to put on the inauguration coverage. Does anyone think the BBC’s coverage with have enough cliche to justify a drinking game? #
  • Right… Stopping work and watching a Sky+ed ’24’. But will Pres. Obama ever have to face Die Hards 2-4 in a single day? #
  • On my way to meet the scrutiny chairman to discuss the next meeting. Focusing on crime next time, particularly the strategic assessment. #
  • First coffee of the day, freshly ground and brewed. I refuse to accept anyone in the world (Obama included) will have a better coffee today. #
  • RT @StuartYoung: Social Media “Experts” are the Cancer of Twitter (and Must Be Stopped) http://tinyurl.com/8gnnb7 #
  • No offence intended with that last Tweet, btw – I’m in no position to knock, I can only claim incompetence across a range of activities. #
  • I wonder, do any of the Gladiators tweet? The nice ones I mean, not Tornado. #
  • At the launch of Wandsworth’s 10 year vision. Difficult to imagine what the next. 10 years will bring when you think back to 1999. #
  • Right, logging out of Twitter, closing mail.app and turning off the phone to wrestle with a bout of solid achievement. #
  • Spent morning wrestling with solid achievement. I won, two falls & one submission. Now back being distracted by Twitter like everyone else. #
  • I’m bored rigid by my work-out regime at the gym, does anyone know of some good online resources to help me develop a new routine? #
  • Retrieving a few bits and pieces from my old Palm Treo. I thought this was good, then came the iPhone – how did I use it for so many years? #
  • I bet Obama doesn’t do his own canvassing. #
  • Alcohol. The fuel of democracy. #
  • I’m fighting depressing weather and official recession by whistling while I work. #
  • Meeting with my community safety team to chat about some of our projects for the next year. Got some exciting stuff on the horizon. #
  • Anyone know what this guy was doing between 1997-2007? (sorry for the politics) http://twitpic.com/167gf #
  • I’m resisting the urge to respond to a @liz_azyan tweet – and instead concentrating on my own work. #
  • Just been on facebook and found myself wondering why I bothered, it seems to have become a chore. Will Twitter ever be like that? #
  • A freezing cold Saturday morning. Obviously ideal canvassing time. So why does everyone look so tired and grumpy? #
  • Having watched the football inertia is carrying me through Police Academy 2. Could I be less productive? Yes. Yes I can. I’ll tweet about it #
  • Another win for the Mariners, 3-0. Take that Rotherham. #
  • Facebook as a crimefighting tool? (via @WandsworthNews) http://tinyurl.com/b64rqe #
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  • Ploughing through a huge in-tray. But deep down, just excited about ’24’ starting tonight. What would Cllr Jack Bauer do, I wonder? #
  • Right, my inbox is empty for the first time since before Christmas, and it’s staying that way. Nobody email me, ever! #
  • Three emails… Already… My pristine inbox defiled! #
  • Heading up to St John’s Hill to talk with traders about A-boards – fingers crossed we’ve got our policy about right. #
  • Back from my first run of the year, I feel a lot better for it, but could feel I’m still carrying a lot of Christmas pud. #
  • RT @jonworth Read past customary rant and look at UK airport stats – fascinating. No 3rd Runway! http://is.gd/fEsW in reply to jonworth #
  • Starting to prepare for our crime strategic assessment – and deciding what should be the priorities for the next year. #
  • My new year buzz has come late, but started feeling really positive about what we’re doing on crime and (surprisingly) the economy in 2009. #
  • I quite fancy adding YouTube to my engagement experiment, but just can’t think of a good use… Any ideas? #
  • Why I have no opinion on the proposed towers at Clapham Junction… I’m not allowed to have an opinion – http://is.gd/fRDX #
  • On my way to Leadership Centre session on ‘The Future of Politics’ with Hazel Blears, Eric Pickles and Julia Goldsworthy. #
  • I’m somewhat enthused by the ‘Future of Politics’, but worry the analysis about why people don’t become councillors is slightly off. #
  • 3rd runway gets go-ahead – not great news. http://bit.ly/9kjC #
  • A day of solid achievement ahead: casework, CRB check, Heathrow (!) and only one council meeting. I might even do some touting for work. #
  • Heathrow expansion has got the expected go-ahead. http://bit.ly/VapN #
  • My HD is down to 4.29GB free space & my iMac is crawling. I remember when I had a 20MB HD (& 25MHz processor) and thought I was lucky. #
  • I’m ashamed to admit that ‘Come Dine With Me’ is on my TV – but I need to ask the question… exactly what is the point of Abi Titmuss? #
  • And tonight I shall be mostly engaging the community. #
  • More meetings about the community safety strategic assessment this morning. Am very coffee dependent today. #
  • On my way to meet @ingridk to apologise profusely for being late and then have a chat about social media, and local government stuff. in reply to ingridk #
  • Does anyone know of any *UK* crime-mapping sites that map by location like my attempts, e.g. http://is.gd/g7mO rather than averages? #
  • Wow, this is my 200th tweet! So, something profound. Um, yeah, right… 200. Don’t suppose anyone can answer no. 199? http://is.gd/g7My #
  • Heading to Balham for some belated New Year drinks with the Town Centre Partnership. #
  • It’s Friday, a great day for fish and chips. Unfortunately, judging by the queue, half of Battersea have had exactly the same idea. #
  • Is it possible to get a hangover from coffee? I have the symptoms, but didn’t drink last night – I did have way too much coffee though. #
  • How cow. Grimsby won. 1-0 against Wycombe. How on earth did that happen? #
  • I curse the manufacturer of my crappy modem router. #
  • I can’t workout if ‘Total Wipeout’ is a symbol of all that’s wrong with British broadcasting, or actually quite entertaining. #
  • Just had the first & second Heathrow arrivals of the day – & its only just gone 4.30! What was I saying the other day? http://bit.ly/14aEF #
  • I wish I’d stayed off Twitter today – then I would never have found out about Tony Hart dying. #
  • I’m paying Sky a small fortune each month and there is absolutely nothing on worth watching. Thank God for YouTube, which is, um, free. #
  • I was thinking of publishing casework maps, e.g., http://is.gd/gmAh a good idea for engagement & transparency… or politically ‘brave’? #
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  • Q for local gov types, in 140 chars or less: what is the most important thing a cllr should know/do about community leadership & engagement? #
  • RT: In 140 chars or less: what is the most important thing a cllr should know/do about community leadership & engagement? in reply to jamescousins #
  • Tooting, Earlsfield and Furzedown crime briefing/mapping online:
    http://tinyurl.com/9d88fr #
  • I’m now second on Google for ‘Dignity by Dev Alahan’! I’m tweeting ‘handsome and intelligent councillor’ in hope of a similar effect. #
  • I need to celebrate, ‘Dignity by Dev Alahan’ has got me to number one in the Google charts! http://is.gd/eE1E #
  • It’s sad, if not that surprising, to discover the Wandsworth Borough News is no more: http://bit.ly/q6pG #
  • I’m mourning Wedgwood’s passing http://is.gd/eG6L #
  • I’ve shaved the beard I grew over Christmas. Consequences? I feel less of a man, think I look about 12 and am covered in shaving cuts. #
  • Even derelict I think Battersea Power Station is a fantastic building. http://twitpic.com/106cv #
  • Heading out of London to do some IDeA peer work on engagement. Any words of wisdom anyone would like to offer? #
  • Sights you don’t want to see when it’s -10 and 20 minutes to the next train… all the station buildings closed! http://twitpic.com/109ng #
  • Preparing for Regeneration and Community Safety scrutiny tonight. Very timely with the closure of Balham’s M&S. #
  • My tribute to the dearly departed Wandsworth Borough News: http://is.gd/eN0a #
  • MUST. RESIST. URGE. TO. TWEET. MEETING. #
  • Fascinating meeting at Town Hall, Lots of interesting discussion about the recession, its impact and what we’re doing to fight it… #
  • …just can’t help feeling angry at Labour though, they seem to put politics ahead of regenerating Roehampton. Real poverty of ambition. #
  • Congratulations to @JamesCleverly on his appointment as Mayor’s young people ambassador. #
  • It seems today, nobody can hear you tweet. #
  • Or at least, if they do hear, it’s about an hour and a half later. #
  • Is Twitter behaving itself today? #
  • Heading out to spend vouchers from Christmas before the stores go bust. #
  • Some of what we’re doing to fight the recession in Wandsworth http://is.gd/eXZv #
  • Wow, at what point in my life did I decide delivering leaflets in brass monkeys weather was my calling? #
  • Best part of four hours engagement with brass monkeys. Now for some engagement with a couple of pints. #
  • Warm house. Comfy Sofa. Lakeside world darts on telly. What else could I possibly need? #
  • Even Eurovision has spawned an X Factor style voting show. Is nothing sacred? Eurovision should be about talent and music, not reality TV. #
  • I’m amazed Karl Rove is not only on Twitter, but actually using it and engaging @KarlRoveChannel – Alistair Campbell next? #
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  • Working, but finding it hard to find the ‘it’s the Christmas and New Year holidays’ off-switch. #
  • As a rule I am not a fan of regulation – but there must be something that can stop so many channels showing Carry On films simultaneously. #
  • @dominiccampbell Isn’t the problem not trolling, but the online world just being another forum for local politics? I know I’m guilty. in reply to dominiccampbell #
  • @dominiccampbell I won’t take it personally! The problem lies in the troll:population ratio active online, and the trolls stop it improving. in reply to dominiccampbell #
  • Karate Kid III really was a sequel too far. Weak story, Ralph Macchio looking old and chunky, bad editing – thank God for Pat Morita. #
  • Wandsworth council is now officially twittering @wandbc #
  • Should I follow @andyburnhammp? If only the Internet had some sort of ratings system rather than forcing me to take personal responsibility. #
  • Just passed an empty, and sorry-looking, Woolies. It’s going to leave some big holes in a lot of high streets. http://twitpic.com/xze9 #
  • @ingridk @davebriggs Thanks for follows and tweets. I am working on my colleagues, but the benefits of Twitter are hard to explain! in reply to ingridk #
  • I’m flattered by the mini-flurry of follows, but, God, now the pressure to write something interesting is just too much. #
  • An egotistical RT: Market focus for Northcote plan http://tinyurl.com/8f8o9x (via @wandbc) in reply to wandbc #
  • @liz_azyan Reading your article on twittering councils @wandbc is the official Wandsworth Twitter, don’t know who @wwcouncil is! in reply to liz_azyan #
  • @liz_azyan On a related note, have you tried linking in cllrs that Twitter with the councils? I’ll comment on your blog about it tomorrow. in reply to liz_azyan #
  • I’m struggling to get back into work, which is annoying since I was working over most of Christmas. #
  • Billing for work is strangely tedious – shouldn’t the prospect of payment excite me? #
  • I should stop auto-tweeting blog posts, a bad habit, especially as I don’t think any of my residents are among my followers. #
  • Isn’t it strange that Thomas Cook aren’t advertising their holidays, but that ‘your money is safe’ with them? Recession advertising starts. #
  • A depressingly large thud from my council mail delivery. Christmas is definitely over… #
  • Coronation Street is the best comedy on TV: “if I made an aftershave it would be called ‘Dignity by Dev Alahan'” #
  • I just can’t take anymore PowerPoint! #
  • I’m using Lakeside World Darts to distract from the pain of Windows applications. #
  • My latest attempt at mapping Battersea’s crime is at http://tinyurl.com/89whrj Putney & Tooting will follow in coming days. #
  • Donna Margherita on Lavender Hill in Battersea… Always fantastic pizza. #
  • @liz_azyan Will send an email containing a list of Twittering cllrs that might help with 2. Not many, but may help. in reply to liz_azyan #
  • 100,000 new jobs in “new technologies and green projects”. That’s going to be a lot of public sector web 2.0! http://is.gd/evEi #
  • Putney, Roehampton and Southfields crime maps now online – http://tinyurl.com/7v5qdu #
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twitter logoTwittering is a form of microblogging which, along with this blog, I started as a bit of an experiment.  I will freely admit that it hasn’t taken the course I expected – but there are some fascinating conversations taking place on there, especially around subjects of democratic and social engagement, so it is something I will definitely be continuing.

Wandsworth Council is now twittering, so if you are already on twitter (if you aren’t, you can get an account for free at twitter.com) you can follow the council – @wandbc.

My tweets are featured on this blog, although over Christmas I’ve spent too much time on the sofa and doing my ‘real’ job, so they have been a bit light of late.  Feel free to follow me, @jamescousins, if you want to find out what I’m up to or, like today, my thoughts on Karate Kid III!

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  • More last minute shopping in Clapham Junction, why do I always let Christmas take me by surprise? #
  • At the Town Hall for the last time this year. #
  • Feeling very virtuous after an early morning run around Battersea Park. #
  • Meeting with the new chairman of the Wandsworth LGBT forum. #
  • RT New blog post: Great expectations http://tinyurl.com/6wamus (Twitter Tools was premature last time) in reply to jamescousins #
  • The gym is full of people, all launching pre-emptive strikes against roast potatoes, bread sauce and Christmas pud. #
  • It’s probably a bit sad for a man of my age, but I’ve been very excited following @noradsanta and @SantaClaus on their travels. #
  • I’ve not seen a single new bike being shakily taken round the streets all Christmas. Recession or obesity crisis? #