Just Who Is Twitter Catering To?

Beth May 13 2009 Blogging, For The Tweeters 9 Comments

Who is Twitter catering to?

I’ve been a Twitter user since almost it’s inception. What began as a tool for mostly bloggers, to connect and share, not only information, but form blogging relationships, has turned into a frustrating, chaotic, mess of a “social networking,” service. Not because of the users, but due to the recent changes Twitter has imposed. Taken from the Twitter blog:

We’ve updated the Notices section of Settings to better reflect how folks are using Twitter regarding replies. Based on usage patterns and feedback, we’ve learned most people want to see when someone they follow replies to another person they follow—it’s a good way to stay in the loop. However, receiving one-sided fragments via replies sent to folks you don’t follow in your timeline is undesirable. Today’s update removes this undesirable and confusing option.

Allow me, please, to attempt to understand the “undesirable” part of receiving Tweets from those I don’t follow. For one, I’m not always notified of a new follower. If someone replies to something I’ve said and I don’t recognize the name, I look in my list of followers. 99% of the time, I will follow this person back. If I have no desire, I simply use the “block” feature. Quite simple, really. So, this leads me to question- just who is Twitter catering to?

The recent influx of celebrities, media outlets and the overall dominance of the so-called “elite” of the blogosphere cannot go unnoticed. These are the Tweeters who are less likely to follow-and heaven forbid a Tweet is received from someone not on their “list.” But, isn’t the ability to block followers on Twitter the solution? Why prevent a Tweet from a person not being followed, from being seen in the regular Twitter timeline? Maybe we have something important, or interesting to say. For example, I follow @SamChampion from Good Morning America. He doesn’t follow me, however, I did send him a cute Tweet, regarding something he did on GMA-and guess what? He responded. With Twitter’s changes, he would probably have missed the Tweet and a nice, little chuckle.

Here’s the solution, for Twitter, the celebs and the media outlets-see the button named “block?” Yeah. Use it. If you don’t want “undesirables, such as myself and other normal users, replying to your Tweets and showing in your timeline, then freaking block us. We didn’t force you to use Twitter. You jumped on the bandwagon a year late. Us lowly bloggers made Twitter what it is today-a way of communicating with people we would probably never have met. We didn’t make it your playground. And Twitter folks? If you’re bowing down to pressure from the so-called elite- you just may lose those who brought the service into the mainstream-yeah, myself, the lowly hillbilly chick from West Virginia, the stay-at-home mom in Texas, or the writer in Ireland. Twitter-get over it, make changes that better the service, not harm.

Oh and feel free to click the image in this post to follow me. I respond to everyone.

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Happy Mother’s Day- I Thank God For Giving Me The Mom I Have-Even If She Is Nuts.

Beth May 10 2009 For The Tweeters, Humor, Maxine Cartoons Comments Off

And yes, my Mother and I joke all the time- in fact, we’re the only two who laugh at some of the things we come up with, like my impression of a restaurant owner that would probably get me banned by everyone, even though it isn’t what it sounds like-trust me.

In honor of my Mother, who has put up with more crap than a pig farmer in July, (I have no idea what that means), I love you. We’ve some how made it through more than anyone will ever know.

Although She Says I'm Not A Disappointment-For My Mommy

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How The “C” Word Changes One’s Perspective.

Beth May 8 2009 For The Tweeters, Life As I Know It Comments Off

I had, (still have), a post half-written, discussing my disdain for the way I have been treated throughout my life by some family members. I was gearing up for the backlash, because I was planning on publishing the post today. That is, until I received an e-mail from my aunt yesterday evening. My cousin, whom just in the last year, I’ve started to get to know, was diagnosed with Stage 2-A, or 2-B colon cancer.

Yes, the news changed my perspective on a lot of family issues.

My cousin, Mark, is my mother’s 2nd oldest brother’s son. (Only in West Virginia could I describe the relationship in this manner). I have never been close to his kids, him, or my aunt. They don’t know I’m more like my mom than most believe, hell, I don’t think they even know I can even speak. But over the last year, Mark has been there for my mom-and myself, in small ways. Taking his time to change the brakes on my car, making sure my mom had items she needed and even getting her mail. No one has ever gone through the trouble in the past.

While he was changing the brake pads on my car last year, he said something that made me realize he “got it”- he understood what my mom and I had gone through, (and struggle with still). The first person, connected through blood, or otherwise, to not place blame on me and state, out loud, that I had been through just as much. I won’t say the exact words, doing so would give away too much. All that matters- I know someone sees beyond my shortcomings and understands.

According to my aunt’s e-mail, his outlook is excellent, he’s young, strong and has a positive attitude. The next step will be testing his lymph nodes and I assume surgery. He’ll be fine- I have no doubts at all. Maybe the news came during a time when a new perspective on life was needed. Family isn’t always perfect. I think I needed a reminder.

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I Want To Be An 80s Kid Again.

Beth May 5 2009 For The Tweeters, Life As I Know It 6 Comments

To Be An 80s Kid Again

We all go through periods in our lives when we think back to being a kid and wish we could go back, if only for a day. Our only responsibilities revolved around homework and washing dishes after dinner. No bills to pay, no job to go to, or even worry about having one and although school drained us, we had 3 months of Summer to look forward to.
The other day, I couldn’t sleep and while lying in bed, I thought about what I would do if I had one day to go through my entire childhood. The following is what I would do. I consider myself an 80s kid, although, being born in 1973, my memories are from the late 70s to mid 80s.

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