Hi Josephine,
The great thing about Twitter is that you define your experience and use it as you need it to be for you. Obviously recommendations from people you already connect with may be a great way for you to enhance that experience, but it should still be your choice on whether to use that information or not.
With the Apture plugin I use, if you hover over the link to the Twitter user, it shows their stream and the type of conversations they're having. This is still only from their side, so I generally recommend you check out the overall conversation as well. You can do this via Twitter search and typing in "Name A + Name B" and that will show you the discussion. It's a great way to see if it's the kind of thing that interests you.
Check the person's bio out as well - if they have a URL to a blog, have a look at that and see if it's your niche.
It's like starting any new friendship - you don't really know what someone's going to be like until you start interacting with them. And, just like friendship, if it's not for you and not working out, you can always move on (UnFollow) and hopefully have better luck the next time.
I also wrote this post a little while back that might offer some tips on using Twitter more effectively:
http://dannybrown.me/2009/05/21/better-twitter-and-roi-with-topify-seesmic-desktop-and-bitly/
Hope this helps! ... See all content Hide content

1 year ago byDanny onDisqus

Danny, thanks for the suggestions.
I guess I have a question that is a bit more basic. I'm nominally on Twitter. I currently only use it from my PC at home. I appreciate the recommendations that I follow these folk. However, in checking out one person and a Tweet, I'm not sure how to evaluate the recommendation. One Tweet seems very fragmented and no "pearl of wisdom" in and of itself. Of course, with a 140 character limit, and no context (i.e., conversation) it's difficult to judge. So, how might I experientially evaluate whether one of your pics is for me? Must I buy another device? What if I get overwhelmed with Tweets? What are my options in that case? Must I be on Twitter virtually 24/7 in order to get enough data to determine whom I want to follow (or not)?
Thanks. I see some poeple have millions of followers, but I'm wondering if this medium is for me or not. I am a great communicator, but have been known to claim to be an "introvert". Moreover, context, and feeling like I can control if and when I'm in communication with others, make a difference for me. Suggestions appreciated. ... See all content Hide content

1 year ago byonDisqus

From Twitter to Blog - #FollowFriday Vol. 5 | danny brown http://ow.ly/2blUbs

1 year ago byfrankdickinson onTwitter

From Twitter to Blog - #FollowFriday Vol. 5 | danny brown http://bit.ly/Nfqnt

1 year ago bystevelisenbe onTwitter

From Twitter to Blog - #FollowFriday Vol. 5 | danny brown: Non-Profits. Gabe O'Neill (@kidsareheroes). Simpl.. http://bit.ly/t2YH3

1 year ago byursecuritynow onTwitter

Thanks for the inspiration to keep going!

1 year ago byBrett Borders onDisqus

From Twitter to Blog - #FollowFriday Vol. 5 | danny brown http://bit.ly/cJAr2

1 year ago byDaKidNypoleon onTwitter

so flattered - @dannybrown put me on his #FF blog post as "'Umm… she’s unorthodox" (he's 2 polite 2 mention "thumbing") http://bit.ly/9IuPQ

1 year ago byavatarkoo onTwitter

Floored and honored to make @DannyBrown's #FollowFriday Vol. 5 http://bit.ly/2JtjxA

1 year ago bymickeygomez onTwitter

Great people this week. I can't imagine how I've missed Brian Carter until now. I've corrected that already!
And as for that Ms. Koo, she is too cute =)

1 year ago byDavid onDisqus

Very honored to make @dannybrown's #followfriday list! http://bit.ly/cMQCI

1 year ago byKidsAreHeroes onTwitter

Follow Friday blog posts take it to the next level- thanks @dannybrown! http://cli.gs/aPXvQA

1 year ago bybriancarter onTwitter

@DannyBrown Now *that's* how to do a #followfriday. http://bit.ly/qfMuI #goldstars

1 year ago bykg onTwitter

RT @DannyBrown From Twitter to Blog - #FollowFriday Vol. 5 | danny brown http://bit.ly/2JtjxA

1 year ago byiggypintado onTwitter

RT @DannyBrown From Twitter to Blog - #FollowFriday Vol. 5 | danny brown http://bit.ly/2JtjxA

1 year ago bykatbron onTwitter

8 outstanding people - do you know each one already? My Twitter-to-blog #followfriday vol. 5 http://bit.ly/qfMuI

1 year ago bydannybrown onTwitter

RT @DannyBrown: 8 outstanding people - do you know each one already? My Twitter-to-blog #followfriday vol. 5 http://bit.ly/qfMuI

1 year ago byvipvirtualsols onTwitter