Rant: Stop being a tool on Twitter

Twitter has been making its rounds in the public psyche for some time now. People are slowly learning that there is an art to posting on the site. Sometimes, there is a fine line between someone awesome on Twitter and someone lame.

Part of capturing that balance involves users being somewhat aware of their followers. Think before you hit update!  Nothing bothers me more than when someone abuses Twitter by over-posting. If you have that much to say, please consider getting a regular blog and just linking to it via Twitter (like this).  It will never be okay to post 27 tweets in a row, and that includes @replies and links.

Although the majority of Twitter users use the service on their computer, keep in mind, many also use it on their phone. This means a follower’s phone is beeping or playing some lame jingle every time you decide to tell people what you just ate for breakfast. With the various mobile apps for Blackberry and iPhone, almost everyone can be checking in on Twitter in their down time. When people monologue, it pushes other tweets off screen and I miss them.  This pisses me off. If you have any self-control, use it.

Of course it’s always a choice as to who someone follows, but there isn’t a quicker way to lose a friend than to abuse the system. Additionally, some people we MUST follow, or risk causing “real world” drama (i.e. family, lovers, co-workers). These people love you and will be the least likely to call you out for something so minor, but it bothers them too!

The worst users are the people that actually answer the question Twitter poses at login: “What are you doing?”  Seriously? Don’t feed the beast. You all know the type. Here’s an example of what I’m talking about…

Off to work
6:33 AM Mar 10th

Off to home
3:23 PM Mar 9th

Lunch today: ham, swiss on a roll with mayo and musterd.
10:54 AM Mar 9th

Who cares?!  Why would someone think others want to read that?  Please try not to be inane.  I don’t care what you had for lunch.  Oh, unless you had MUH! BRAINS!!!!

The world does not need to know everything that’s going on with you.  Try not to over share.  It takes all types but, I prefer to follow users who may inform me, or at very least make me laugh, such as [shameless plug] AbD on Twitter!

Remember kids, with great power comes great responsibility. Don’t be a Twitter tool.

(Photo by: turtlemom4bacon)

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