twipple: Making Twitter a Kinder, Gentler Borg*

Twitterite @Floyd Hayes decided we need another feel-good meme in our lives, so he invented twipple, a microblogging cross between Simon Says and Pay it Forward.

Once a critical mass starts following @twipple, the latter will deploy "short, fun, positive tweet instructions to do something kind in public," like smile at a stranger, give money to a street musician, or whistle your favourite tune. You can also make up your own and send them via DM or email twipple2009 [at] hotmail.com.

The formal description (pdf):

A tipple is a Tweet combined with random acts of public kindness,
Flash Mobs and a dose of silliness.

Unlike normal flash mobs, participants perform the action right there and
then as opposed to converging in a large group at a specified time.

The visual effect won't be as striking as freezing en-masse in Grand
Central Station, but, if successful, the social effect could prove to be
interesting/useful/a bit of a lark.

It'll be kinda interesting to see how this plays out. Imagine being in a cafe where two laptop junkies start randomly, awkwardly whistling. Then they meet eyes, and one whispers, "Are you twippling...?"

Then they fall in love, and Aaron Sorkin makes a movie about it.

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