Twitter-what is it?

Social networking, blogging, facebook. And my Blackberry. Man, I love my Blackberry. I just read an article about businesses marketing themselves on Twitter. So I thought I'd give it a try. But I have to say, it's getting a bit overwhelming. While I try to post things that I think are interesting or funny, who knows. Everyone's sense of humor is different. And when did it become ok to follow people? I thought that was stalking. So as I try out the "newest" social networking tool, I have to wonder, do all of these connections make us closer to each other, or farther apart. While I know the day to day of some of my "closest friends", I'd much rather go out and join them for a cup of $4 coffee.