Clive Thompson’s Brave New World of Digital Intimacy in tomorrow’s New York Times Magazine digs into phenomena at the core of microsharing. I’m quoted, but link to it for its objective value. As Boing Boing’s Xeni Jardin writes “(he) really nailed a number of things I’ve been struggling to put into words for years.”

Some comments asked for more about “the value,” so I added this:

“What’s the value?”

It comes in many ways but they take time, engagement and even some serendipity to experience directly. I’ve lived it. I’ve seen it happen to many. One specific scenario:

In March 2007 I was a mom of two kids under two rebuilding my consultancy in a new city with no business network to speak of.

Today I wrapped up a business trip to NYC where I met with six c-level media and agency executives, two well-known journalists, my book agent and dozens of respected friends, contacts and colleagues. All of these contacts were made and cultivated via Twitter. Most logistical coordination for the trip was handled via Twitter. And yes, many of us combine the time-saving and reach-extending leverage of networking online with the substance of connecting in person.

While my experience is obviously not average, opportunities for connection, mentoring, personal and professional development, business, collaboration (and much, much more!) present themselves on Twitter and related platforms thousands and thousands of times over. Nonprofits, executives, national brands, [hobbyists,] those struggling through challenges or enlivened by their hobbies (I could go on, can you tell?) are coming together and making valuable connections in new ways we don’t fully understand yet.

We know it’s important [to] share ideas and to surround yourself with successful, inspiring people. We know that substantial business goes on at receptions, dinners and the golf course. We know that harnessing the power of loose ties leads to better opportunities and problem-solving.

Ironically, the contrived nature of this “ambient intimacy” powerfully mimics the natural human process of acquaintance. Dan Bricklin pointed out close parallels to The Little Prince chapter where the Fox asks to be tamed via non-confrontational, non-transactional presence. Proximity, time and repetition of this presence are what leads to connection, aka taming, aka… love.

We’re seeing genuine tribe-finding, sharing, strength and solidarity. We’re seeing ideas spread faster and further, real problems solved faster, genuine connections and introductions made with more ease, and a bubbling up of substantial news and cultural/market information from the sum total of expressions in the system.

Full disclosure: my personal and observed experiences of what these technologies make possible is so powerful that I now speak, consult and explain to others how to use them.

I encourage you to keep your mind open about what comes next. I thought Twitter was asinine too. Many did. But many feel strongly about the value of what we’re learning there.

— Laura “@Pistachio” Fitton, Boston, MA