tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post4576938513988101785..comments2023-12-12T16:30:15.159+00:00Comments on Floor to Ceiling Books: The Dangers of TwitterUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-16695896452826282672011-08-08T15:53:07.431+01:002011-08-08T15:53:07.431+01:00I think one large problem with twitter is that eac...I think one large problem with twitter is that each tweet is so capable of being taken completely out of context and misunderstood. Each tweet is (obviously) less than 140 characters, and delivered without much in the way of body language (emoticons being a poor substitute). Often times when read as part of a larger stream, and read by those the tweet is intended for, any subtextual meaning is clear.<br /><br />But when separated out, or when read not as part of a twitter stream, there is the potential for huge misunderstandings. Even when read in context, the truncated nature of tweets means they can be taken to mean things that were clearly not intended. I have had people read tweets I posted and get offended, even when I wasn't directing comments at them, or didn't think the comment was anything other than innocuous. In short, twitter seems to be a medium that is inherently susceptible to misunderstanding, which is obviously a problem.<br /><br />Aaron (<a href="http://dreamingaboutotherworlds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Dreaming About Other Worlds</a>).Aaron Poundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11747596648152141394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-7519986027601153512011-08-08T13:21:24.116+01:002011-08-08T13:21:24.116+01:00Great post,Magemanda! The internet iself is a tool...Great post,Magemanda! The internet iself is a tool best used widely and always with the understanding that nothing is private and everything is not necessarily true or right. If you fully realise that then the internet and social networking is a great marketing tool that we writers need to make the most of.Writer Pat Newcombehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12678017709861817691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-6347252685840270642011-08-08T06:58:22.693+01:002011-08-08T06:58:22.693+01:00I completely agree that it's a double edged sw...I completely agree that it's a double edged sword. An example of the power of Twitter can be seen in the recent Tottenham riots, where (apparently) social media (i.e. Twitter) caused rumours to spread before any official reports could be made, which escalated the situation to the point of violence.<br /><br />I only ever use Twitter as part of my blog, and rarely post personal stuff on there. Facebook is where I get my gripes out (and don't have any employers on there) so I can remain professional on Twitter.Jamie Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168603412367448706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-26838223080840422472011-08-07T22:28:18.797+01:002011-08-07T22:28:18.797+01:00I only just started my twitter a couple of weeks a...I only just started my twitter a couple of weeks ago, in the hopes of building more of a platform if I ever become a published author. I'm trying to be very careful with how I use it, so thanks for this blog post!Laura Lamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13284094504476181637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-27821324900221804112011-08-07T16:50:16.317+01:002011-08-07T16:50:16.317+01:00KRAKEN BEDDING! Winning!KRAKEN BEDDING! Winning!Kelly L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05617272041357509333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-20604102148007108092011-08-07T15:34:43.370+01:002011-08-07T15:34:43.370+01:00I'm not too worried about Twitter journalism -...I'm not too worried about Twitter journalism - even professional journalists put out stories that are misleading or plain wrong (viz the recent "IE users are stupid" hoax), and like you I've become far more aware of important, genuinely newsworthy events since I started using Twitter regularly (I haven't read a newspaper in years). <br /><br />Fortunately I seem able to remain fairly discreet even when tipsy, but then I've been online for years and seen too many other people make idiots of themselves to fall into that trap. I hope! I agree, though, that people do tend to forget that it's public (direct messages are limited to pairs of participants unless you use a third-party service like TweetGuru).<br /><br />I do try to be cautious about using Twitter at work, but our internet usage policy is not too draconian, thankfully. As for locking my account, as a debut author I simply can't afford to turn potential fans away. I know I don't bother to follow anyone with a locked account, and one of the many reasons I dislike FaceBook is that I have to set up a separate "fan" page unless I want to follow everyone who shows a passing interest in me and give them access to all the personal stuff I share with real friends.<br /><br />In fact, I think the its the uncomplicatedness of Twitter's privacy (everything not in a DM is basically public) that throws off people who are used to Facebook with its endlessly configurable privacy settings. Google+ is trying to address this with its Circles, but when it comes down to it, if you want a bitchfest or just a private natter, it's best to take it off social media altogether.Anne Lylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10081266463465731929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-56225303182342959532011-08-07T15:14:39.198+01:002011-08-07T15:14:39.198+01:00All these social networks definitely have their ri...All these social networks definitely have their risks. I only ever post things I'm happy to say and be seen to say in public.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-58721324937490746492011-08-07T15:07:50.203+01:002011-08-07T15:07:50.203+01:00I male it a point to not tweet about work other th...I male it a point to not tweet about work other than saying I'm off to work or when I have had something really special happen (like getting a permanent contract or having had a good day), but I do tweet at work. Another thing I do is self-censure a LOT. If I'm unsure whether something is approriate, I won't tweet. One rule of thumb here is if I wouldn't say it at work, I won't say it online. As far as sharing personal stuff, I'll share the positive stuff, such as Emma's first steps or being pregnant. Fighting with my hubby... not so much. That stuff is private and if I need to talk to someone there's email or the phone. <br /><br />There's absolutely a dark side to online life, but I think that it's just a case of using your common sense and thinking before you post.Mieneke van der Salmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04782771945227479913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-82000555405049474802011-08-07T14:59:18.493+01:002011-08-07T14:59:18.493+01:00My thought on the medical advice thing: I regard i...My thought on the medical advice thing: I regard it very much like asking a friend, and I think most people do, too. I'm almost never ill, and often NHS Direct is not that informative - I have no idea what cnstitutes a reason to visit the doctor or the ER. If I'm with friends, I'd consult them. On Twitter, I'm always with friends, so I consult them. That doesn't mean I regard their advice as equal to NHS Online or a doctor.<br /><br />The Internet is full of misinformation. When I had a fly trapped in my ear (a thing NHS Online says nothing about, and, indeed, the nurses I eventually talked ot in person had never encuntered before) googling gave me a lot of advice that suggested I needed to go to the ER. This was Flat Out False. Talking to people about it on Twitter amused them and kept me calm and sensible. I don't think it's that unreasonable to ask people on Twitter for help, and it doesn't mean that the person asking is *only* looking to Twitter for advice, or regarding it as infallible.<br /><br />As regards news on Twitter - yeah, sometimes it's wrong, but usually I don't retweet anything unless it's directly from an official source or I've checked it out myself. And if ever you should get somethign wrong people are very quick to come down on you to tell you how much cleverer they are than you, so as a rule I've found it a much better course of news than anything else. Not least because I get my news from the people I follow because they're reliable. Some of the people I follow I do in part because they're excellent newshounds, but because I also know them from their other tweets I also have a better sense of what their biases may be. PennyRed is great, but she makes no secret of her political stance and agenda.<br /><br />The rest is... well, the same as anything else on the Internet. Coming on Twitter was a brave venture in the open for me. My full real name is not directly mentioned on my account, and I would never tweet anything negative about work there at all. To be honest, I very rarely even hint about anything at all connected with work, and I know better than to ever name the company. Twitter is no different to Facebook or Livejournal or anything else in that regard.<br /><br />Twitter? Dangerous? Only as dangerous as everything else out there. Sure you should be careful, but that's the Internet and taht's life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-89210068377187063992011-08-07T14:46:05.508+01:002011-08-07T14:46:05.508+01:00I agree that Twitter has its darker side, but it i...I agree that Twitter has its darker side, but it is also a great promotional tool and the best thing is that it lets you engage with far more people and businesses than you would ever manage from plain "networking" business lunches etc. It also satisfies my inherent nosiness in a way that I would never have imagined possible when I was journalist 25 years ago - brilliant!Jane at A Head for PRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09803584552493279920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-57029634701878191072011-08-07T14:40:51.204+01:002011-08-07T14:40:51.204+01:00Well, it's the same as elsewhere on the web. N...Well, it's the same as elsewhere on the web. Nothing you say outside the walls of your home is really private. Same rules of caution apply.<br /><br />I never talk about work, health (unless it's minor), family, or my private life anywhere online. Better safe than sorry.<br />And I never post while at work, Except on days like today where I am just sitting at the desk all day counting visitors :)<br /><br />I guess it's important to educate young people about this. It should be part of teachings at school, in some places they actually do. <br /><br />Some people made fun of me when I posted some entries about Facebook and it's dangers, I think a lot of people don't realise these dangers. No need to become paranoid, but some caution is good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com