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Are there times when you should NOT Twitter? For example, if you are a senator and the President is giving a speech in front of you?
I am not a fan of Twitter. I have always attested that my life is not interesting enough for Twitter. (Interestingly, Brian Williams does not feel his life is interesting enough to need to Twitter--I am not alone!!).
That said, I am starting to wonder if Twitter is becoming too intrusive. Especially when senators feel the need to Tweet during the Presidents "State of the Union" speech. (Yes, it's not the state of the union address...)
Here are some of the comments:
"One doesn't want to sound snarky, but it is nice not to see Cheney up there," from Earl Blumenauer
"Capt Sully is here - awesome!" from John Culberson
"I did big wooohoo for Justice Ginsberg," from Claire McCaskill
We are in a economic crisis and they can't even bother to put their phones down and focus for an hour or two? As one columnist has put it, “Twittering while Rome burns.” Do you agree?
Is it rude to twitter during a speech?
Are there times when one should NOT Twitter?
Or am I just tainted to the point that all Twitter is bad Twitter?
http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/web/politicians-twitter-throughout-obamas-address/2009/02/25/1235237790423.html
http://www.independentmail.com/news/2009/feb/26/twittering-or-frittering/
That said, I am starting to wonder if Twitter is becoming too intrusive. Especially when senators feel the need to Tweet during the Presidents "State of the Union" speech. (Yes, it's not the state of the union address...)
Here are some of the comments:
"One doesn't want to sound snarky, but it is nice not to see Cheney up there," from Earl Blumenauer
"Capt Sully is here - awesome!" from John Culberson
"I did big wooohoo for Justice Ginsberg," from Claire McCaskill
We are in a economic crisis and they can't even bother to put their phones down and focus for an hour or two? As one columnist has put it, “Twittering while Rome burns.” Do you agree?
Is it rude to twitter during a speech?
Are there times when one should NOT Twitter?
Or am I just tainted to the point that all Twitter is bad Twitter?
http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/web/politicians-twitter-throughout-obamas-address/2009/02/25/1235237790423.html
http://www.independentmail.com/news/2009/feb/26/twittering-or-frittering/
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Looks like there are two questions you are asking here:
Your main question (Are there times you should not twitter?)
and also
Was it acceptable for Senators to twitter (or "tweet") during the "Not the State of the Union Address?"
For #1, I'd say yes, definitely there are places you should not use Twitter. At work, if it distracts you from your job duties, is a bad place to use Twitter. Also, tweeting while driving is the same kind of distraction as texting while driving.
Any place you wouldn't want to text is a place you wouldn't want to tweet, in fact. Like at a wedding. When you are together with friends it should be avoided. It's like taking a phone call and gabbing on the phone when you are with friends. A quick call if someone calls you might be OK, but if you are texting back and forth, and with other people in person, then maybe you should just be by yourself with your phone and let your friends find someone who will appreciate and pay attention to you when you are in the same room with them. (Sorry, a little ranty there.)
Was it OK to Tweet during the speech? I'd say yes, within reason. There's over 500 people in that hall, it's not like the President can see or interact with anyone, really. The people in the "nosebleed" seats have a worse view than we do at home, but they have the vibe of the crowd and can see things off camera. I think it's useful to be able to communicate that to others via Twitter.
Also, I don't think it's disrespectful if done in moderation. Twitter is a lot about making comments and impressions on big events. The inauguration was tweeted a ton, by those who were there and those who were watching it on TV. It made it a larger, shared social event.
The senators who tweeted were also practicing an almost radical form of democracy. They were communicating directly with their constituents in a way that is very new. The founding fathers could not have imagined that someone would know what was going on in a speech 500+ miles away as it's happening. I think this is a great thing. To be able to share comments about the speech to constituents? Or for me to be able to tweet my congressman back? or about a piece of policy legislation? For the congressman to do an informal tweet poll on opinions? That's powerful stuff, and can be used to benefit democracy, IMHO.
Of course it can also help with loyalty for politician to constituent/voter. I may not get my hand shook or a baby kissed by my Senator, but an @reply from him is still a connection. Just like how many Twitter users use it to build relationships first, and brand loyalty, whether to a person with a product, or a company, second.
Your main question (Are there times you should not twitter?)
and also
Was it acceptable for Senators to twitter (or "tweet") during the "Not the State of the Union Address?"
For #1, I'd say yes, definitely there are places you should not use Twitter. At work, if it distracts you from your job duties, is a bad place to use Twitter. Also, tweeting while driving is the same kind of distraction as texting while driving.
Any place you wouldn't want to text is a place you wouldn't want to tweet, in fact. Like at a wedding. When you are together with friends it should be avoided. It's like taking a phone call and gabbing on the phone when you are with friends. A quick call if someone calls you might be OK, but if you are texting back and forth, and with other people in person, then maybe you should just be by yourself with your phone and let your friends find someone who will appreciate and pay attention to you when you are in the same room with them. (Sorry, a little ranty there.)
Was it OK to Tweet during the speech? I'd say yes, within reason. There's over 500 people in that hall, it's not like the President can see or interact with anyone, really. The people in the "nosebleed" seats have a worse view than we do at home, but they have the vibe of the crowd and can see things off camera. I think it's useful to be able to communicate that to others via Twitter.
Also, I don't think it's disrespectful if done in moderation. Twitter is a lot about making comments and impressions on big events. The inauguration was tweeted a ton, by those who were there and those who were watching it on TV. It made it a larger, shared social event.
The senators who tweeted were also practicing an almost radical form of democracy. They were communicating directly with their constituents in a way that is very new. The founding fathers could not have imagined that someone would know what was going on in a speech 500+ miles away as it's happening. I think this is a great thing. To be able to share comments about the speech to constituents? Or for me to be able to tweet my congressman back? or about a piece of policy legislation? For the congressman to do an informal tweet poll on opinions? That's powerful stuff, and can be used to benefit democracy, IMHO.
Of course it can also help with loyalty for politician to constituent/voter. I may not get my hand shook or a baby kissed by my Senator, but an @reply from him is still a connection. Just like how many Twitter users use it to build relationships first, and brand loyalty, whether to a person with a product, or a company, second.
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A lot of excellent answers.
I do believe there are times when twittering is not approprate. Examples of these times are when it detracts from direct attention to another person: i.e. on a date, during the birth of your child, etc.
That said, although not the perfect medium, we have a tool for direct and real-time communication from senator to citizen. Like any new technology, we'll have to figure out the correct etiquette , but you must admit it is nice to finally have a government body embrace technology in order to communicate more effectively with this constituents.
That said, although not the perfect medium, we have a tool for direct and real-time communication from senator to citizen. Like any new technology, we'll have to figure out the correct etiquette , but you must admit it is nice to finally have a government body embrace technology in order to communicate more effectively with this constituents.
Call me old fashioned, but you should not Twitter during your mother's funeral. Nor, if you are a US Senator, should you Twitter when the President of the United States is speaking to you. Neither are respectful or appropriate.
Also if Senators are going to tweet anything at all, ever, could they please tweet something more dignified and intelligent than "I did a big woohoo"?
Also if Senators are going to tweet anything at all, ever, could they please tweet something more dignified and intelligent than "I did a big woohoo"?
If the presidential speech is boring for them - they should not be there. They can watch it on TV and then twitter away to glory.
On second thoughts - twittering takes less than a minute. We can give the senators that much lapse in attention span. No?
Who are we to judge?
On second thoughts - twittering takes less than a minute. We can give the senators that much lapse in attention span. No?
Who are we to judge?
I would say that Twitter etiquette is tantamount to text messaging etiquette. Not saying by any means I'm at all perfect with it, but there are times when you should not be Twittering, just like their times when you should not be text messaging. A speech is just one example, when you should not be doing this, but then again some people who are reporters do this as their job, but I doubt they are posting a status update about it.
Here's a list of times:
1. When you are driving. Telling everyone you are on the road, isn't a good idea, especially if you want to stay on the road. I would say this would include driving any kind of motor vehicle, operating a tractor, or this would even include riding a bike. They don't go well together.
2. When you are talking to someone in a business meeting or a conference. It's just plain rude, if you are talking to someone to tell a bunch of followers you are talking with someone else.
3. In a library or a place where you are supposed to keep quiet. This isn't the time for this kind of behavior.
4. It shouldn't be used as a formal invitation. That's what email is used for. I don't believe anyone has sent out their birthday party celebration via this methodology, nor will you get a good showing at your party. If you need to send someone a message that they should RSVP for, send an email.
5. At the dinner table. Do you need to stop eating to tell a group of followers your spaghetti just fell on your lap? More importantly, it would be better to rush to the sink and clean your mess up.
6. When you are doing something you shouldn't legally be doing. I don't think you are going to tell a bunch of followers that you just did something that would get you in trouble for doing it. You are instantly proving yourself guilty.
7. In class. No teacher or professor wants you to be messaging a group of followers how boring class is, and it's likely to get you kicked out of class. This holds true during a speech or presentation. This is obviously disrespecting the speaker.
8. In a movie or play. This is not the place to be doing this. Watch the movie or play, then tell everyone. Or tell everyone before you go.
9. During a date or making love. You obviously aren't caring too much about your date, if you have to tell a bunch of followers about your date, and you definitely aren't loving the one you are with if every kiss leads to a Twitter post. Do it before, or after.
10. During prayer, a birth labor, or sleep, or at a funeral. You obviously aren't praying, pushing, or honoring the dead if you have to tell a bunch of followers, and you definitely aren't sleeping.
11. This last one may be silly, but I'll give it a go. When you are playing sports or participating in an activity. It's probably not the best idea to be doing this in any sort of team sport. Your team members don't want to see you messaging away to tell a bunch of followers you just made a basket. It's your job to get back on defense. Could you imagine what a distraction this would be?
Here's a list of times:
1. When you are driving. Telling everyone you are on the road, isn't a good idea, especially if you want to stay on the road. I would say this would include driving any kind of motor vehicle, operating a tractor, or this would even include riding a bike. They don't go well together.
2. When you are talking to someone in a business meeting or a conference. It's just plain rude, if you are talking to someone to tell a bunch of followers you are talking with someone else.
3. In a library or a place where you are supposed to keep quiet. This isn't the time for this kind of behavior.
4. It shouldn't be used as a formal invitation. That's what email is used for. I don't believe anyone has sent out their birthday party celebration via this methodology, nor will you get a good showing at your party. If you need to send someone a message that they should RSVP for, send an email.
5. At the dinner table. Do you need to stop eating to tell a group of followers your spaghetti just fell on your lap? More importantly, it would be better to rush to the sink and clean your mess up.
6. When you are doing something you shouldn't legally be doing. I don't think you are going to tell a bunch of followers that you just did something that would get you in trouble for doing it. You are instantly proving yourself guilty.
7. In class. No teacher or professor wants you to be messaging a group of followers how boring class is, and it's likely to get you kicked out of class. This holds true during a speech or presentation. This is obviously disrespecting the speaker.
8. In a movie or play. This is not the place to be doing this. Watch the movie or play, then tell everyone. Or tell everyone before you go.
9. During a date or making love. You obviously aren't caring too much about your date, if you have to tell a bunch of followers about your date, and you definitely aren't loving the one you are with if every kiss leads to a Twitter post. Do it before, or after.
10. During prayer, a birth labor, or sleep, or at a funeral. You obviously aren't praying, pushing, or honoring the dead if you have to tell a bunch of followers, and you definitely aren't sleeping.
11. This last one may be silly, but I'll give it a go. When you are playing sports or participating in an activity. It's probably not the best idea to be doing this in any sort of team sport. Your team members don't want to see you messaging away to tell a bunch of followers you just made a basket. It's your job to get back on defense. Could you imagine what a distraction this would be?
I must disagree with #3 and #7.
#3 Libraries are places where many people go to use the Internet. Twittering makes no noise, so there seems to be no reason to me to not allow it.
#7 Many teachers are using Twitter in their classrooms with their students. Teachers may not want to see tweets that students are bored, but they do like to see tweets from students who need additional support, they like to see the other students serve as a personal learning network (PLN), and they are using things like TwitPic to enhance their instruction.
#3 Libraries are places where many people go to use the Internet. Twittering makes no noise, so there seems to be no reason to me to not allow it.
#7 Many teachers are using Twitter in their classrooms with their students. Teachers may not want to see tweets that students are bored, but they do like to see tweets from students who need additional support, they like to see the other students serve as a personal learning network (PLN), and they are using things like TwitPic to enhance their instruction.
As a teacher, I also disagree with #7. I couldn't care less if you're paying attention in my class. You're the one forking over $40,000/year to be there. If you don't want to pay attention, why should I care? In fact, you're more than welcome to not bother coming to class at all.
Of course, if you're playing on your celphone or computer during my lecture, there's absolutely no chance I'll be answering your requests for help when you're working on your assignment...
Of course, if you're playing on your celphone or computer during my lecture, there's absolutely no chance I'll be answering your requests for help when you're working on your assignment...
as much as its a valid point it's a bit ridiculous what people will twitter, in the case of the politicians i can understand it. They know more than most people whats going on in the country and the president is just going to tell everyone else. They may have also heard parts of it that pertain to their state in particular. I don't see much point in criticizing them for twittering. Why should we scorn our representatives for opening themselves up. In the past it was hard to get someone of importance to listen to you if you were nobody. Now, all you need to do is @reply them and you might end up with a response that you never expected.
Give twitter time and it'll calm down with the nonsense, I know that's how I was when I first started.
Give twitter time and it'll calm down with the nonsense, I know that's how I was when I first started.
I am a Twitter fan. So, my answer is biased. I admit that. However, in many cases during the non SOTU (#NSOTU) address, members of Congress were tweeting things that were much like note taking. Few of us would find it offensive if members of Congress had an accepted form of technology, like paper and pencil to record their thoughts. It is unlikely we would notice if one or two began to doodle on the paper.
I dislike paper. Had I been in the audience, I would have wanted to record my thoughts and would have likely chosen Twitter to do so.
I have up until recently been extremely apolitical. During the #NSOTU, I searched by that hash marked term on Twitter and followed the conversations from those in the room. It added to my understanding and I appreciate it.
I did not find it offensive. I welcomed it.
People who don't "get" Twitter, just don't get it. It doesn't make you tainted :)
I dislike paper. Had I been in the audience, I would have wanted to record my thoughts and would have likely chosen Twitter to do so.
I have up until recently been extremely apolitical. During the #NSOTU, I searched by that hash marked term on Twitter and followed the conversations from those in the room. It added to my understanding and I appreciate it.
I did not find it offensive. I welcomed it.
People who don't "get" Twitter, just don't get it. It doesn't make you tainted :)
To Tweet something (or, same logic, to blog it, or SMS it....) really means that you've put a priority on how important it is to relay that information to others.
That alone is not bad. For instance, look at all the people that Tweet about plane crashes and other newsworthy events.
I think that there's two variables that decide the appropriateness. The first is, are you relaying factual information, or your opinion? It's one thing to do a sort of realtime transcription of what Obama is saying, for the benefit of those not listening. This is how news events are best reported - "Obama just said the government is going to create a new small business lending institution". But when you're tweeting stuff like "OMG Cap'n Sully! I'm not worthy!" then you've made a rather interesting choice.
Second is that the time you spend relaying the information is directly proportional to the time you spend not paying attention to the source. This is why tweeting while driving is pretty bad - there's not much that you really and truly need to say *right now* that merits taking your attention away from the moving car you are controlling.
With something like a Presidential speech, it's an interesting mix. You probably don't have to hang on every single word, so 100% attention span is not crucial. How often have we seen video of senators falling asleep, or picking their nose? And your constituents - or at least, your "followers" - are probably interested in your own personal spin on what's good and bad with what he's saying. So no, by itself I don't think that Senators tweeting during Obama's speech is a bad thing. It's actually a pretty good thing if they are trying to connect better with their people.
If they are Tweeting "Dude did you catch Lost last night?" or "I heard Tom Brady got married" then yeah, maybe that's a little different. But your examples are perfect examples of why people love Twitter - it's like an expanded version of "man on the scene" reporting, coming in from every direction. (Ok, your examples are a little light on the "facts" and heavy on the "opinion" for me (see point #1), but they're not terrible.)
That alone is not bad. For instance, look at all the people that Tweet about plane crashes and other newsworthy events.
I think that there's two variables that decide the appropriateness. The first is, are you relaying factual information, or your opinion? It's one thing to do a sort of realtime transcription of what Obama is saying, for the benefit of those not listening. This is how news events are best reported - "Obama just said the government is going to create a new small business lending institution". But when you're tweeting stuff like "OMG Cap'n Sully! I'm not worthy!" then you've made a rather interesting choice.
Second is that the time you spend relaying the information is directly proportional to the time you spend not paying attention to the source. This is why tweeting while driving is pretty bad - there's not much that you really and truly need to say *right now* that merits taking your attention away from the moving car you are controlling.
With something like a Presidential speech, it's an interesting mix. You probably don't have to hang on every single word, so 100% attention span is not crucial. How often have we seen video of senators falling asleep, or picking their nose? And your constituents - or at least, your "followers" - are probably interested in your own personal spin on what's good and bad with what he's saying. So no, by itself I don't think that Senators tweeting during Obama's speech is a bad thing. It's actually a pretty good thing if they are trying to connect better with their people.
If they are Tweeting "Dude did you catch Lost last night?" or "I heard Tom Brady got married" then yeah, maybe that's a little different. But your examples are perfect examples of why people love Twitter - it's like an expanded version of "man on the scene" reporting, coming in from every direction. (Ok, your examples are a little light on the "facts" and heavy on the "opinion" for me (see point #1), but they're not terrible.)
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