Could someone explain Twitter?

[Steven T]

PLEASE READ BEFORE ANSWERING

I'm not 'behind the times' or 'technologically retarded' I know what Twitter is and how to use it and blah blah blah, what I really need someone to explain to me are the following things:

RT
@
#

And anything else you think might be pertinent, such as how to network, trending topics (and why I should care), and whatever else the Tweeters of the world can share with me.

Once again DO NOT tell me that Twitter is a social networking site where you post short quips in 140 characters or less or a pox upon your house.
Come on people, if I ask you to read could you at least try? I just need something in the form of "# stands for _____, you use it this way, these are the reasons you do it, it's cool for this reason, etc..."

[huskydog1115]

.. its stupid.. you follow peoples every little move.. weird.. its overly hyped./

[Sunrise]

http://twitter.com/

A global community of friends and strangers answering one simple question: What are you doing? Answer on your phone, IM, or right here on the web

http://twitpic.com/
http://www.squidoo.com/twttrstrm/hq
http://wefollow.com/
http://www.twellow.com/
http://friendorfollow.com/
http://twitdom.com/
http://www.twazzup.com/
http://www.twollow.com/
http://www.twitterbackgrounds.com
http://www.twi5.com/
http://justtweetit.com/
http://www.shorttext.com/twitzer.aspx
http://pelfusion.com/showcases/50-web-20...ons-sites/
http://pelfusion.com/tools/30-twitter-to...followers/

[king]

I agree with you. I have no idea what those things are, and nobody has been able to tell me either. Twitter is the most boring Social Networking site out there, and it comes nowhere close to Facebook. Way overhyped. I signed up and then discovered that it was completely pointless. Don't use it.

[cashcow496]

@ - Used to send a message that can be read by anyone, to someone in particular.
Prima posts "@Secunda: Prima has the day off."

RT - retweet, basically re-post something that someone said. Usual syntax is RT, @ username.
ex. Tertia posts "RT @Prima: Prima has the day off."

# - Tags your tweet, as to make searching for similar posts easier.
ex. Secunda posts "@Prima: lets go to the beach #beach"

I never really used it outside of a boss that would only contact people via twitter, but I think Im about right on this.