Comments on: What Is A Friend? http://twittercism.com/what-is-a-friend/ Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:17:38 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Unreal Life | Shéa Bennetthttp://twittercism.com/what-is-a-friend/comment-page-1/#comment-7549 Unreal Life | Shéa Bennett Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:04:18 +0000 http://twittercism.com/?p=593#comment-7549 [...] about relationships? Tell some people you have friends online, and they’ll often say, “Yeah, but they’re not real friends. You’ve never even [...] [...] about relationships? Tell some people you have friends online, and they’ll often say, “Yeah, but they’re not real friends. You’ve never even [...]

]]> By: Sheamushttp://twittercism.com/what-is-a-friend/comment-page-1/#comment-245 Sheamus Sun, 05 Apr 2009 20:38:25 +0000 http://twittercism.com/?p=593#comment-245 That's actually an excellent point and I share your fears that Twitter will eventually be hit by the trolls and flamers we find (in abundance) in every other online community, although because one has the discretion to unfollow and/or block any other user it's a problem that can be fairly easily dealt with.Although that doesn't stop an individual from continuing to badmouth another to any and all who will listen. I think this is certainly going to be an issue on Twitter in the future, notably for celebrities, brands and other high-profile accounts.As for being overly friendly/nice to maintain a follower count, that's certainly true to a degree. Although I believe you can have and share strong opinions and beliefs without being rude or obnoxious about it. I believe most things in life settle nicely around the 'middle ground' you refer to; people who are <i>too</i> upbeat and always put a positive spin on anything can be as draining as those who like to do the opposite. Be polite and avoid being negative for the sake of it, but by definition, everything can't possibly be 'awesome'.Appreciate your insights John. That’s actually an excellent point and I share your fears that Twitter will eventually be hit by the trolls and flamers we find (in abundance) in every other online community, although because one has the discretion to unfollow and/or block any other user it’s a problem that can be fairly easily dealt with.

Although that doesn’t stop an individual from continuing to badmouth another to any and all who will listen. I think this is certainly going to be an issue on Twitter in the future, notably for celebrities, brands and other high-profile accounts.

As for being overly friendly/nice to maintain a follower count, that’s certainly true to a degree. Although I believe you can have and share strong opinions and beliefs without being rude or obnoxious about it. I believe most things in life settle nicely around the ‘middle ground’ you refer to; people who are too upbeat and always put a positive spin on anything can be as draining as those who like to do the opposite. Be polite and avoid being negative for the sake of it, but by definition, everything can’t possibly be ‘awesome’.

Appreciate your insights John.

]]> By: John Simmonshttp://twittercism.com/what-is-a-friend/comment-page-1/#comment-244 John Simmons Sun, 05 Apr 2009 20:29:32 +0000 http://twittercism.com/?p=593#comment-244 I'm interested in how our comments and replies are affected by how "friendly" we feel toward the audience, and the likelihood that we'll ever have a non-internet meeting with any of them. Thank goodness "Flaming" doesn't seem to have hit Twitter much, but I wonder if the desire to be viewed as a certain type, or not to annoy followers and followees, especially celebrities, leads to the withholding of real opinions too often. Is the middle ground a natural evolution, or does our experience of human nature and our need to be liked tell us otherwise? It's not easy to be friendly and also interesting and honest. I’m interested in how our comments and replies are affected by how “friendly” we feel toward the audience, and the likelihood that we’ll ever have a non-internet meeting with any of them. Thank goodness “Flaming” doesn’t seem to have hit Twitter much, but I wonder if the desire to be viewed as a certain type, or not to annoy followers and followees, especially celebrities, leads to the withholding of real opinions too often. Is the middle ground a natural evolution, or does our experience of human nature and our need to be liked tell us otherwise? It’s not easy to be friendly and also interesting and honest.

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