Ah, Twitter. Is there nothing it can't do?

To ruin your life, that is?

Here's a funny story about a politician, and for once it's not scandalous. Just embarrassing and really, really public.

French minister invites 13,000 Twitter fans to bed

That would be extraordinary even for a member of the French government, if it were true. Alas, the real story is less spectacular.

France's industry minister, Eric Besson, caused much mirth on Wednesday when a flirtatious private message meant for his wife was sent as a public tweet, to his 13,000 followers.

"When I get home I'm going to bed. Really tired. With you?" he wrote before pressing "send" on Wednesday to his almost 15,000 followers.

Realising his mistake the minister quickly deleted the message ten minutes later, but not before it had been retweeted around the web, with much commentary.

"When Eric Besson proposes going to bed, it's to 13,000 followers. That beats DSK" said one of his followers in a reference to the former IMF boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

The intended recipient of the message is not known, although it was probably his wife, Yasmine Tordjman.

I've said it before and no doubt this won't be the last time: Why do people saddle themselves with this embarrassment-waiting-to-happen "social networking" shite?