Twitter Etiquette? I Break The Rules
Call me a brat, but I just hate rules. Unless of course, we’re playing Scrabble. Then everyone has to follow the rules closely…including letting me throw the board if I lose. That’s not often.
This morning I started my day like I have for the past three months. I woke up and sent a “Good Morning” tweet out on Twitter. (Say that ten times fast. Then say it again after no sleep.) As always, I got plenty of great “good mornings” in return from some of my favorite Tweeple (yes, they ARE real people) and from some new followers. I don’t drink coffee, so this is my wake-up call. Some might call it lame or virtual bull crap, but Twitter has connected me with thousands of awesome people I might not otherwise have the pleasure of knowing. Where else can I connect in my pajamas and not be judged for having a bad hair morning?
About five minutes into my morning tweeting, I received a tweet from a follower who asked:
Why do people say ‘good night’ or ‘good morning’ on Twitter? I see some people do it, I just never understood the reason for it. It’s not conversation. It’s not information. I was actually curious if someone, somewhere said that you should do that? Many people list it as a top pet peeve.”
(no this wasn’t one long Tweet…it was actually sent to me in 3 tweets)
I had a really, really long night last night. I’m not exactly feeling like Captain Fantastic today. However, this tweet needs to be addressed. Let’s get this straight: No one tells me what to do. My parents were the only ones, so there’s no one left to tell me ‘what to do’. Don’t follow me on Twitter if I annoy you with my blatant good-morning rule breaking.
I tweet good morning because it’s a dang SOCIAL network full of REAL people who have REAL lives who might just need a flipping “GOOD MORNING” or “GOOD NIGHT” in their lives. I can’t be wrong if I’ve been doing this for three months and have 4500+ people follow me and many who say it back to me? Are they just being nice? No idea!
Who wrote this ridiculous list of Twitter Pet Peeves that is supposedly out there? Send it to me and I’ll rip it to shreds. Please don’t tell me that you walk into an office, a school or a grocery store and don’t say “Good Morning” to someone because it’s NOT conversation? My parents taught me to speak my mind and what is ON MY MIND in the morning is wishing people a good morning. Holy CRAP, I often give a weather update or say I’m hungry. I am sure that’s on the PET PEEVE list, too.
I’m curious, is tweeting about bringing your potted plants inside somehow more freaking spectacular than my ‘good morning’ tweet? Sometimes, I go for simplicity. You talk about your plants. Go figure. We are different. I’m just slightly more sarcastic. Probably because I’ve had no sleep and I’m just a wee bit feisty. That’s the beauty of this being MY blog…I don’t have rules here.
Here are my Twitter Pet Peeves. I’m sure that they are different from the ones that supposedly “many people” who have this “list” of Twitter pet peeves live their lives by. My advice: get a life.
Now, this list is in no particular order. Feel free to add to it or tell me I’m totally off base and Twitter is NOT the place to spread morning cheer. I’ll eat my words as long as I can wash it down with a Pepsi.
TWITTER PET PEEVES ACCORDING TO THE DAILY BLONDE:
1. People who use social networks but haven’t looked up the word “social” in the dictionary.
2. People who tweet links with no greeting. OK, it doesn’t have to be “good morning” because that apparently pisses people off. How about slow down on being a link whore and getting to know some people first?
3. People who don’t update. Talk about anti-social!
4. People who don’t have an icon of some type. If you’re savvy enough to get on Twitter (no brainer) you can upload your picture. If you aren’t photogenic, use your cat. Otherwise, you’re not real.
5. People who are send me automated DMs that say “What Can I Do For You Today?” with a link to their “be a millionaire” e-book. Here’s what you can do for me: Write me the largest check you can, replace my knee with no pain and let me know when my limo is arriving to take me and the kiddos on a fantasy vacation.
6. People who have thousands of followers yet follow two people…and both of those people are their alter-ego. You’re full of yourself.
7. People who have no sense of humor. If you need one, I’ll sell you my e-book “101 Ways To Say Good Morning On Twitter and STILL have followers!”
8. People who pretend they are flipping fantastic 24 hours a day. I know you’re not. I know you have a bad day here and there. Why not get real!? I also know you aren’t ALL making more money than you’ve EVER dreamed with your internet business. If so, take more vacations and tweet less. I tweet because it IS my vacation.
9. People who forget that there is value in being HUMAN. When you are human and not out just looking for the Almighty flipping dollar, it shows. In turn, you’ll make those dollars, if you want to, because people will trust you and relate to you as a human. I’ve got a degree in English, not Economics…but common sense is something I don’t need a degree in. Get real, people.
10. My final pet peeve is people who spend their days trying to figure out new rules for Twitter. Soon I won’t be able to tweet “How are you?” or “Did you make it home OK in all that snow?” Far be it for me to know how to thrive on a social network. I’m just a Mom tweeting bits and pieces of my this crazy thing we call life. No rules. Just real.
For a moment, I thought I’d stop saying “Good Morning” because I didn’t want to be on anyone’s pet peeve list. However, how have I gained more than 4,000 followers? Probably because I’m human and have no agenda.
Now, take that Twitter Rule Book and put it out to pasture where it belongs.
That is some motivational stuff. Practically never believed that ideas could be this numerous. Cheers for all the commitment to offer such interesting facts here.
Cheryl–right on! And thanks for the reminder to just be ourselves and who gives a damn who might be peeved about who I am! Yes!
Terri Z
I joined Twitter when it first came up through Brad Callen. I thought it was a bit strange but somehow addictive at the same time.
Some think I’m trying to be sarcy, but I’m usually just messing.
Always going down, sometimes for days it seemed. Now it’s pretty well streamlined and I think too many people are trying to make it too complicated.
I just jump in on any old conversation. No etiquette for me I’m afraid. People either respond or not. I try to be polite, but I’m nearly always writing with my tongue firmly in my cheek, so if you see me on Twitter, bare that in mind
I’m afraid I can’t take anything too seriously, and sometimes the tweeters are so up their own wotsits you just have to jump in and have a bit of banter
Sorry, what was the question again???
See you in the Twitterverse…
Pete.
Amen, I had a “scam” moment, myself, but caught it in minutes.
You have a great since of humor and Love Love Love your blog!
“You’re my daily dose of reality”
The Foodimentary Guy
Amen!!!
I hate rules,am not anti-social but i hate people who make nonsense rules…..
I say do what works best for you. If one doesn’t like what another is doing, they don’t have to associate. New tools you rule.
OMG, that was funny…i hope this person is not following me? He/She might not have like that big GOOOD Morning I gave you today? LOL…oops!! Funny…
Boy am I glad I stumbled upon your blog! I was actually looking at a tweetstats app and saw that your twitter handle was second highest in replies (just behind garyvee). So, thought I should check out what you were saying that was obviously adding so much value. From your twitter profile I clicked on your blog and immediately connected to ur attitude and couldn’t agree more with ur post. I also read ur 2008 in review post and felt even more connected as my 2008 was also a slow down year and resulted in starting a blog and finding twitter too! I look forward to seeing ur good morning tweets and hopefully getting to know u better.
Cheers,
Lisa (www.ljlanding.blogspot.com, @lqualls4444)