Comments on: The Politics & Practice of “Following” on Twitter

By: Is Reciprocal Following on Twitter the New Blogroll?

Is Reciprocal Following on Twitter the New Blogroll? — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:05:05 +0000

[...] links: There has, of course, been plenty of other discussion on this topic. Plus Rebecca just posted a big list o’ Twitter [...]

By: Fayza

Fayza — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:15:58 +0000

And that, tyfn, is what makes Twitter so intriguing. More so than any other social media application, Twitter takes on a different usage pattern for each and every individual user. Sure, some people use Facebook for keeping in touch with friends, as a photo album, for meeting new people, as a portal to their blog, etc. But that usage normally doesn’t affect who you do and don’t become friends with on Facebook. Twitter is so acutely personal for each and every individual user. The behavior behind the usage – and the personal policies as well – fascinate me.

By: tyfn

tyfn — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:15:26 +0000

I have been on twitter since Spring 2007. In the beginning I was following anyone that I thought was interesting, I would follow the “names”, and personal friends. But, as I was using my cell phone to receive SMS, I was able to choose which of those I wanted to regularly read. So I wasn’t actually reading the tweets of everyone I was following, only a limited few through SMS.

Now, I have twitterberry and I use twirl. I found SMS to be too difficult to maintain and because I have to read everyone’s tweets I limit who I follow to 99. There are many friends that I am not following that are following me, there are friends that I’m following that aren’t following me. That is totally cool because I’m using twitter the way it works for me. I don’t care whether I have 1 follower or 200, I wouldn’t interact on twitter any differently.

I’m having fun on twitter for myself, I’m interacting with people and tweeting about my interests regardless of what my followers think. That’s what works for me.

By: georgegsmithjr

georgegsmithjr — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:40:21 +0000

Maybe it’s because I don’t have a lot of followers quite yet, but the people that usually quit me are the ones that I debate about quitting and/or ignore.

It’s kind of like a break up. Sure, the rejection sucks – but if you can take a step back, you realize that you weren’t really giving each other what you needed….

But I haven’t had that person unfollow me that really bugged me yet…

By: melissa

melissa — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:06:21 +0000

it’s funny, because all those questions at the end of your post? I ask those (in my head) in real life. :p

By: imelda

imelda — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:46:04 +0000

I started reading this on my iphone walking to my car from work yesterday and just couldn’t stop reading. I had to stop walking and read a few times. Then I sat at my car and read more, then in my car before driving off I wanted to read even more. You are such a great writer, explain all your thoughts in such a detailed way and you inspire conversation and community! You rock!

I twitter just how I want to and for fun. I follow who I want and quit who I want. I can’t let twitter control me so sometimes I quit a few people to simplify my life, not to hurt anyone.

Meeting time. Miss ya doll!

By: Rehan Qayoom

Rehan Qayoom — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:55:26 +0000

I find myself saying “What is twitter?” And am reminded of Gandhi in London when Chaplin wanted to meet him, he said “Who is Mr. Chaplin?”

By: All my thoughts in response to Ms. Fayza's recent post/tweet | Boldly Going

All my thoughts in response to Ms. Fayza's recent post/tweet | Boldly Going — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:16:14 +0000

[...] to note that I did not unfollow her right away, as she even indicated in her original post, “The Politics & Practice of ‘Following’ on Twitter“. It was another five (5) days of receiving her twitter stream and a final @reply on my part, [...]

By: BoldlyGoing

BoldlyGoing — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:15:45 +0000

First off, I learned a long time ago that if a comment on a post gets beyond 3 paragraphs, it has to become a post of its own, much like you remarked about Alma's comments above. With that in mind, instead of flying in and leaving an off the shelf comment on my response to your post, I felt your readers as well as mine deserved the point of view from the "featured aspect" of your post. With that, I humbly offer All my thoughts in response to Ms. Fayza's recent post/tweet Enjoy, and thanks for your reading time!

By: Fayza

Fayza — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 06:45:14 +0000

You mean the feces of the termites that were eating away at the house I’m living in? If that’s what caused you unfollow me, well, to each his (her) own! I enjoyed following you, suebob!