This is a guest blog from Wayne Smallman of Blah Blah tech
Just one update on Twitter can either make or break you, and do so very publicly, too. A word to the wise: be wise with your words on Twitter!
More and more people, personalities and business entities are seeing the potential of Twitter as a new communications medium.
Even politicians are getting in on the act now. Over in the US, Twitter is now entering the political vocabulary, along with “credit crunch”. While over here in Britain, Tweetminster is a website that lists the growing number of members of parliament using Twitter to communicate with their constituents.
However, there is a darker side to Twitter, one not often seen, but there nonetheless. Twitter could well play host to the final performance or any actor, the last speech of any politician, or the slamming of closing customer’s doors to any business.
The dark art of Twitterquette
Imagine you’ve written a controversial article for your blog. Even though you expected as much, you get a very nasty comment from someone who clearly doesn’t agree with you.
A bad comment can be a problem, but thankfully isolated, assuming you’re not ultra famous. Thing is, Twitter is a very public venue, so any similar incidents are unlikely to go unnoticed.
The potential for harm is loosely proportionate to the number of followers of the person who’s decided to say unpleasant things about you.
Discretion is the better part of common sense and the cousin of etiquette. So the best way to avoid being drawn into a very public spat is to see the signs and move towards the nearest exit before things flare up.
I had a recent spat myself; one woman’s man-like ego pitted against my deft use of the English language and her own foolishness.
If you’re like Nikki & I, you may have a collection of followers who’re fellow professionals, in Nikki’s case, some are even clients. Would you argue with someone in front of a client? Of course you wouldn’t. So let that be the basis of how you conduct yourself when a Twitter discussion go hideously wrong.
1. Don’t lose your temper and stay calm
When you lose your temper, that’s when the wheels will really come off.
Don’t reply with the first thing that pops into your head, sit and think about what you’d like to say and compare that to what I’m sure you know you really should say, with respect to your followers.
This is key; with respect to your followers. What you say on Twitter is visible to every one of your followers, so keep that in mind.
2. Do try to defuse the situation
In the interests of avoiding committing Twittercide (the social networking equivalent of committing suicide), send the other party a direct message requesting that the two of you resolve your differences elsewhere, perhaps via email or IM (instant messaging), like Skype or MSN Messenger.
Don’t be tempted to mock or belittle, not unless you really want everyone to think you’re an egotistical idiot. No matter if you’re right, and no matter how right you may think you are, magnanimity is the order of the day.
3. Do look for a mediator
If you and the person you’re at odds with have friends in common, send them a direct message and ask for some assistance.
The biggest problem with text messages like Twitter are the same problems we’ve had with email for over a decade; a total lack of emotional context. What might appear to be a harmless comment or observation can easily be totally misread by the recipient.
Your witty rejoinder can easily be the next mans’ personal insult.
In conclusion
Twitter is real life in real time writ small, in one hundred and forty characters or less. Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. Failing that, block ‘em!
===
Wayne Smallman is the man behind the Blah, Blah! Technology blog: a focal point of his passion for technology, and a hallmark of his business mentality, writing style, and adeptness at making complex technology issues approachable and accessible. He is the principle founder and managing director of Octane Interactive, a Web design, Web applications development, and Internet marketing agency established in 1999 and based in Yorkshire, England.
You meant “diffuse” right?
Good post! I have yet to see a healthy argument on twitter escalate into something very big. At least not yet or hope it never happens. Twitterers are still human.
On the flip side, do you think that the way the internet is and is shaping up, there might be a slight chance of the client or consumer changing? As in, having an interest to see how crumples are ironed out live? Like reality TV?
i couldn’t possibly imagine something more frivolous then how people care so much about their precious precious twitter.
Good advice! Chile just saw a person in public office commit Twittercide when she Tweeted complaints about her salary, which is far, far higher than the vast majority of Chileans would every dream of having! See more at: http://cachandochile.wordpress…/
New website tracking Twittercides – twittercide.com – social network fails and bails. Fuckedcompany and failblog for the new generation – what do you think of the site?