Singer's critics miss the point of Twitter

Want to be offended? Sign up to Twitter. It seems there have been more online complaints about tweets than the source of such comments - actual events.

For example, controversial R&B singer Chris Brown tweeted he thought Ebola might be some form of population control.

The backlash was huge with thousands of people venting their righteous indignation via their Twitter account, condemning Brown for his ill-considered opinion.

In doing so, they've missed the point of Twitter and other cyberspace social media.

Twitter is a vehicle for the ill-informed, inane and fatuous to make similarly-adjectived comments for an audience of the same demographic. Oh, and Twitter users should be easily offended - or at least give that impression.

If someone offers their honest opinion on any subject, it is the role of the Twitter account holder to take it seriously, decide whether or not they agree with it and, if not, deride the tweet and its writer with every indignant tweet they can muster.

Naturally, said responses will make it into mainstream media because social media is now a source of "news" and tweets have achieved the same status as "quotes".

Such is the evolution of what was meant to be a means of banal conversation between people from all over the world - people with not a lot to do, obviously. Now it is outrageous, controversial and a great way to gain fame ... a swift rise to stardom in an airhead world. Faster, but not so lasting, as a spot on a reality TV show - and just as much talent required.

And Ebola, with or without comment, will continue to be a serious threat, commanding the attention of genuinely intelligent people tasked with its control.

Ebola, sensibly, doesn't care what Chris Brown thinks ... and neither do I.