Topic: Social Enterprise

Osama Bin Laden killed: Twitter's moment?!? Um no.

Summary: As reports that the U.S. took out Osama bin Laden spread, Twitter once again revealed itself as a great tool. But bin Laden's death was a far bigger moment than Twitter's tale.

By Larry Dignan for Between the Lines | May 2, 2011 -- 03:24 GMT (20:24 PDT)

Follow @ldignan

In technology's insular media world we often tie global news events to Twitter. In fact, if it's a world event we break out our "just add Twitter" story formula and deploy it early and often.

U.S. Airways plane goes down in Hudson. Naturally, it's a Twitter moment.
Egypt uprising. Yup you guessed it. A big moment for Twitter.
And now the U.S. conducts a raid overnight to kill 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden. You guessed it. Twitter has its CNN moment. Techmeme goes off the charts with an IT consultant unknowingly tweeting the firefight.

Now it's great for Twitter that the uptime was there. And yes Twitter probably trumped the mainstream media---sort of. But for me it's downright silly to call Bin Laden's death a moment for Twitter. Or Google. Or any other tech hook we're trying to find.

Let's get real. Bin Laden's death is a moment for all of those troops fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. And it's justice for those families torn apart in the attacks on New York and Washington D.C. on that sunny morning Sept. 11, 2001. Finally, it's a good day to the team of CIA paramilitaries and Navy SEALs that whacked bin Laden.

Do we really give a rat's ass if Twitter had its CNN moment? I'm wondering more about what comes next with al Qaeda.

So there were a few tweets worth noting. Let's not go overboard. Twitter is a tool and a damn good one. But we may want to spend a few moments peeking out of our little tech bubble.

Topic: Social Enterprise

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RE: Osama bin Laden killed: Twitter's moment?!? Um no.

Osama Bin Laden Already Buried At Sea, within 12 hours after he got killed. With no proof of the supposed killing? What a joke

webrainbow
2 May, 2011 03:57

Reply Vote
- Oh dear, here comes another conspiracy theory!
 
 @webrainbow
 Do you refuse to believe we landed on the Moon too?
 
 Zogg
 2 May, 2011 04:10
 
 Reply Vote
 - RE: Osama bin Laden killed: Twitter's moment?!? Um no.
 
 @Zogg
 Oh dear! We have another "don't doubt the word of our beloved leader" sheep. WE want proof. Maybe you'll call us racists next. As far as the moon landing, there were cameras "my dear". It was documented from take off to return landing. This news story however is laced with "have faith in our president" obligations. Obama has done nothing to deserve blind faith.
 
 Barnslayer
 2 May, 2011 08:23
 
 Reply Vote
 - I doubt any amount of "proof" would ever be enough for you.
 
 @Barnslayer
 How could you ever be sure that reports are accurate, and that photographs and DNA evidence have not all been faked?
 
 "Maybe you'll call us racists next."
 
 Where on Earth did that nonsense come from?! Bizarre...
 
 "This news story however is laced with "have faith in our president" obligations."
 
 But it would be trivial for Bin Laden to disprove it, were it a lie. So the only way that Obama would announce to the entire World that Bin Laden were dead would be if he were 100% confident that no more announcements from Bin Laden would be forthcoming.
 
 Zogg
 2 May, 2011 09:06
 
 Reply Vote
 - RE: Osama bin Laden killed: Twitter's moment?!? Um no.
 
 @Zogg Is it not possible that maybe faulty kidneys caused Osama's death, and that a natural death would not have benefitted Obama's reelection campaign purposes? Come on..... tell me George Bush would not have done the same thing had he passed during his term. If they really got him praises to the U.S. military and President Obama but lack of proof certainly is cause for debate. Pictures posted on Iraqi television were definitely photoshopped.
 
 partman1969@...
 2 May, 2011 09:17
 
 Reply Vote
 - Or maybe he even choked to death on a pretzel?
 
 @partman1969
 Must have been the shock of seeing all those Navy SEALs, eh ;-)?
 
 I invite you to consider the principle called "Occam's razor" instead:
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%27s_razor
 
 Zogg
 2 May, 2011 09:30
 
 Reply Vote
 - RE: Osama bin Laden killed: Twitter's moment?!? Um no.
 
 @Zogg Notice I never disputed his death, and in fact extended praise "IF" it happened as Obama described it. I am discharged from the U.S. Navy's nuclear electronic program and must insist that your reference to the Navy Seals (as good and honorable as they are) in no way can sway proof to Osama's death as described. I also have made it clear now and in my prior post that even Bush would have used this for his benefit. I seek the truth and am not so willing to believe anything the U.S. government has told me now and especially since 9-11-01. Don't be so partisan as to give any party Republican or Democrat a pass for the truth.
 
 partman1969@...
 2 May, 2011 10:03
 
 Reply Vote
 - Oh, what a tangled web we weave...
 
 @partman1969
 My take on this whole matter is very simple: I assume that the President's statement is true, because if would be too easy to disprove if false. But I can neither prove anything myself, nor establish the authenticity of any proof even if it were presented to me.
 
 "... in no way can sway proof to Obama's death as described."
 
 Obama is dead too? When did that happen ;-) ?!
 
 The facts would appear to be: Bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad by Navy SEALs, and the US buried his body at sea within 24 hours. If you wish to consider that Bin Laden actually died from (say) kidney failure then you would also need to explain how the US Administration would become aware of this in order to make a cynical announcement for political gain.
 
 Zogg
 2 May, 2011 10:37
 
 Reply Vote
 - RE: Osama bin Laden killed: Twitter's moment?!? Um no.
 
 @Zogg
 People to this day still have conspiracy theories about 9-11-01 being an internal act for terrorism. Many presidents have had opportunity to eliminate OSAMA and finally after many years of non-disputable health problems he is killed by the Obama administration and body buried immediately at sea. Not to forget his immediate Royal Family of Saudi Arabia could have had him buried in the same 24 hour period without any celebrity or honor in form of Martyrdom. They like most of the world considered him a terrorist. This also certainly would have provided greater proof than the fake photoshopped image provided to the Iraqis via their television networks. My only real trouble is that his death will not stop the Jihadi movement and other will certainly replace their fallen leader.
 
 partman1969@...
 2 May, 2011 10:54
 
 Reply Vote
 - RE: Osama bin Laden killed: Twitter's moment?!? Um no.
 
 @Zogg I suppose that your so willing to just agree with whatever Obama has stated that maybe everyone should just give Bush a pass as well, I mean golly gee he was President of the United States as well, and never would have used something to his political advantage. Praise be to Obama, and now let's get him another Nobel Peace Prize.
 
 partman1969@...
 2 May, 2011 11:56
 
 Reply Vote
 - You obviously have deeper issues...
 
 @partman1969
 I am talking about Obama's announcement about Bin Laden's death - no more, no less. To generalize further and attempt to bring Bush into this is silly.
 
 Zogg
 2 May, 2011 13:03
 
 Reply Vote
 - RE: Osama bin Laden killed: Twitter's moment?!? Um no.
 
 @Zogg Oh you caught that as silly. I really do agree but then again my only point was it's rather easy to dispute someone who can state "I assume that the President's statement is true" as per your direct quote. I cannot be convinced that easily. I really have no beef, just questions like why the USA considers this in compliance with Sharia law when all Muslim deceased must be buried with their head toward Mecca. Only exceptions are where a death occurs on a sea voyage where immediate burial could not occur and disease from decomposition might be likely. This burial could have been provided by the Royal Family within the 24 hour obligated time and they also maintain the interests of not allowing Osama to become a martyr. Also were there any of these concerns when Saddam and his sons were killed. This all seems fishy and likely an embellishment to Obama's reelection agenda.
 
 partman1969@...
 2 May, 2011 13:32
 
 Reply Vote
 - RE: Osama bin Laden killed: Twitter's moment?!? Um no.
 
 @Zogg
 I have no idea about America landed on the moon or not and i am not biased by some conspiracy theory.
 I know America, they always right.They were also right about IRAQ. I think you believed too that IRAQ has nuclear weapons.
 
 webrainbow
 2 May, 2011 16:16
 
 Reply Vote
 - You generalize too much.
 
 @webrainbow
 "I think you believed too that IRAQ has nuclear weapons."
 
 Then you'd be wrong about that, as well.
 
 Zogg
 2 May, 2011 16:26
 
 Reply Vote
 - RE: Osama bin Laden killed: Twitter's moment?!? Um no.
 
 @Zogg
 Actually i don't believe anything your government says about war and terrorism. They always lie and they will be.However, lots of people believe american propaganda "Iraq had nuclear weapons "
 
 webrainbow
 2 May, 2011 21:01
 
 Reply Vote
 - RE: Osama bin Laden killed: Twitter's moment?!? Um no.
 
 @Zogg
 
 LOL - Touche!
 
 ncironman
 5 May, 2011 13:38
 
 Reply Vote
 - RE: Osama bin Laden killed: Twitter's moment?!? Um no.
 
 To @Zogg LOL - Touche again my friend. My sentiments EXACTLY! To "Barnslayer" (where did that name come from?) - Go ahead and Google the flood of "authentic" (photo-shopped) pictures of our friend, Osama w/the hole in his head, happy infection! You & your 20/20 sheep have a good nights rest. ;o)
 
 ps - All in good spirit. You are certainly entitled to your opinion - as am I & Zogg
 
 Cheers.
 
 ncironman
 5 May, 2011 13:57
 
 Reply Vote
 - RE: Osama bin Laden killed: Twitter's moment?!? Um no.
 
 @Zogg Think this one through. Of course the truth would eventually co<a href="http://vb.maas1.com/">m</a>e out if this were not true. It always does. Do you think Obama or anybody else would be so short-sighted to fake bin Laden's death and not know that the backlash would far ou<a href="http://www.tran33m.com/vb/">t</a>weigh any short term gains in popularity from the initial fake news?
 
 alasiri6
 28 June, 2011 12:12
 
 Reply Vote
 - RE: Osama bin Laden killed: Twitter's moment?!? Um no.
 
 @Zogg you are right, great thought. <a href="http://www.paydayloanz.co.uk/">payday loan</a> | <a href="http://www.paydayloanz.co.uk/apply.html">payday loans</a>
 
 Lina roy
 21 August, 2011 08:44
 
 Reply Vote
- RE: Osama bin Laden killed: Twitter's moment?!? Um no.
 
 @webrainbow It's Islamic tradition to bury the dead within the next sunrise (24 hours, roughly). It's good that the US honoured this. DNA was taken from bin Laden's family, and thus no doubt DNA was taken from bin Laden himself to verify it was him. While I doubt any official media will publish photographs or video of his body, no doubt there will be a leak at some point -- just as was the case with Saddam Hussein's death.
 
 zwhittaker
 2 May, 2011 04:36
 
 Reply Vote