The New Water Cooler

I believe that Twitter and other social media have replaced the traditional water cooler as a place to meet and converse.
First, the water cooler has disappeared from the office environment. Second, workers have disappeared from the office landscape. They work from home, coffee shops, telecommute, etc. Technology has also eliminated the need to leave your desk when you are in the office. Except for food and health breaks there isn't a need to leave your cubicle (I've heard they are working on this). The new office is virtual and mobile. This leaves little opportunity for social interaction in the workplace and people seek this in varying degrees.
Try viewing your social media streams during office hours and see if there are a lot of water cooler type conversations. I find this particularly true in the small office and independent consultant arena. The topics tend to be the weather, what I did this weekend, did you hear, my kids, the latest celebrity death, etc.
By the way, I will be posting to this blog on Sunday mornings during the summer. Somehow I have the urge to do other things besides laze around the house on Saturday mornings.