Backchanneling, Twittering, and Being in the Know

I recently read a post on Durff’s blog about backchanneling that got me thinking.  I would like to know if anyone is writing the insiders guide to backchanneling?!  Are there any rules, suggestions or websites that will help an infrequent twitterer, backchanneler or newbie become an insider? If there is a guide, who would be qualified to write such a thing? I mean are there self-proclaimed experts and authorities? The reason I ask is because I am wondering who are the authorities I should be listening to?  If there are indeed edtech authorities, on what merit did they become edtech leaders in the global sense?  What makes their contributions bar-setting revelations?  What have they contributed to the edtech dialogue?  What makes someone a voice for the edtech masses?  Is there a litmus test?  How do experts choose the people they accredit with certain accomplishments or cutting edge thinking.  How can we find out about all of the wonderful leaders in edtech who remain buried in the morass of backchanneling, twittering, chatting and more. There are frankly so many voices out there on the net it makes me wonder.  I feel there may be untapped circles of expertise that I am not yet aware of.  Will the real edtech authorities please stand up and be counted!

http://durffsblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/backchanneling-101.html