All of what you say about how Twitter can create genuine connections is true. My definition of “pristine” is more attuned to the care a business or individual has in putting their best foot forward in their online presence, whether it’s a Twitter feed, a blog or a comment in the New York Times.

Along those same lines there is a lot of buzz about the release of Izea’s Sponsored Tweets. I can’t help but think that attaching a “paid for” disclosure is likely going to sabotage a lot of previously built trust. But when I posted thoughts on that yesterday it created quite a lively debate. Ultimately, it just seems that Twitter’s allure and power is the ability to connect with people one ordinarily might not have access to and to then share and exchange ideas. When that person I’ve connected with also owns a company, that’s a powerful chance to build trust way before I might ever even think of doing business there. But if that relationship is never allowed to get past “how’s the weather”, all in an attempt to be pristine and never risk offending, I think the purpose is lost.