So a twitterer walks into a coffee shop…

No, it’s not the setup for a joke. Rather, it defines what Twitter is for me. Twitter is like a global coffee shop where you can manage several conversations at the same time.

It’s a place where I’ve been able to connect with others that I would not have had any other opportunity to do so. I’ve met mentors, made friends and even occasionally passed on some tweets that were valuable to others. If you believe that, follow me here.

But that begs the question, what kind of people are on Twitter? And more importantly, what kind of Twitter user are you?

I’ve decided to carry on the coffee shop idea beyond defining Twitter in order to define the people who use it. We all see these people at a coffee shop at one time or another. So read on, and try to find where you fit in.

The Mingler

In a coffee shop, the mingler drifts from group to group to find the most interesting conversations. She usually has good input, and others enjoy listening to her. She may not stay in one group for long, but she tends to come back to the same circles again and again.

The Thinker

This person is just at the coffee shop to get ideas. He sits and takes it all in. He spends most of his time eavesdropping on others, but will occasionally interject with a question or opinion. Most of the time, he’s in and out without being noticed by the majority.

The Student

The student is similar to the thinker but tends to be more direct. She is on the lookout for specific information and is not shy about approaching others to discuss the topic on hand. The student is engaging and enthusiastic. She is better at absorbing information than creating new content.

The Professor

With the student comes the professor. This person is a wealth of information, providing resources for others to enjoy. He takes the lead in conversations and challenges others to come up with ideas and opinions and stand up for them. While the professor provides a strong message, he can be too focused on his own subject.

The Loud Talker

This is the person who talks too loud, and not to anyone in particular, but usually into a cell phone. He airs his opinions to the public for everyone to hear without caring about getting a response. He practically screams his message but is not available for a two-way conversation.

The News Junkie

The news junkie in a coffee shop is buried in the newspaper. She only emerges to discuss an interesting piece of news she just read. Typically, she only points out the headline and asks, “Have you seen this?” She enjoys discussing current events but never gets too personal.

The Drive Through

This person just pulls up to the coffee shop to get coffee without ever leaving the car. After all, that’s what the coffee shop is there for, not for socializing.