Should Twitter Charge Fees?

       Twitter is quickly becoming a way of life for many businesses and folks.  Anytime twitter shows a fail whale…(the symbol a person sees when trying to access Twitter and its service is unavailable) people quickly bemoan the fact that they can’t get on.   🙂  The fail whale doesn’t usually last long…I’ve only seen it a few times; briefly, when it was over capacity with Twitter users.  Twitter is a mini social site that is quickly becoming a large social media site; the idea is to answer in 140 characters or less the question, ” What are you doing?”.   Often, I hear other users say that they quickly become “addicted” to Twitter.   The service has spawned a bunch of books on Twitter etiquette….rules or no rules use.   Reasons for using Twitter is as varied as the number of people you ask…everyone has their own reasons for using it.  Relationships are built online…everyone has equal access to other users…both famous and non-famous users.   The latest controvery of this company which has been in business for approximately 3 years is…should they charge a fee for their services?

         So far, the Twitter service is free.  There is some discussion about whether businesses may be charged to use Twitter in the future.    People are still discovering Twitter and all that it can do.  Many people of course, use Twitter as a social networking service for their personal communication; others, are trying to find ways to use it to brand their businesses.

          Twitter has been uber successful in their goals of creating a mini social networking site.   At the end of 2008, Twitter rejected a bid for purchase by Facebook of $500 million.  To me, that means that they view their value as well over that $500 million; and it means to me that Facebook considers it a huge competitor.  Still, to stay competitive with Facebook as well as other large entities…Twitter will need to make money to stay alive and growing.

           Businesses have to make money somewhere to stay in business and pay their own employees.  Do they raise funds by putting advertising on their service, by charging for upgraded services for business accounts, or maybe charge a membership fee?  What do you think?  Do you use Twitter?  What are your thoughts on this subject?

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Making Amends?

      Actor Wesley Snipes was acquitted of federal tax fraud and conspiracy but he was convicted for 3 counts of not filing tax returns.  Wow, can you imagine how much money he owes?  His lawyer says that he plans to make financial amends.

      You hear horror stories of how much trouble people get into when they dont pay their taxes or if they are late.  There are horrible fees and penalties added to what they originally owe.

       When a multi-millionaire gets paid as much as they do in the entertainment industry you would think that they would have multiple tax advisors.  From what was reported in the news lately, Wesley paid taxes up until 1999, when he was ill advised that he did not have to pay them.

       Years ago…i remember hearing from a loved one that the IRS didnt have a legal right to demand that a person pay taxes, because they were not a proper legal entity.  I told this person, that i loved, to not believe such garbage.  I argued at the time, that if that were true, no one would pay taxes.

        Thank God, the person that i care about didn’t listen to such crazy talk.   I would not want anyone, that i cared about, to make such a deliberate mistake, to listen to something, that goes against common sense.

        I don’t see how any sane person could make the kind of money that Mr. Snipes made; and truly and honestly, believe that they would not have to pay taxes on it and not understand that they were required to file a tax return.

        When you stop to think about how much good a person could do with the kind of money that was owed; it could make a person sick.  It is true, i think what the Bible says, the love of money can corrupt.

         If the everyday “little people” who scrape every dime and nickle they own just to pay their bills and do right with their tax returns, year after year….you would think that those who are so financially blessed could do the same. 

          Regardless, it is sad to think that someone could have to leave their family; and go to prison, just over something so crazy as to be influenced by a group, person or organization that had a gripe with the government.  It has been previously, reported that Mr. Snipes may have to serve up to 3 years in prison because of his convictions.  Pay what is honestly owed…don’t try to be creative in this area of life.

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