Awhile back I posted the Thailand Friends Twitter address (@thailandfriends) where you can get instantly updated anytime someone posts a Journal or Event but we don't seem to have many Tweeple here on TF. :-(  Maybe people are scared of new technologies 55555

If you need another reason to join Twitter (other than the coolness of following Thailand Friends) something I've found invaluable during this recent red shirt situation is what they call the hashtag on Twitter.  

Basically the hashtag (#) is a way for people to make it easier for others to search on a topic.  So, let's say that every time someone writes something about President Obama they might use the #obama hashtag so when other people want to know what others are saying about Obama they can search for tweets that have #obama.

Well, if you haven't guessed, there's a hashtag for the protests.  It's #redshirts.  People all over Bangkok are sending out tweet messages whenever they see something related to the red shirt protests.  Many of the people sending tweets are professional reporters right in the middle of the action.  Others are normal people who might notice something like a BTS station being closed or army showing up.  

You can follow what's going on in realtime by searching for the #redshirts hashtag clicking here. 

If you prefer, you can get it via the RSS feed as well by clicking here.

On the iPhone, BB, and other phones you can get special apps that help you manage your Twitter accounts and such.  I use TweetDeck on the iPhone and I can sit there and watch everything update.

Several times during this red shirt situation I've found myself getting good warnings about battles, places to avoid, etc.  With things changing so quickly here in Bangkok it's a good tool to have to keep yourself safe (as well as informed).  

Oh, and remember to follow Thailand Friends too!!!! 55555

555!!

if I have TF, why should I follow it on Twitter too??

cos it's in real time and twitter has more 'eyes' than TF.

oh... I dont think TFers are scared of new technology...they are intelligent enough to recognise yet another communications nuisance when they see one...something else to waste your day on...

...and sick of the redshirts too - for goodness sake will SOMEONE PLEASE go to the middle of the RedShit camp and drop an enormous FART? That should clear them...

No farting. I live here. :-)

I think if you aren't impacted by the red shirt protests it's easy to say "I'm sick of this already," but if the latest news tells you whether or not you can get home via BTS or whether when you get home you're going into a war zone then getting up to date, eyes on the ground, reporting is somewhat essential.

Me, I live on Ratchadamri near the Four Seasons hotel. So, I really couldn't get any more central in the red shirt territory without moving on stage with them. For me, getting the latest updates is essential because it influences where I can or cannot go.