Sunday, May 17, 2009

Twitter-I'm Not In It For The Numbers

Edited below

We all know that Twitter has exploded lately. First it was politics, now it's celebrities and newscasters. Even my followers have gone through the roof. Is that really a good thing? Some would say yes, but I'm here to tell you that I disagree.

Twitter is essentially an entertainment and communication site, right? But if you are following thousands of people how can you possibly focus on any one of them? Or ten or twenty for that matter? There are 343-some odd followers of @HeadlessMom out there and I would venture to say that there are about a hundred businesses/web gurus/random people that could care less what my kid did today, if I had a flat tire, or what I'm cooking for dinner. Honestly, I could care less what their latest thing is, either.

I'm here for my friends. To me, Twitter is a conversation with my friends-that live all over the country and world. Marcy recently wrote about her criteria for a follow-back. I loved her list but would like to add a few of my own. Why I won't follow you back:

  • You reference Oprah in your bio. Unless you're her blood relative I don't care how much you love her. I don't.
  • You don't have a blog or a website. (Unless you're my own blood relative, then you get a pass.)
  • You have 1 follower and no updates.
  • All of your updates are links to your site, or @ messages that are not conversational. Remember, I'm here for the relationships, not the advertising.
  • You are a tarot card reader/wiccen something or other/hocus pocus believer. I follow Jesus, and if you had visited my blog you would know that. I'll pray for you, but you won't get a follow.
If I've missed you and you are a blogger, I'm sorry. @ me and I'll make it right. But if you fall into one of those categories above, don't bother. Actually, feel free to unfollow me if you wish. I'm not in it for the numbers.

Oh, and check out how I would have Twittered an evening last May. Comedy, if I do say so myself.

*Edited to add: I will not follow you if the first thing I see on your website is an ad for penis enhancement. Seriously?

Headless Mom

5 comments:

Keetha Broyles said...

I just don't "get" the twitter thing. I don't think it's my thing. Hubby is doing it - - - but then, he likes little random comments with no depth of conversation - - - I don't.

Heather said...

I don't understand how people can have thousands of people they follow & keep up with it all. I consider twitter more of a modern day chat room-I know many people will disagree with me, but I am glad you aren't one of them.

Glad to see you back around!

Amazing Greis said...

OMG! Totally with you and what is up with all the people following me lately? I've been slowly cleaning out my list of people I follow, for the reasons you state above.

I really hate when someone follows you and when you don't follow them back they un-follow and follow you again. Hello, that's not going to make me follow you, but it will make me BLOCK you real fast.

Have a great week.

The Glamorous Life said...

Aw thanks for the shout out! Everything on your list should be on mine too!

Rocks In The Wash said...

Found myself laughing out loud while reading your last sentence "Edited to Add:..."