Like all new forms of communication, this one has its early and enthusiastic adopters, while others scratch their heads and wonder what the heck a “tweet” is – or ponder just how (and how much) to get on board.

Social networking is the new buzz phrase on any marketing job posting. Recently, according to Bloomberg News, Best Buy Co., the world’s largest electronics retailer launched a customer-service team that will use Twitter Inc. to answer questions about products to help increase sales. Those seeking to join the team are required to have a Twitter account with 250 followers. Amazing!

And, yet, more than two-of three adults (69%) surveyed by a LinkedIn Research Network/Harris Poll and reported in the LA Times said they didn’t know enough about Twitter to comment on it. The minority of consumers who actually knew about Twitter were split on its effectiveness. Some said the short-messaging service would grow, and an equal number of respondents said it was just for kids. The remaining 8% are apparently too cool for the tweets, saying that Twitter is old news and that it’s time to find the next big thing.

Where do you stand on Twitter? Are you like a former colleague and now cyberpal of mine who writes on his Facebook page that “Notwithstanding the scattered stories I keep reading about businesses building their brands through Twitter — I’m still on the fence about its long term usefulness amid so many competing social networking applications all vying for my attention. Twitter in particular is turning into a real information overload pest. I feel I’m already at a saturation point and I’m a newbie. How much can a single brain take? It makes me long for the days of smoke signals and Western Union telegrams. One of the greatest improvements of recent times may have been the conversion from land-line to all wireless communications — but in no way did I believe this “change-over” would become an anchor weighing me down. On some days I want to replicate what you see in that Corona beer commercial — that is, to chuck my vibrating wireless into the ocean — spinning it with finesse like a rock skipping over water…”

Do you find yourself in a similar state of confusion? Or are you tweeting Twitter’s praises. Let me know.

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