In preparation for a panel I'm doing tonight at the Institute of Politics at Harvard, I sent an email to my most in the know political internet friends asking them: what's fantastic in the social media field? I asked: "Am I blase, dumb, ignorant, or is it pretty boring and samey? What stands out to you"?

People sent back all these fantastic things and as I delved deeper I realized, there's amazing things going on: Facebook for Obama, Twitter/Google Maps mash-up things, MySpace candidate forums...I mean, I read about these events, but I don't partake of them. I still read blogs (boring- how 2004) and listen to NPR (boring) and watch clips on YouTube (boring) and sometimes give contributions online (boring, but very, very key).

So I realized, I'm over 30, don't use Facebook or Twitter much, and I'm a Hillary supporter. I wasn't quite ready for Clinton's "Town Hall" on the Hallmark channel (I'll save that one for the over 60 crowd) but I feel as if the coolest applications of new technology this campaign cycle are aimed at the young and uber-wired, whereas 2004's innovations painted a wider stroke: blogs, online ads, MoveOn.org and email. I'm so glad these tools are driving out the youth vote, but I'm wondering what the new social media has to offer that is essential to the rest of the electorate? Especially if you're not for Obama, or Ron Paul?

Am I missing something or should I just go back to my cave?