“If you don’t like it, ignore it.”
That’s my principle for a range of different things in life.
People who don’t like commercials should get a PVR, people who don’t like smutty Teazers billboards down Rivonia Road should just not look, people who don’t like someone’s tweets should just unfollow. It’s that simple.
We had someone complain on our blog (http://www.joblog.co.za) a few years back about what we posted about. It didn’t suit his fancy, and he decided to tell us that in the comments. Our reply: If you don’t like it, you’re very welcome not to come back. It’s very easy.
I was initially irritated at how many tweets Guy Kawasaki posts, but the worthiness of the occasional gem kept me following him. Then there was all the talk of his ‘ghostwriters’, his re-tweeting tweets over again, etc. People complained, yet he persevered. And good on him. Because Twitter has a very amazing little thing called ‘unfollow’, “If you don’t like it, ignore it.” Why people feel they need to complain and not just carry on with their lives is beyond me.
The thing is: Guy isn’t just another dude, he’s a brand. He promotes rad links, which I retweet on the odd occasion, and he promotes Alltop (which he co-founded, so excuse him for trying to get people into what he loves). His strategy is different to mine, but, as I’ve said before, Twitter is all things to all people. We all have different uses for it. His works for him, and it works well.
Check out Guy’s guide to how he tweets: http://is.gd/3Bort
My fav:
Question: Okay, but what if I don’t want to see Alltop promotions?
Answer: You can UFM (unfollow me).
Answer: You can UFM (unfollow me).
Bang! That easy.
Follow him here: http://twitter.com/GuyKawasaki
Well-made point, Don.Especially: " Twitter is all things to all people. We all have different uses for it."I wish all the Twitter ”experts" would just read that over and over until they get it. And stop saying dumb stuff like "Twitter is not IRC".There’s a alternate, gentler take on "UFM". Clients like DestroyTwitter (JGI) allow you to create filter rules that:a. Let you follow someone, but filter out their fave hobby-horse tweets, that you don’t care for.b. Ignore a person completely (the wuss-way-out when you don’t want to alienate someone by unfollowing their ass..)Now , if you can’t find a way to make peace with your Twitter stream with that lot, then perhaps just UFM?:)))
Well-made point, Don.Especially: " Twitter is all things to all people. We all have different uses for it."I wish all the Twitter ”experts" would just read that over and over until they get it. And stop saying dumb stuff like "Twitter is not IRC".There’s a alternate, gentler take on "UFM". Clients like DestroyTwitter (JGI) allow you to create filter rules that:a. Let you follow someone, but filter out their fave hobby-horse tweets, that you don’t care for.b. Ignore a person completely (the wuss-way-out when you don’t want to alienate someone by unfollowing their ass..)Now , if you can’t find a way to make peace with your Twitter stream with that lot, then perhaps just UFM?:)))
Yeah I also had a problem with Guy’s flood of tweets as well as people who use it to talk about changing nappies, and anyone who uses ‘yayness’ – but with Tweetdeck and Seesmic you can drown out the noise with group tabs or searches. Far more effective, and you can still keep the mommy tweeters in your stream if you ever you need to remind yourself that having kids is a bad idea.
Yeah I also had a problem with Guy’s flood of tweets as well as people who use it to talk about changing nappies, and anyone who uses ‘yayness’ – but with Tweetdeck and Seesmic you can drown out the noise with group tabs or searches. Far more effective, and you can still keep the mommy tweeters in your stream if you ever you need to remind yourself that having kids is a bad idea.
Can’t wait to meet that man. More than mass murder, I want to punch that bastard in the face.
Can’t wait to meet that man. More than mass murder, I want to punch that bastard in the face.